ANFP Names 2020 Award Recipients
Released: 25-June-2020
Contact Information
Emmy Bender
Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals
Marketing Associate
ebender@ANFPonline.org
800.323.1908 x127
St. Charles, IL – The Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals recently presented awards to several individuals and corporate partners that consistently demonstrate unwavering dedication to the association and the foodservice industry as a whole. The ANFP Awards program strives to celebrate foodservice industry innovators and applauds individuals who advance and support Certified Dietary Managers and the CDM, CFPP credential. The honorees were recognized on ANFPtv this year due to the cancellation of the Annual Conference & Expo (ACE). The following Award recipients were announced:
Ambassador Award
The Ambassador award is dedicated to an industry colleague such as an administrator or dietitian, who demonstrates continuous commitment to the CDM, CFPP credential through mentoring and support of the nutrition and foodservice department leader within their facility. Congratulations, Karl Hertz!
Karl Hertz is the Chief Operations Officer at Memorial Hospital of Converse County (MHCC) in Douglas, WY. Karl has advocated for the CDM, CFPP credential and MHCC’s foodservice department by ensuring the CDM, CFPPs have financial support to maintain the credential. He ensures financial support is available for staff members who are currently enrolled in education programs that will allow them to pursue the credential. Through Karl’s support, many of the foodservice department staff members have had the flexibility to serve on ANFP boards and committees, both at the chapter and National level.
Partnership Award
The recipient of the Partnership award has demonstrated strong commitment to the credential and supports the nutrition and foodservice department leaders as well as staff. Congratulations, Beatrice Peterson, CDM, CFPP!
Beatrice Peterson’s career started in restaurants but eventually moved into long-term care. While working in the long-term care, her manager encouraged her to become a CDM, CFPP where she is currently employed with The Core Group, a national foodservice brokerage. Beatrice has educated her company and the manufacturers they represent about ANFP and the importance of the CDM, CFPP credential. She helps them understand the challenges of the CDM, CFPP in a healthcare facility to the mutual benefit of both. She has shared her expertise at meetings at ANFP chapters, purchased tabletop exhibits, and encourages other manufactures they represent to get involved and exhibit as well. They have also supported chapters by providing speakers, door prizes and other means of financial support.
Horizon Award
The Horizon award recognizes a member that has been in the nutrition and foodservice industry for five years or less and is new to management. They have demonstrated a desire for future growth with their facility and community. They display leadership in fostering equality, diversity, and inclusion in the workplace as well. Congratulations, Crystal Layman, CDM, CFPP!
Crystal is a CDM, CFPP at Mountain View Healthcare in Mountain View, Missouri, a 105-resident, community-based skilled facility. Through open and constant communication with her staff, Crystal ensures everyone is on the same page. Crystal believes in treating all her staff equally and fairly, giving them the opportunity to learn and excel. Crystal has an acute ability to quickly read both her employees and residents’ personal emotions and needs, and then react to those needs in an effective, influential manner. She is quick to offer assistance and help in any situation despite her own busy schedule. One of the most rewarding parts of her job is when she can be a part of making a difference for even one individual who may be struggling with dietary needs.
Innovation Award
The Innovation award recipient has enhanced their nutrition and foodservice operations through technology, program development, nutrition, and operations. Congratulations, Dawn Nickleson,
CDM, CFPP!
Dawn Nickleson is the owner of Passion for Dining and Nutrition (PDN) with her husband, Patrick. They created PDN to provide hands-on culinary training and to promote quality food for senior living communities. As the owner of PDN, Dawn has enhanced foodservice operations through education, technology, and personal involvement. PDN was born from the desire to reach more communities that need training and to make a difference through food. PDN has become a recognized resource throughout the aging services providers of Minnesota. Dawn looks for opportunities to make a difference and is committed to growing her business so that more communities can benefit from training and enhanced dining.
Dining Distinction Award
The Dining Distinction award honors a member that has contributed significantly to the health and well-being of individuals while providing an optimal dining experience, including the nutritional value of food, presentation, the environment in which food is served and interactions with clients. Congratulations, Suzanne Quiring, CDM, CFPP, RD!
In 2000, Suzanne invented the SuzyQ cart System, which is a movement on an improved way on “how” we typically do meal delivery in our long-term care dining rooms, which allows for more resident interaction and choice, hotter food and less food waste resulting in significant dollar savings. To date, she has helped more than 800+ communities throughout North America improve the dining experience for residents. Suzanne is passionate about ensuring the dining experience for residents and clients is as excellent and non-institutional as possible. Having worked in a variety of healthcare settings, her fundamental principle is her guiding one – to allow all residents the human right to self-determine in all their meal choices, every meal, every day. Suzanne is helping to move the needle to a role that includes more advocacy of good nutrition. Improving the overall dining experience that honors relationships, choice, interaction, and a resident-centered approach is what promotes good nutrition.
Distinguished Service - Member Award
The Distinguished Service awards exhibits strong support for ANFP, its members and its mission: Position the Certified Dietary Manager as the expert in foodservice management and food safety. Congratulations, Wanda Dickson, CDM, CFPP!
