In my first year of culinary school, I learned two important things that I’ve tried hard not to forget: When I graduated, I would not be an Executive Chef. But if I worked hard enough, I could leave the dish pit and hold a knife. Your food is your story. If you want to know […]

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Council – June 2023 By: Erin-Kate WhitcombHiveMind Strategies LLC, DBA Working CourageFounder/CEO DE&I Before It Was DE&I – The Long and Winding Road It is fair to say that most people don’t know much about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and are still learning. We get busted for saying the wrong […]

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Council – May 2023 By: Ben Anderson Director, Campus Dining GrubHub What makes a great hospitality experience? More importantly, what does it look like?? It goes beyond the expected. The experience compels us to remember it but it’s usually not the situation we remember. It’s you – the humans on […]

Nicole Perez, Impossible Foods After your first SHFM Conference in 2021, you made a point to reach out to other SHFM members and Rising Stars. How have those connections help you in the industry? After my first SHFM conference in 2021, I was impressed at how connected everyone was and the long time relationships all […]

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council – February 2023 Recognizing Black History Month In February, the United States honors the contributions and sacrifices of African Americans who have helped shape the nation. Black History Month celebrates the cultural heritage, achievements and adversities that are central to the history of the United States. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, […]

Carolina Mendez, FLIK Hospitality at the World Bank Group You are pretty new to SHFM, what does it mean to you to have been selected for the Rising Star Program? It’s an absolute honor to have been selected! I knew I wanted to get involved in every way that I could with SHFM and I […]

Hannah Guy, Middleby Your first SHFM event was a Philadelphia Local, how was it for you to break into the SHFM family? Breaking into the SHFM Family was much easier and not as nerve racking as I had initially thought that it would be! I was new into my current role and new to SHFM […]

The largest minority-owned Food service company in the U.S., Thompson Hospitality is also one of the Nation’s largest retail food and facilities companies. We are a Family-owned organization, built on lessons learned from more than 29 years of client, customer and community relationships, as well as values passed down from previous generations of the Thompson […]

Pamela Zimmerman Workplace Services Coordinator GBS, Global Real Estate & Workplace EnablementAmerican Express Tell SHFM members a little about yourself:I have been happily married for over 30 years, a mother of 4 (a son, 2 daughters and a daughter-in-law) and a new grandmother (4 month old grandson). I am a singer and have had the […]