Meet Our Team
Nico Romo | Chef/Owner
Born in Lyon, France, Chef Nico Romo is the youngest-ever US member of The French Culinary Academy (l’Académie Culinaire de France) and Master Chefs of France (Maîtres Cuisiniers de France), one of just 66 French Master Chefs in the country, and the only recipient in South Carolina. Both elite organizations represent and comprise the most highly skilled chefs in the techniques and traditions of the French culinary art.
Chef Romo graduated from the Helene Boucher Culinary Art School in Vénissieux at age 19 and perfected his skill under French Master Chef Patrick Henriroux at the dual-Michelin Starred restaurant La Pyramide in Vienne, France.
Chef Romo spent a decade directing Patrick Properties Hospitality Group’s culinary programs and helmed the kitchen at Fish Restaurant. During that time, he was named a Monterey Bay Aquarium Sustainable Seafood Ambassador and member of the Seafood Watch Blue Ribbon Task Force recognizing his commitment to ocean-friendly seafood and Lowcountry fishermen.
In 2017, Chef Romo opened his first concept, NICO, bringing his European training and appreciation for locally sourced ingredients, particularly seafood and oysters. In 2020, he opened Bistronomy by Nico in a quaint spot in downtown Charleston. Bistronomy by Nico is an approachable French Bistro that highlights innovative techniques and ingredients. His third concept, Laura, opened in Spring 2022 serving rustic Italian food as an ode to his Italian Heritage.
Margaret Robey | General Manager
LAURA General Manager, Margaret Robey was born in San Francisco, California and she went on to graduate with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Primary Certification. She has lived in many different cities thanks to her career in hospitality. Margaret worked for Wolfgang Puck in Las Vegas, at the Colony Palms Hotel in Palm Springs and the Waldorf Astoria in Key West, Florida. Some of her accolades include being given the Diversity Ambassador role while working with the International Internship Program at the Waldorf Astoria, and being awarded manager of the year in 2014. She then moved to Charleston in 2015 and worked with the Hall family for 6 years as general manager at the Old Village Post House and High Cotton.
Margaret was drawn to hospitality when she began working wedding events on weekends while teaching during the week. She loved being a part of creating memories for people. She then transitioned to the restaurant side and has been involved ever since. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband Darren and their dog Franklin. We are so excited to have Margaret on the team and know she will lead in a compassionate and thoughtful manner.
Dominique Holsopple | Head Chef
Head Chef, Dominique Holsopple was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She won the Rio Show New Chef contest in 2010 there, as well as worked at Claude Troisgros restaurants. She was also featured on the front cover of a famous Brazilian magazine for the first restaurant she became head chef. After moving to the US, she worked for Michelin-star chef, Sachin Chopra. Throughout her career, Dominique has been executive chef at 1 Brazillian, 2 Italian, and 1 American restaurant. She is proud of her accomplishments and is thrilled to be able to bring her talents to LAURA.
Dominique is ideally suited for her role due to her experience, strong leadership skills, love for teamwork, and passion for cooking. We are so thrilled to have her with us at LAURA.
Istvan Versanszki | Assistant General Manager
Meet Istvan Versanszki! Istvan was born in Subotica, Serbia, but spent his early childhood in Hamburg, Germany where his parents both worked long hours in a local hospital. It was during this time that he first discovered a love for food. He was a restless child and during school naps would keep the other children awake, so his teachers had him spend time with the cooks in the kitchen. He loved being a part of the preparation of food and drink so much that he knew that was the path for him, even at such a young age.
Istvan went on to get his Bachelors in Hospitality Management in Serbia. After graduating he had many options, he spoke multiple languages and felt that the world was his oyster.
He began working as a server in an upscale restaurant in his home city, but he dreamed of something bigger. He moved to Vienna, Austria where he worked as a server/bartender until an opportunity opened up to be a Chef in Miami, Florida. That position brought him to Florida but he didn’t stay cooking long, the Mandarin Oriental hotel was opening and he applied. 3600 applicants applied for 300 positions and Istvan was one of the lucky chosen. He worked there as a server for a few years as head waiter until he was ready to manage. He then became service director at the Atlantic Boutique Hotel and Spa and then eventually made his way to Charleston.
Istvan has learned skills throughout his career that he knows he couldn’t have learned in any other industry and also credits it to meeting his wife, Deena who is the GM at our sister restaurant, NICO. Istvan’s plethora of knowledge makes him perfectly suited to his role as a manager in all three of our company restaurants, NICO, Bistronomy by Nico, and LAURA.
Caitlin DiBenedetto | Pastry Chef
We are very pleased to introduce you to Caitlin DiBenedetto, our resident Pastry Chef! Caitlin was born in Fayetteville in 1993 and moved to Charleston in 1998. She graduated from the Art Institute of Charleston in 2014 with an Associates in Baking and Pastry and a Bachelors in Culinary Management. A lot of her family is involved in the hospitality industry, and she grew up with her family always going all out and cooking extravagant meals for any get together. This naturally drew her to the hospitality business. But while most of her family went in a more savory route, she decided to go in the opposite direction and begin a career in baking and pastry.
She and her fiance Sam live together in Summerville and have two dogs, Roux and Gumbo, and just welcomed baby boy, Sawyer.
Dina Corradetti | Assistant Manager
Allow us to introduce our Assistant Manager, Dina Corradetti. Dina was born near the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania but moved to Newark, DE when she was young. She made it down south when attending Coastal Carolina University to study biology after graduating high school in 2009.
Ultimately she decided that wasn’t the right path for her as her passion was with the food industry. She was initially drawn to the industry after working at a mom-and-pop pizza shop within walking distance of her childhood home. There, she learned that her outgoing personality led to guest interactions that gave her a sense of pride in her work. From there she was hooked!
She spent eleven years with Homegrown Hospitality Group beginning as a host and working her way up to General Manager and Senior General Manager. She is well suited for her role thanks to her extensive experience, her love of the hustle and bustle of the restaurant world, and her passion for food. When Dina isn’t working at Laura she loves to spend time with her puppy son, Jackson. We are so thrilled to have Dina on the team!
Mike Clucas | Sous Chef
Rommy Cole | Sous Chef
Our Corporate Team
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Sarah Copeland
Accounting Manager
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Nicole Flatley
HR Manager
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Ryleigh Abraham
Marketing & Sales Manager
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Wayne Brague
Chief Maintenance Officer
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Harmony Romo
Chief Financial Officer