Archive for January 2012
Creative Dining Services and Continuing Education
Creative Dining Services offers our employees excellent training and development programs through our award-winning Creative University. Creative Dining values the education of our employees, and Creative University is an exciting and effective way to further our staff’s education. Started in 2003, Creative University won the National Restaurant Association’s Winning Workforce Award for On-Site Service Provider in 2004. We are pleased to have many fantastic courses on offer this year!
"Qui per totam vitam discit per totam vitam crescit: In lifelong learning lies lifelong growth."
Creative University’s first upcoming course is a Product Emphasis & Brand Extension Seminar on Feb. 7 & 8 in Chicago. This seminar, sponsored in part by Fontanini, Superior Foods, Basic American & Maple Leaf Bakery, will explore new products and techniques to keep our brand and food offerings fresh.
Another great event is the Gordon Food Service 2012 Food Show. The GFS Food Show offers the opportunity to browse new products and attend seminars with a variety of topics. It’s one of the best places to explore current food trends, pick up tips & tricks for food and business management, and learn about what’s going on in the food industry.
Since 2003, Creative University has had thousands of participants in a huge variety of courses. Here are just a few examples of our course offerings:
- Culinary Boot Camp
- Principles in Leadership
- ServSafe Certification Training
- Social Media Marketing
- Turbo Chef Training
- Understanding Customer Expectations
- Vegan Food Seminar
“Share Your Bowl” Program Produces ‘Gr-r-reat’ Results
At Aquinas Collge, Calvin College and Hope College students ramped up their intake of cereal in the month of December so their efforts would be enough Corn Flakes to restock West MichiganFood Banks after the holiday rush. Their efforts were part of Creative Dining Services and Kellogg’s “Share the Bowl” program, through which Kellogg’s company pledged to match every bowl consumed by studetns during the month and donate it to local food banks.
“Our students really got behind this project,” said Chuck Melchiori, Vice President of Business Development, Creative Dining Services. “Our goal for each of the colleges was to consume 6,400 bowls, and we exceeded that goal.”
The three local colleges snap, crackled and popped their way to 228 cases of cereal, which were delivered in part to Kids’ Food Basket in Grand Rapids on January 11, 2012. Kids’ Food Basket fights childhood hunger in greater Grand Rapids. The nonprofit began over nine years ago by serving 125 kids each school day through their Sack Supper program and now serves over 4,700 kids every school day, plus thousands more at local sides through the summer.
Melchiori was pleased to have a role in helping to stock the agency’s food pantry. “it’s good for our students to support the community through this type of program.”
Author: Laurie Stears, Marketing & Promotions Specialist
Workers at Kid's Food Basket sorting donations.
College Students bringing the donation to Kid's Food Basket.
Unpacking the donated cereal.
Some of the cereal donated to Kid's Food Basket.
Chuck Melchiori and Laurie Stears of Creative Dining Services signing the cooler at Kid's Food Basket. It is tradition at Kid's Food Basket for donors to sign the cooler.
Annual Award Winners
Each year, Creative Dining Services honors hardworking individuals who go above and beyond their day-to-day duties. The Superior Performance Award and the Award of Excellence goes to managers and employees who reflect these qualities:
- Champions the Creative Dining Services corporate philosophy and core values.
- Willingness to assist others.
- Demonstrates superior leadership. (Superior Performance Award)
- Promotes professional growth and development in themselves and their staff. (Superior Performance Award)
- Shows initiative, enthusiasm and a positive attitude. (Award of Excellence)
- Demonstrates excellence in service and performance. (Award of Excellence)
This year’s recipients of the Superior Performance Award are: David Seweryn, Food Service Director of Trinity International University and Sandy Harmon, General Manager of the Haworth Center. The Award of Excellence for 2011 goes to Dan Zantello, employee of the South Haven Conference Center and Rosie Scheumann, employee of Indiana Tech. Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients.