Dee’on Bellamy

A proud native of the Conway/Myrtle Beach area of South Carolina, Dee’on Bellamy brings over 30 years of experience in the hospitality and food industry. For the past eight years, he has served Horry County Schools as the Cafeteria Manager at Loris High School. Dee’on is passionate about fostering a sense of self-worth and community among the young adults he works with and deeply values the positive impact they have on each other’s lives.

He believes that innovative ideas are essential to advancing school nutrition programs and is always eager to contribute wherever possible to support that progress. Outside of work, Dee’on advocates for a healthy, active lifestyle and enjoys reading, exercising, and spending time outdoors.

In his newly appointed role, Dee’on serves as the liaison between the school nutrition employee/manager sector and the association’s members and Board. He brings forward the employee and manager perspective on policy and professional development to ensure their voices are heard and their needs represented.

Areas of Responsibility: While his role as a cafeteria manager differs from the broader strategic responsibilities held by directors, Dee’on oversees a wide range of operational and supervisory duties, including:

• Staff Management: Recruiting, training, scheduling, supervising cafeteria staff, conducting performance evaluations, and providing coaching or corrective action.
• Food Operations: Planning menus that meet nutritional and budgetary guidelines, overseeing food preparation, portioning, and presentation, and ensuring consistent quality.
• Compliance & Safety: Enforcing food safety standards, health regulations, and workplace policies; managing inspections, sanitation, food storage, labeling, and temperature control.
• Inventory & Ordering: Ordering food and supplies within budget, maintaining inventory records, and minimizing waste.
• Financial Oversight: Managing cafeteria budgets, tracking sales, reconciling registers, and monitoring food and labor costs.
• Customer Service: Addressing concerns from students and staff, and promoting a positive dining environment.
• Facility Maintenance: Ensuring cleanliness of kitchen and dining areas, and scheduling equipment maintenance.
• Reporting & Administration: Maintaining records for compliance and inventory, and preparing reports for district administrators.

What He Brings to the Role: Dee’on brings a strong eagerness to learn and a proactive, hands-on approach to problem-solving. His approachable and welcoming personality helps him build strong relationships with staff, students, and colleagues. Being in the cafeteria daily, he offers a unique, practical perspective that ensures decisions are grounded in real-world operations.

Personal Interests: In his free time, Dee’on enjoys staying active through workouts and outdoor activities. Hunting, fishing, and spending time in nature are among his favorite ways to recharge.