Suzanne P Cottingham

Dynamic food and nutrition executive with 26 years of comprehensive experience in food service administration, including 20 years in director-level roles. Expertise includes multi-site administration across fiscal management, budgeting, operations, procurement, grant execution, and human resources development. Proven track record of driving profitable operational results through innovative project management and staff development programs, with a strong focus on menu planning, nutritional analysis, and compliance with USDA regulatory standards. Committed to enhancing community wellness through strategic partnerships and effective coordination of specialized meal programs.

• Created unique hiring and staffing methods to recruit staffing in a difficult market to manage increased demand for staffing in districtwide sites.
• Developed improved and sustainable methods of communication for Free & Reduced Meal program by improving communications to district administration and families, thus improving accessibility to students and families enabling them to qualify for meal and non-meal benefits. Implemented substantial cost savings of resources by utilizing updated methods of communications for relaying pertinent information and accessibility to local and federal benefits. Expediting processes and improving customer service during COVID feeding to provide crucial resources to the families within the school community.
• Recognized Locally & Nationally in School Nutrition/ Food Service Field Press Release in April 2019 for Successful Initiative in Sustainable Products utilized in the school food service environment.
• School Nutrition Expert Presenter for Breakfast in the Classroom School Nutrition Annual National Conference in Atlanta, GA- July 2017
• Highlighted in an article published by The Post & Courier in October 2014 on building relationships with Green Heart and community partners to expand student wellness initiatives and nutrition education within Charleston County.
• Achieved consistent financial success within contracted and self-operated school lunch programs in all areas of cost management with respect to food cost, labor cost, and direct costs, resulting in substantial return to programs of approximately 150K-200K annually for four years consecutively while expanding program offerings and increasing program participation.
• Executed six successful USDA and state-level administrative reviews within the last 18 years in self-operated and contracted school nutrition administration programs.
• Successfully enacted Board Approved Meal Charge Policy within one fiscal year to lower charges from $88,000 to $4,000 in a 4400-student district while increasing Average Daily participation by approximately 40% within the same school year.
• Received Aramark Education's Northeast Region "Rookie of the Year" award for the 2008-2009 school year for achieving standards of excellence regarding financial and operational results.
• Developed and implemented quality assurance programs, resulting in a 20-30% increase in healthcare Press Ganey patient satisfaction benchmarking scores in areas of food quality, food temperatures, customer service, and diet education.

• Member, U of SC Charleston Cohort Professional MBA, Columbia, South Carolina
• Member, School Nutrition Association, South Carolina School Nutrition Association, NY School Nutrition Association
• Southeastern State Representative, Food Focus Group- Nationwide
• Nutrition Services Representative, Charleston County Schools CACFP Health Advisory Committee
• Department Representative, Charleston County Schools Safety Committee 2014- Present
• Community Partner Representative, Eat Smart, Move More Charleston Tri-County, Trident United Way
• Community Advisory Board Member, LINQ Technologies (TitanK12) 2024- Present

• SNS (School Nutrition Specialist Certification), May 2021, School Nutrition Association highest level of excellence certification in directing and managing all facets of a School Nutrition Operation
• National Incident Management Certification, FEMA- Emergency Management, 2007 to 2012. Certified in IS-100, IS-200, IS-700. Trained in NIMS crisis intervention.
• SERVSafe Manager Certification, Charleston County Schools 2023-2028, 2018-2023, 2013-2018, Aramark, 2010

• South Carolina Tyler/ Munis Enterprise ERP User Group Training- February 2023, Columbia South Carolina
• Project Management Certificate Program Training, University of South Carolina Office of Continuing Education, 2023
• Annual Conference Training, School Nutrition Association- National Leadership Training 2022- Orlando, Florida, 2017- Atlanta, Georgia- Presenter, 2014- Boston, Massachusetts
• South Carolina School Nutrition Association, Annual Conference Myrtle Beach, SC, 2013-2023
• Leadership Training Program, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY, 2006 to 2007. Corporate training program for hospital administrators increasing skills in areas of human resources, management, budgeting and cost control, planning, training, and communication.
• Management Training Program, Aramark Corporation, St. Vincent's Hospital, NY, 1996 to 1997. Corporate training program covering in detail all aspects of a food service operation within varying types of facilities.