About the Professional Development Committee
What is the Professional Development Committee?
The Professional Development Committee supports SNA’s mission and vision by assessing and prioritizing the professional development needs of the members and assists in the development and evaluation of training courses and materials. They recommend programs that meet Certificate and Credentialing program requirements to the SNA Board of Directors and assist with drafting programs as identified in the annual plan of work and to meet the Strategic Plan strategies and committee charges.
What are the Committee Responsibilities?
- Evaluates educational materials developed by states, industry and private enterprise for compliance with criteria and suitability for formal training courses, as needed.
- Recommends standards, policies and procedures pertaining to implementation of professional growth and education programs to the SNA Board of Directors
- Recommends education programs and method of delivery.
- Monitors and complies with the SNA Strategic Plan, supports the Annual Plan of Work and assesses education programs annually to determine if they are current, need to be updated or should be removed.
Meet Our Members

Committee Chair
Alyssia Wright, Ed.S
Fulton County SD
Atlanta, GA

Major City Director/Mideast Region
Radha Patwardhan
Montgomery County PS
Potomac, MD

District Director/Midwest Region
Carolyn Thomas
Macomb Intermediate School District
Clinton Township, MI

District Director/Northeast Region
Lori McCoy, RD, SNS
Colonial SD
Eagleville, PA

District Director/Mountain Plains
Kara Sample, SNS
Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6
Greeley, CO

District Director/Southeast Region
Keba Laird, MBA, RDN, SNS
Clinton Public SD
Clinton, MS

Manager/Southwest Region
Heather Blades
Diocese of Baton Rouge
Baton Rouge, LA

District Director/West Region
Anna Apoian, SNS
Norwalk-La Mirada USD
Rolling Hills Estates, CA

State Agency Representative
Erin Dilcher, SNS
Georgia DOE
Roswell, GA

Industry Representative
Cheyenne Mattox, SNS
Affinity Group
Pelham, AL

Board Advisor
Erin Bronner, RD, SNS
Creighton Elementary School District
Phoenix, AZ

Staff Advisor
Sarah Murphy-Youssef
School Nutrition Assoc.
Arlington, VA