Meet Your Learning Circle Guides

Lori Adkins, MS, SNS

Child Nutrition Consultant, Oakland Schools
Waterford, Michigan
Current SNA Role: At Large member of Public Policy & Legislation Committee and Candidate for SNA Vice President

One fun fact most people don’t know about me…
Food service has been my one and only job my entire life - I’ve worked as a dishwasher, tray-line server, cook, and waitress in restaurants and health care in addition to schools totaling over 38 years!

What I’m most excited to explore at #SNIC2020
I love to visit other food service operations across the country, so I’m really excited to attend the pre-con session field trip to the Palm Springs Unified School District’s warehouse & central kitchen. Also, I can’t wait to learn more about Inclusive Leadership at Monday’s general session from Diversity & Inclusion expert Joe Gerstandt!

Richard Browder, SNS

Director of Student Nutrition, Brighton Area Schools
Brighton, Michigan
Current SNA Role: ANC 2020 Co-Advisor

One fun fact most people don’t know about me…
I grew up in Canada, so we had no school lunch program. I didn't know about the NSLP until 2001 when I got my first school job.

What I’m most excited to explore at #SNIC2020
I'm especially looking forward to the THINKubator General Session and I always find something new and exciting at the networking lunch with tabletop showcase.

Dan Ellnor, CP-FS, BA, SNS

Assistant Director, Jefferson County Public Schools
Louisville, Kentucky
Current SNA Role: SNIC 2021 Co-Advisor

One fun fact most people don’t know about me…
I’m an omnivore, I’ll literally eat anything that does not eat me first. Alive or dead.

What I’m most excited to explore at #SNIC2020
One word: “THINKubator”

Sara Gasiorowski, MBA, SNS

Child Nutrition Director, MSD of Wayne Township
Indianapolis, Indiana
Current SNA Role: Candidate for SNA Vice President

One fun fact most people don’t know about me…
I took piano lessons for 10+ years.

What I’m most excited to explore at #SNIC2020
I am most excited to participate in the "THINKubator" pre-conference session and looking forward to spending time with my peers exploring and discovering the next new GREAT idea for school nutrition! And then we get to pitch our idea to the SNIC attendees!  

General session speakers at SNIC are always the best! They push us as directors, industry members, and operators to think more broadly about our programs and moving forward.

Shonia Hall, RPS, SNS

Assistant Director of School Nutrition Services, Oklahoma City Public Schools
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Current SNA Role: Major City Directors/Supervisors Section Advisor 

One fun fact most people don’t know about me…
I grew up in a very rural eastern Oklahoma on 30 acres, most of my food was grown by my parents! We had our own pigs, chickens, and cows that we raised as a food source! My evening meals often consisted of garden-grown vegetables, a farm-raised protein, and fresh bread. As a lady living in the city now, I cherish these memories along with all the fun stuff I learned growing up. 

What I’m most excited to explore at #SNIC2020
I am really looking forward to the leadership sessions being offered. As a leader, I think you can never stop improving and taking ideas that work, along with my own personal leadership style and incorporating them to make myself and staff better! 

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Mary Keske

President, Cool School Cafe
Current SNA Role: Industry Advisory Council Member

One fun fact most people don’t know about me
I play the Viola and enjoy classical music.

What I’m most excited to explore at #SNIC2020
I always look forward to the general sessions, every speaker has a nugget or two that I can take back to our team.

Quentin Layne

National Account Manager, K-12, Basic American Foods
Dallas, Texas
Current SNA Role: Industry Advisory Council Member

One fun fact most people don’t know about me…
When I was in 8th grade I was in a choir group and elected president. However, I don’t sing anymore and I’m quite shy about it. 

What I’m most excited to explore at #SNIC2020
I’m excited about SNIC, one of my favorite conferences to attend. I am especially looking forward to the FAME Awards ceremony, sessions on sustainability, connecting with friends/colleagues, and hearing Dr. Shimi Kang’s presentation. 

Jeremy Loch

SVP & GM, Heartland School Solutions
Chicago, Illinois
Current SNA Role: Industry Advisory Council Member

One fun fact most people don’t know about me…
I once organized a Longhorn cattle drive in downtown Omaha

What I’m most excited to explore at #SNIC2020
THINKubator Challenge 

Reginald Ross, SNS

Zone 3 Operations Consultant
North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Current SNA Role: SNA President-elect

One fun fact most people don’t know about me…
I once had dinner with Hank Aaron and Ambassador Andrew Young at Hank Aaron’s home in Atlanta, Georgia.

What I’m most excited to explore at #SNIC2020
I am excited about the new concept of the Learning Circles and the small roundtable discussions.

Carol Weekly, RDN, SNS

Director of Strategic Accounts, TITAN School Solutions
Irvine, California
Current SNA Role: SNIC 2021 Co-Advisor

One fun fact most people don’t know about me…
I grew up in a small town in Northern NM, population 1372, there were only 28 people in my graduating class.

What I’m most excited to explore at #SNIC202
The general sessions are always great opportunities for me to see how I can improve, but I am most excited for the THINKubater, such a great idea and concept, a way to really elevate the operator.

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