Leadership Program Accelerates Alumnus To Food Production Manager
Every year, Aramark, a Fortune 200 leader in food service, searches for the best and brightest students from across the country to prepare for an accelerated career path into a leadership role within the organization. Sam Houston State University graduate, Annlyn Whaley ’14, was one of 115 accepted across the nation into Aramark’s unique internship program, Accelerate to Leadership (A2L), last year.
Whaley, who holds a bachelor of arts degree in food service management from SHSU, spent 10 months working for Aramark as a food service manager in the Food and Nutrition Services department at University Hospital & Clinics (UHC), a subsidy of the Lafayette General Heath System (LGH) in Lafayette, Louisiana. During the internship program, Whaley received hands-on training managing the day-to-day operations while shadowing the director of operations, Frank Blanchard.
“I learned all facets of the business during the A2L program,” said Whaley who was recommended for the leadership program by Brad Blackburn, Aramark resident district manager, while doing a 300-hour undergraduate internship at the Sam Houston Dining in fall 2014.
“Annlyn started as a student worker, taking care of our Quality Assurance Food and Safety assessments,” Blackburn said.
“The assessments are similar to a health inspection,” Whaley said. “During the course of my internship I was able to get a wide range of experience and knowledge of the food service industry by simply completing the assessment. It was a great way to be exposed to the different facets of a food service operation.”
“Aramark looks for the most promising students to join the A2L Program. I recommended Annlyn to the program because of the exceptional job she has done for us,” Blackburn said. “She always went above and beyond what was asked and took the initiative to ensure she did a thorough job. Her work always exceeded our expectations and she has a wonderful attitude.”
Whaley interviewed at the Aramark headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa. and received an offer into the program a week before her December graduation. “I felt really prepared for the experience and was able to apply all of the different concepts I learned in class and with SH Dining to my job at the UHC Café,” Whaley said.
The Food Service Management program at SHSU emphasizes the business aspects of food service, including quality food purchasing, production and service, as well as safety and sanitation.
“My interest in food service management evolved from my personal interests in cooking, traveling, and entertainment,” Whaley said. “I traveled extensively growing up and developed an appreciation for other cultures and cuisines. I thought, ‘what better way to enjoy good food, good wine, and good people than to be a part of the action.’”
Whaley’s decision to attend SHSU stemmed from hearing fond stories about the university from her mother, Dianne May-Vicars, who attended SHSU in the early 1970s.
“When I visited, I felt safe and happy and had a feeling of warmth,” she said. “The Family and Consumer Sciences faculty at SHSU were wonderful and passionate. I was impacted so much from my professors while a student; Dr. Janis White in particular. She advised me through my collegiate years and mentored me as I evolved from student to working professional.”
During the A2L internship program, Whaley remained in contact with the Sam Houston Dining management team. Before the program ended, Whaley was offered a position as a Food Production Manager at Old Main Market, SHSU’s cafeteria which Aramark manages.
“We always strive to hire Sam Houston graduates,” Blackburn said.
According to Blackburn, the SH Dining Service workforce is made up of approximately 40 to 45 percent Sam Houston students.
“Aramark also provides a lot of employment opportunities to students while they are going to school,” Blackburn said.
In fact, according to Blackburn, over the past five years, Aramark has provided several student employees full-time management positions.
“To be on the staff of my alma mater, to be a part of the management team who I mentored under, and to do what I love – nothing sounded better,” Whaley said. “My role with SH Dining matches my unique and creative outlook, innate passion for service, and desire to achieve to the highest standards.”
Whaley’s responsibilities as food production manager at Old Main Market includes assisting the SH Dining team with menu planning and forecasting, ordering and purchasing from vendors, managing and scheduling hourly staff, accounting, inventory and records.
“She makes sure that everything goes smoothly during service times,” Blackburn said.
“There is never a dull moment,” Whaley said. “It’s a people business. You have to be a people person to be successful. In this industry, I’m touching people’s lives every day. It’s really rewarding to provide a service.”