About Me

Casey Grove's life is fascinating and varied because he has tried to make the most of every opportunity. At Penn State, he oversees sales and strategic planning for the university's catering services. The recent appointment reveals only a tiny portion of his impressive career ascent in the hospitality industry.

He is a living example of the belief that anything is feasible. He made his board games because he enjoyed them so much and saw their potential for his friend's and family's entertainment and growth. One of these was successful; he is credited with creating "The Big Fat Tomato Game," a game enjoyed by people of all ages, particularly those eight and up.

Accomplishments in One's Professional Life

In his career, Grove shows that lightning-fast moves are only sometimes necessary and that anyone can reach their goals with enough perseverance and networking. Casey Grove began his career in the hospitality industry as a part-time dishwasher and line cook during his college years at Penn State University, where he studied Communications and Telecommunications Management.

Even though Casey Grove completed his degree in 2000, he chose to work in the hospitality industry instead. He advanced through the ranks of the business world and settled on providing full-service catering to universities.

Soon after graduating, he decided that his alma mater would be the best place to put his skills to use and accepted a position as the Event Services Manager. In 2010, he left government service and accepted a position as General Manager of a local catering and event rental company.

Casey accepted a position as the General Manager of Campus Catering at his alma mater, Penn State University, in 2017. He was eager to return to the school that had given him the foundation he needed for a successful professional life. He has been the Director of Catering Sales & Strategic Development for four years and was just given the additional responsibility of leading the charge for on-campus catering solutions.

Activities of Private Interest

Casey Grove is a successful businessman who now spends his free time introducing others to the joys of tabletop gaming. He enjoys board games because they encourage healthy competition and allow people to reconnect with one another. Over time, he developed the idea to create his board games in subgenres that were either underdeveloped or failed to produce the desired results.

A favorite among both Grove's inner and outer circles was The Big Fat Tomato Game. The gameplay was easy enough for newcomers to pick up, and it offered a refreshing change of pace. Release of the game to the public was handled by Gamewiright, a major national board game publisher, on Casey's behalf. It has received numerous accolades and awards, including but not limited to the following:

Board Game Designer Awards

Parent's Choice Recommended

National Parenting Seal of Approval

Dr. Toy's Top 10 Games of the Year

Major Fun Award

Noise of Toys Gold Choice Award

Tillywig Top Fun award

The game's goal is straightforward: players must gather as many tomatoes as possible into baskets while protecting their plots from invaders. These can range from pesky critters to invasive plants to undead tomatoes. The game features various animals, including flying hippos and a mole that can be controlled from afar. Several goofy features, such as the players' competition to "make" their face resemble a tomato with the most incredible precision and the zaniness of the creatures, appeal to kids. It also has a strategic element that players of all ages can enjoy, in the form of a "round" system in which players take turns using their cards to advance their tomato farm in various ways (through development, defense, and economic means).

Casey Grove has always been an explorer at heart, so it makes sense that she enjoys spending time in nature. He has hiked the Grand Canyon and backpacked through many European countries along with his family. He has a passion for the outdoors and rock collecting, and he frequently ventures out searching for rare specimens to add to his collection. Those he decides to keep are cared for and added to his collection after being given a good polishing.