Wanda Dickson first received her dietary management training in 1974 and has remained an active member with ANFP since that time. She has more than thirty years of foodservice management in acute care hospitals, a psychiatric hospital, and long-term care facilities. With all the experience and years of service under her belt, she is still actively presenting and participating in the advancement of her state and national ANFP organizations. Wanda has consistently continued to show her strong support for ANFP and their mission through the many national, state and district offices she has held and the many workshops and presentations she has presented for members. She is currently a part of the NC chapter and serves as their newsletter editor and chair of the nominating/tellers committee and awards committee. She has been awarded the Trail Blazer Award through the state. She also presents frequently at the NC ANFP and SC ANFP conferences. Given her dedication and contributions over the years, her enthusiasm for the field of nutrition and foodservice has proven to be an inspiration to younger members.
Distinguished Service - Corporate Partner Award
The Distinguished Service awards exhibits strong support for ANFP, its members and its mission through corporate partnership and service: Position the Certified Dietary Manager as the expert in (foodservice) management and food safety. Congratulations, Kelley Vande Lune!
Kelley Vande Lune has worked in the snack foods manufacturing industry for 41 years and is with now McKee Foods, the manufacturer of Fieldstone Bakery and Little Debbie brands, as the National Sales Manager Foodservice. For more than 10 years, Kelley has served ANFP as a corporate partner member and volunteer leader. Kelley has also served on ANFP’s Industry Advisory Council since 2010, taking on the Chair role in 2018-19. In his most recent volunteer position, he served on the ANFP Board of Directors as a Corporate Partner. Kelley has positioned McKee Foods Corporation/Fieldstone Bakery as a top corporate supporter of ANFP. Through Kelley’s corporate leadership role, he has approved vital funding for numerous ANFP educational programs, enabling thousands of members access to free or discounted CE opportunities. He has collaborated with members around the country at national and chapter meetings and is well known as a dedicated and positive industry partner.
CDM Spotlight Award
The CDM Spotlight award honors a member that has received their chapter’s CDM of Year award and has proven to be a devoted member to the chapter as well as ANFP. Congratulations, Maggie Rowlands, CDM, CFPP!
Maggie Rowlands has been in the foodservice industry for more than 30 years and a CDM, CFPP for the past 19 years. She worked her way up at White County Memorial Hospital and has been employed by Pulaski Memorial Hospital for the last twelve years, where she manages the Dietary department and is interim for the EVS (Environmental Services) department. Maggie has been a constant active member for many years with the Indiana ANFP Chapter and has helped to keep the chapter running effectively through consistent volunteerism and education for members on policies and protocol related to the CDM, CFPP credential. In the coming years, she will continue her volunteer path and serve as the chapter president. She is also currently serving on the Program Review Committee at the National level.
Legacy Award
The Legacy award embodies an ANFP member with proven dedication not only to the organization, but the mission and the credential as well. Congratulations, Deborah McDonald, CDM, CFPP!
Deborah McDonald is the current Food Service Program Administrator for North Texas State Hospital WFC. She serves as a mentor for many facilities throughout Texas and is often sought out by other managers, including administrators, from other facilities for advice and guidance, in-services, and to present to staff. Deborah is well known throughout her community for her passion for ANFP. She has been involved with TX ANFP for the last 27 years and served in each role at the chapter level throughout her volunteer career with TX ANFP. In past years, she served as the National Chair for the ANFP and CBDM boards and various other national committees. Through encouragement and mentorship she has inspired others to step outside their comfort zone and volunteer to serve on ANFP National committees and boards.
Diamond Award
The coveted Diamond Award recognizes one ANFP state chapter per year that exemplifies dedication to members through chapter initiatives and enthusiastic leadership. Congratulations, Minnesota ANFP!
Minnesota ANFP’s Diamond initiative was titled “Honoring the Past, Embracing the Future” which was a two-pronged approach that honored past members that paved the way for the successful chapter, while also embracing the future and preparing for the constant change that has and will take place in the industry.
Throughout their 50-year history, Minnesota has continued to stay on trend and look for ways to ensure the chapter’s success for the future. In 2018, Minnesota started using the Whova app for their chapter meetings to help attendees get more out of their meeting experience. Also, in addition to their Facebook and LinkedIn pages, MN ANFP started a chapter Instagram account in 2019 to engage with younger members and students.
As they continue to bridge the past with the future, MN ANFP kicked off their 50th anniversary fall meeting with an Honors Gala that honored those that have dedicated their time to the chapter for many years. Honorees included many past national chairs, board and committee members, award winners, as well as Sister Julien Dirkes, a 50 year member. Attendees of the anniversary meeting benefited from 3 days of speakers, ample opportunity to earn CEU’s, networking events, and a robust expo with many local, state, and national vendors. Session covered an array of relevant topics including strategies for embracing labor shortages, professional ethics and even a “turbo chef live” demonstration, as well as 4 hours in sanitation.
Minnesota ANFP members have also continued their efforts to give back to others, whether local or across the globe. At the fall anniversary meeting, members collected personal hygiene products that were donated to a near-by shelter for those in need. Members also volunteered for Feed My Starving Children (a non-profit organization that coordinates the packaging and distribution of food to people in developing nations) where members packed 58 boxes (12,528 meals) that will feed 34 kids for a year.
Through support and initiatives like Minnesota ANFP’s, their chapter has bridged the past with the future by continuing their legacy of a strong and successful chapter that it is today, that started with a few hardworking individuals 50 years ago. Congratulations again to Minnesota ANFP!
ANFP is a national not-for-profit association established in 1960 that represents more than 15,000 professional members dedicated to the mission of providing optimum nutritional care through nutrition and foodservice management. ANFP members work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, correctional facilities and other non-commercial food settings.