Chris Burkhardt has 28 years of experience in school nutrition and is currently the Chief Operating officer for Cincinnati Public Schools, overseeing transportation, facilities, custodians, capital projects, purchasing and student dining. Prior to that, he was the Executive Director of School Nutrition for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, as well as the Director of Child Nutrition and Wellness at Lakota Local School District.

Chris has received two SNA Director of the Year awards, an SNF Hero Award and a Foodservice Achievement Management Excellence (FAME) Award. He has served as Public Policy Chair, Secretary/Treasurer, Vice President, President-Elect and President of the School Nutrition Association (SNA) of Ohio, as well as completed a three-year term on SNA’s National Public Policy and Legislation Committee.

His most meaningful accomplishment, however, is his outreach to his community. As the President of Reach Out Lakota, a local food pantry in West Chester, Ohio, he helps provide fresh fruits and vegetables and nutrition education and culinary techniques to low-income families.

Areas of Business Responsible For: Student dining, purchasing, transportation and facilities

What Do You Bring to the Role: Everything my team and I do focuses on process and procedures. These are the building blocks for a well-run organization or department.

Education: Ohio University (B.S.)

What You Do in Your Free Time: I’m passionate about cycling, running, kayaking, world travel, photography, nature and bourbon.

Headshot of C Burkhardt

Chris Burkhardt, SNS

Secretary/Treasurer

Chief Operating Officer

Cincinnati Public Schools, OHIO