Spearheads development of new program partnerships and expands existing relationships for Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Summer Food Service Program (SFSP). Oversees partnerships with across multiple cities within the state of Texas. Grew program from serving 2,400 meals per day to 45,000 meals per day. Set up emergency feeding sites in 70 locations including churches and apartment complexes in response to COVID-19 and temporary school closures. Provides 75,000+ meals each week. Promotes program through organizing informational meetings with school districts, superintendents, and community leaders to raise awareness of available services Educates potential partners on benefits and advantages of providing free dinner and snacks as well as affordable afterschool care to families. Generates leads through networking, referrals, word-of-mouth, industry events, and prospecting; identifies schools, churches, youth camps, and other organizations that would be a good fit and provides compelling presentations to close deals. Negotiates logistics of setting up BE A CHAMPION sites, organizes staffing, and leads training to ensure quality service and support; can get a site up and running within 10 days. Conducts quarterly check-ins with clients to identify needs, address concerns, and show appreciation. Hosts special events twice a year to give back and maintain positive relationships with site faculty, staff, and administration. Collaborates with executive leadership team and department managers to develop and implement process improvements to optimize operations. Mentors team members to improve performance, productivity, and professional development; supports individuals in achieving leadership roles within the organization.

Managed a team of 6 direct reports responsible for generating leads and securing new partnerships. Attended meetings organized by sales team to negotiate agreements with potential partners and finalize contracts. Also supervised a team of approximately 20 program managers running site operations. Orchestrated the day-to-day site operations ensuring that every location had necessary staffing and supplies to provide meals. Partnered with vendors to order meals; analyzed data to determine number of students served by each site and required supplies. Provided exceptional customer service and quickly resolved problems to maintain positive relationships and meet community needs. Coordinated payroll for program staff, site coordinators, and program managers and submitted to HR for approval.

Managed program operations at assigned site locations including ordering, waste control, inventory management, logistics, risk management, compliance, and customer satisfaction. Conducted field visits to observe processes and verify compliance with program requirements. Reported any issues and developed corrective action plans as necessary. Cultivated strong partner relationships. Stimulated significant growth within the Beaumont-Port Arthur region and built numerous program partnerships; led to promotion to Director of Strategic Partnerships at the corporate office. Prospected for new partnerships and assisted institutions with completing program applications; scheduled meetings with districts throughout the area to increase awareness of BE A CHAMPION and its benefits to families and schools Coached and mentored site coordinators and program staff to enhance performance and maximize program participation.