Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Affiliations
References
Timeline
Generic
Rebecca Ward

Rebecca Ward

Oakland,CA

Summary

Forward thinking culinary coordinator with combined 35 years of experience in school food and high-production kitchens. Expertise in kitchen management, batch cooking, and speed scratch cooking. Proven ability to maintain efficiency and composure in high-pressure environments while providing clear instructions to team members. Committed to advancing nutritional knowledge and promoting sustainability in the school food industry.

Overview

35
35
years of professional experience

Work History

Coordinator of Food Services & Safety Programs

Acalanes Union High School District
Lafayette, CA
04.2020 - Current
  • Manage food service operations at four high schools, increasing food quality and participation for 5,200 students.
  • Lead and train four cafeteria managers and 25 staff members to comply with food safety regulations and run efficient operations.
  • Showed a $500K budget surplus in the third year of operations.
  • Develop work schedules for food service employees in collaboration with site administration.
  • Develop school food menus that meet USDA and CDE dietary guidelines to ensure that meals prepared meet dietary balance and nutritional adequacy.
  • Administer Universal Meals program in a manner that encourages maximum student participation.
  • Provide an annual report on the operations and finances of the Food Service Program to the Governing Board.
  • Oversee the purchase of all food, supplies, and equipment for the Food Service Program. Recommend the purchase of new or replacement of capital equipment.
  • Supervise and evaluate district employees providing food service to students in collaboration with school site personnel.
  • Lead the implementation of the District Safety Program and Workplace Safety Program/Injury Illness Prevention Plan (IIPP) districtwide, in partnership with Contra Costa County Schools Insurance Group (CCSIG).
  • Strictly follow sanitation and food safety guidelines as required by regulatory agencies and the district.

Executive Sous Chef

Apple Inc.
Cupertino, CA
04.2012 - 02.2020
  • Directed day-to-day management and vendor relationships for a high-production commissary kitchen using from-scratch recipes, which served 48 campuses with 25,000 employees.
  • Maintained high food quality standards and customer satisfaction by verifying product quality and integrating customer feedback and requests, standardized production recipes for consistent quality and product presentation.
  • Oversaw inventory/ordering of food and supplies while maintaining budgetary goals.
  • Developed and implemented training programs for kitchen staff of 40 to ensure consistency and adherence to standard operating procedures.
  • Managed scheduling, discipline, and performance evaluations of kitchen staff.
  • Created and updated menus that adhered to nutritional guidelines while accommodating a diverse range of palates and dietary restrictions.
  • Established and maintained relationships with local vendors and suppliers to source high-quality, sustainable ingredients.
  • Worked closely with other departments to support corporate events, employee benefits, and community outreach.

Education

ServeSafe Managers Certificate - Food Safety/HACCP

Serve Safe
Sacramento, CA
11-2024

Plant Based Nutritionist Certificate -

T. Colin Campbell Center For Nutritional Studies
Webster, NY
04.2023

Food and Nutrition -

Diablo Valley College
Pleasant Hill, CA
01.2023

School Nutrition Specialist - School Nutrition

School Nutrition Association
Currently studying

Some College (No Degree) - Culinary Arts

Contra Costa College
San Pablo, CA

Skills

  • Budget management
  • Staff training
  • Regulatory compliance
  • Team leadership
  • Menu development
  • Operations management
  • Effective communication
  • Vendor relations

Accomplishments

  • Association of California School Administrators Region 6 Diablo Valley Chapter Classified Manager of the Year Designee. 24-25 school year

Affiliations

  • American Culinary Foundation

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Coordinator of Food Services & Safety Programs

Acalanes Union High School District
04.2020 - Current

Executive Sous Chef

Apple Inc.
04.2012 - 02.2020

ServeSafe Managers Certificate - Food Safety/HACCP

Serve Safe

Plant Based Nutritionist Certificate -

T. Colin Campbell Center For Nutritional Studies

Food and Nutrition -

Diablo Valley College

School Nutrition Specialist - School Nutrition

School Nutrition Association

Some College (No Degree) - Culinary Arts

Contra Costa College

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