John Cohen
Founder and President, Total Party Planner
John spent his entire childhood growing up in his family catering business in Buffalo, New York. Side by side with Mom and Dad, John helped execute any type of event from 10 people to 1,000 people. He often brags that he was the only 8 year old boy who knew how to spell the word hors d’oeuvre!
In 1994, after years of advanced programming at Electronic Data Systems, John had the idea to build a small database for his parents to help them organize the tremendous amounts of paperwork and planning they struggled with. He presented ‘the program’ to them as a Christmas present in 1995.
John’s entrepreneurial spirit saw a niche market for the catering software program that he had built. A hobby he was working on in his spare time officially became a business! John would continue to develop and refine the program over the next few years while providing consulting services in Richmond.
With enough capital built from sales of Total Party Planner and the company’s consulting contracts, John began to put together the solid technical, sales and analytical team that is currently in place. Since then, the company has expanded dramatically. With flexible schedules and an atmosphere of promoting personal growth, he has been able to attract and maintain the highest quality staff.
John graduated from the University of Rochester with a Bachelor’s degree in Optical Engineering. His claim to fame while working an internship program at Eastman Kodak was working on the U.S. government’s ‘Star Wars’ program. There, he helped pioneer the liquid crystal molecules that would be used to steer laser beams into oncoming missiles. He is glad the technology never had to be used in real life!
Outside of Total Party Planner, John enjoys running, reading and traveling anywhere warm with his wife Tracey.
