Sandra Ford, former president of the School Nutrition Association, was named 2014 Golden School Foodservice Director of the Year by the Foodservice Achievement Management Excellence (FAME) awards program. The FAME program is sponsored by Basic American Foods, Schwan’s Food Service Inc. and Tyson Foods Inc.
Ford is the director of Food & Nutrition Services for the Manatee County school District, in Bradenton, Fla. During her nine-year tenure, Ford has increased lunch participation by 14% and breakfast counts by 18%. She also was recognized by FAME for her innovative staff development and manager training programs, along with her student-centered marketing programs and budgeting skills.
This is the second FAME award for Ford. In 2000, she received the Silver Spirit Award. This year, the Silver Spirit Award is being presented to Reginald Ross, former area supervisor for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, in North Carolina.
The other 2014 FAME Award winners are:
Constance Little, supervisor, student nutrition services, Beavercreek (Ohio) City Schools, with the Silver Leadership Award;
Anna Apoian, food service director, Hawthorne (Calif.) School District, with the Silver Special Achievement Award;
Bertrand Weber, director, culinary and nutrition services, Minneapolis Public Schools, Special School Districts #1, with the Silver Rising Star Award;
Katie Wilson, PhD, executive director, National Food Service Management Institute, Oxford, Miss., with the Silver Friend of Child Nutrition Award; and
Jane Wynn, retired child nutrition director, Broward County (Fla.) Schools, with the Gertrude Applebaum Lifetime Achievement Award.
The awards will be presented Jan. 12, 2014, during the School Nutrition Industry Conference.