Matthew A Tennant
St Augustine
Summary
Dynamic healthcare and food service executive with over 25 years of progressive leadership experience, including Director-level roles and multi-unit oversight in hospital and corporate dining settings. Expertise in managing large-scale patient dining programs for facilities with 1,000 to 1,400 beds, leading teams of over 60 staff members while ensuring full P&L accountability. Skilled in navigating regulatory compliance, optimizing financial performance, and enhancing client satisfaction through innovative solutions and strategic initiatives. Committed to driving operational excellence and fostering a culture of teamwork and accountability within diverse environments.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Executive Chef
Morrison Healthcare
Gainesville, FL
01.2024 - Current
- Provide strategic leadership for retail cafés and a 1,000-bed patient dining program. Oversee budgeting, labor planning, inventory control, and purchasing. Ensure compliance with Joint Commission, CMS, FDA, and local health regulations.
Director Dining Service
Unidine Healthcare
Akron, OH
01.2021 - 01.2024
- Held full operational and financial responsibility for hospital food service operations. Managed P&L, budgeting, forecasting, hiring, and client relations while improving service consistency and satisfaction.
Executive Chef
Morrison Healthcare, Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Oversaw patient dining and room service operations for a 1,400-bed facility. Managed centralized production kitchen and supervised 60+ employees while maintaining dietary compliance and operational efficiency.
General Manager
AVI Food Systems
North Canton, OH
01.2013 - 01.2017
- Directed multi-unit operations including three kitchens, Starbucks, and vending. Maintained P&L performance below budget and increased revenue through service and quality improvements.
Education
Associate Degree - Culinary Arts
Pennsylvania Culinary Institute | Le Cordon Bleu
Pittsburgh, PASkills
- Food safety
- Menu planning
- Cost control
- Menu development
- Strong work ethic
- ServSafe certification
- Team leadership
- Hiring, training, and development
- Inventory control
- Kitchen management
- Sanitation standards
- Waste reduction
- Regulatory compliance
Certification
- CDM/CFPP (ANFP)
- ServSafe Manager Certification
Timeline
Senior Executive Chef
Morrison Healthcare
01.2024 - Current
Director Dining Service
Unidine Healthcare
01.2021 - 01.2024
Executive Chef
Morrison Healthcare, Cleveland Clinic
01.2017 - 01.2021
General Manager
AVI Food Systems
01.2013 - 01.2017
Associate Degree - Culinary Arts
Pennsylvania Culinary Institute | Le Cordon Bleu
Core Competencies
- Food & Nutrition Services Leadership
- Healthcare Operations
- P&L Ownership
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Regulatory Compliance
- Patient Experience
- Multi-Site Operations
- Labor Strategy
- Performance Metrics