Meet the Team

General Manager

Doug Polistena is an accomplished hospitality executive and business leader with more than 20 years of experience in event management, operations, and organizational leadership. He is recognized for driving operational excellence, financial performance, and community engagement across both for-profit and nonprofit sectors.

Doug is a graduate of Marist College, where he earned degrees in Marketing and Financial Management. Early in his career, he gained experience in restaurant and catering operations and spent six months living and working in Italy with a marketing firm focused on tourism and cultural promotion. This international exposure, combined with extensive travel throughout Europe, helped shape his strategic approach to guest experience, branding, and service delivery.

Since joining the Amber Room Colonnade in 2008, Doug has overseen more than 4,000 events, including large-scale galas, corporate functions, and social celebrations. He was promoted to General Manager in 2013 after serving as Director of Sales and Operations, assuming responsibility for all operational, financial, and event-planning functions. In 2018, Doug acquired ownership and became an equal owner of the Amber Room, further strengthening his leadership role and long-term commitment to the organization's success.

Doug Polistena's leadership and impact have been recognized through several honors, including the Fairfield Business Journals' CFO of the Year (2014), Fairfield County's 40 Under 40 (2015), the Danbury Museum Community Award (2021), and the American Dream Champion Award (2025). He has played a longstanding role in the Amber Room/Ann's Place Charity Run, helping raise more than $500,000 while expanding participation to over 600 individuals. He also helped lead community-based initiatives with United Way and the New American Dream Foundation, providing thousands of meals to families and seniors in need.

In addition to his professional career, Doug is actively engaged in civic and industry leadership. He serves as Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Restaurant Association, is a member of the Chamber of Commerce Executive Board and serves as a Trustee of the Danbury Museum and Historical Society. He is also a Corporator for Ives Bank, an active liaison to the National Restaurant Association in Washington, D.C., and a mentor with the DSBAC program.

Doug Polistena brings a strategic, mission-driven perspective to service, informed by hands-on executive leadership, financial oversight experience, and a deep commitment to community impact.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Doug Polistena values family and personal connection. He and his wife were married at the Amber Room Colonnade, a place that holds both professional and personal significance for him. Together, they are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, and this family-centered perspective continues to influence Doug's people-first approach to leadership and hospitality.