Keri Kennedy
Jacksonville
Summary
Results-driven Food Service Director with a strong background in culinary arts and healthcare management. Achieved 100% state survey compliance, optimized inventory and labor costs, and implemented training programs that improved staff performance and resident satisfaction.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Food Service Director, CDM, CFPP
ProMedica Senior Care
Fort Myers
04.2019 - Current
- Oversaw daily food service operations, ensuring high standards of quality and compliance with health regulations.
- Managed inventory budgeting, labor costs, staff recruitment, and training for managers in training to ensure operational efficiency.
- Developed menus addressing dietary needs while adhering to budget guidelines to optimize resource allocation.
- I run all aspects of the kitchen, State survey was 100%.
- Trained staff on food safety practices and proper equipment usage.
- Implemented cost-saving measures while maintaining service quality standards.
- Managed inventory control and ensured timely supply replenishment.
- Coordinated with suppliers to source fresh ingredients for meal preparation.
- Conducted regular inspections to ensure compliance with health regulations.
- I've built and maintained an amazing team.
- As directors we are there to support and train our staff to give the best quality of care to our residents.
- I attend care plan meetings and work closely with the dietitian.
- Served as an executive chef in restaurants and 5-star hotels.
- Obtained culinary degree from accredited institution.
Food Service Director
Life Care Center of Ja ksonville
Jacksonville
12.2025 - 06.2026
Food Service Director
Life Care Center Of Estero
Estero
01.2021 - 03.2024
- Oversaw daily food service operations and maintained high standards of quality.
- Managed inventory control and ensured timely supply replenishment.
- Developed menus that met dietary needs and adhered to budget guidelines.
- Trained staff on food safety practices and proper equipment usage.
- Conducted regular inspections to ensure compliance with health regulations.
- Implemented cost-saving measures while maintaining service quality standards.
Culinary Director CDM,CFPP
Heartland Healthcare ManorCare
Fort Myers
04.2020 - 11.2021
- I run an incredible team.
- I believe in educating from the bottom up.
- All aspects of the kitchen are under my supervision as well as business end.
- My CDM,CFPP certification allows me to extend my knowledge into the clinical aspect of the business.
- I truly enjoy working with elderly people.
Culinary Director
Brookdale Assisted Living and Memory Care
Cape Coral
05.2018 - 04.2021
- Not only do I have the executive chef, sous chef, kitchen manager background.
- As a culinary director I deal with the front of the house and back of the house.
- Growing my team in a positive light, accepting problems as challenges that is what's drives me and my team to do their best.
- From the dishwasher to the executive director to the owner of the establishment.
- If we, our team, have the same understanding nothing can stand in our way.
Sous Chef/Kitchen Manager
Bleu Rendez-Vous French Bistro
Sanibel Island
05.2018 - 10.2018
- As a sous chef I take on the responsibility of educating and molding my staff to adhere to what the company foresees in a menu, yet also challenging them to be creative as an individual of Their Own.
- By educating my staff and allowing them them to evolve with in the company, and feel appreciated is my key to success.
Executive Chef and Manager
Adas Natural Market
Fort Myers
07.2017 - 03.2018
- But that hearing to my belief as a sous chef, I believe that executive chefs feel the same passion and the better team that you have the more successful you will be and the more successful that your staff will be and the more successful that the restaurant will be, which brings forth profit an accomplishment.
Lead Grill
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Mama Dell's Italian Restaurant
Orlando
01.2016 - 03.2016
- Grill and Fry Stations
Banquet Cook II
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
Orlando
09.2015 - 01.2016
- Grill, Fry, Sauté from the many Banquet menus
- Event Timing
- Work hand in hand with front of the house staff
Lead Cook
Rumba Rum Bar Inspired Island Cuisine
Hampton Bays
05.2014 - 09.2015
- Grill, fry, salad and sauté from menu
- Organized and lead the line staff
- Created and Prepared Specials for the night
- Work with vendors to ensure quality product
Kitchen Manager
Cypress Cove @ HealthPark
Fort Myers
Education
Certificate - Certified Dietary Manager
University of Florida
Florida05-2020
Culinary Arts -
Star Career Academy
Syosset, NY01-2015
AS - Medical Assistant
Southwest Florida College
Southwest, Florida, US01-2012
University of Charleston
Charleston, WV01-1997
Skills
- Powerpoint
- Excel
- Retail Sales
- Microsoft Word
- Culinary Experience
- Microsoft Office
- Kitchen Management Experience
- Memory Care
- Food Safety
- Banquet Experience
- Food Preparation
- Supervising Experience
- Cooking
- Food Handling
- Meal Preparation
- Dietary department experience
- Knife skills
- Baking
- Catering
- Stocking
- Labor cost analysis
- Food production
- Food management
- Food service management
- Profit & loss
- Menu planning
- Home care
- Leadership
- Restaurant management
- Human resources
- POS
Certification
- Food handler certificate ServSafe
Personal Information
- Willing To Relocate: Anywhere
- Authorized To Work: US for any employer
- Title: Healthcare Culinary Director CDM, CFPP
Timeline
Food Service Director
Life Care Center of Ja ksonville
12.2025 - 06.2026
Food Service Director
Life Care Center Of Estero
01.2021 - 03.2024
Culinary Director CDM,CFPP
Heartland Healthcare ManorCare
04.2020 - 11.2021
Food Service Director, CDM, CFPP
ProMedica Senior Care
04.2019 - Current
Sous Chef/Kitchen Manager
Bleu Rendez-Vous French Bistro
05.2018 - 10.2018
Culinary Director
Brookdale Assisted Living and Memory Care
05.2018 - 04.2021
Executive Chef and Manager
Adas Natural Market
07.2017 - 03.2018
Lead Grill
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel Mama Dell's Italian Restaurant
01.2016 - 03.2016
Banquet Cook II
Loews Portofino Bay Hotel
09.2015 - 01.2016
Lead Cook
Rumba Rum Bar Inspired Island Cuisine
05.2014 - 09.2015
Kitchen Manager
Cypress Cove @ HealthPark
Certificate - Certified Dietary Manager
University of Florida
Culinary Arts -
Star Career Academy
AS - Medical Assistant
Southwest Florida College
University of Charleston