Who We are
General Manager - Jon Wilkerson
Started at the Cliff House in 1997 as a dishwasher while in high school. Jon worked his way through the kitchen cooking in every position as well as bartending, and waiting tables while earning his Associates from WCC and Bachelor of Arts and Science from WWU in 2007. Just a couple of months after graduation the opportunity to take over management at the Cliff House presented itself. Jon has been steadily improving, renovating and updating the menu, decor and vision of the Cliff House while remaining loyal to the community that has made the Cliff House a Bellingham institution over the years. Jon was married in 2009 to his wife Margie, who met working at the Cliff House! More recently, Jon took over as Operations Manager at the Bull Shed restaurant on Kauai, HI in February of 2011.
Assistant Manager - Cayley Schmidt
Started at the Cliff House in 2006 as a hostess while in high school. After several years of hostessing Cayley began waiting tables. Cayley took over as assistant manager in 2011. Cayley's music fills the rest of her time, she is the fiddle behind local favorites Polecat. Cayley spent time preforming at the American Music Theater in Pennsylvania in 2008, and now divides her time between preforming, touring, and has just released an album with Polecat. Keep your eye out for one of Cayley's groups who often play locally!
Kitchen Manager - Chad Wagenveld
Started at the Cliff House in 2007. Before joining the Cliff House team, Chad did a brief stint at Anthony's Hearthfire. Chad made a name for himself while cooking for Robert Fong from 1999 - 2007 at the now retired Pacific Cafe. Chad has many years of diverse experience in the industry with time in Atlanta at Metrotainment Cafes from 1996 - 1999. Chad is a die hard snowboarder who during the season, can be found tearing it up on Mt. Baker and in the backcountry!
House Baker - Maureen Peschl
Originally from the East Coast, Maureen has been a server in the industry for over 30 years. She joined the Cliff House family in 1998. You can always find Maureen cooking something fresh and baking something delicious. At home, Maureen loves to hunt for recipes and reads through cookbooks like most people read novels! She has been our resident dessert guru at the Cliff House since 2007. In her spare time she likes to ride her bike, play fiddle music and putter in her kitchen!
Mixologist - Mike Gregory
Started at the Cliff House in 2010 after the Quarterback Pub closed, where Mike was Bar Manager. Before that Mike worked at Black Angus serving and bartending. Mike has an eye for cocktails and and has been learning about the lost art of turn of the century bartending, mixology and creating interesting and unique infusions of his own! Mike is an enthusiast of all sports, playing disc golf, softball, golf, mountain biking and so on!