Director of the Year
Larry Wade
Larry Wade, Sr., M.Div., SNS, Director of School Nutrition Services for Chesapeake Public Schools, VA, has led the Chesapeake meal program transition toward scratch cooking, implementing culinary training and skills development for the team to elevate food quality and increase student meal participation. Working collaboratively with the district administration, superintendent and school board, Wade more than doubled the number of schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP). As a result, more than half of the district’s students have access to a nutritious school breakfast and lunch at no cost, removing financial barriers for families.
Wade expanded staffing and supported a centralized warehouse model to reduce food costs, improve efficiency and provide more consistent service across 45 schools. He has strengthened relationships with community organizations to enhance public perception of school meals, reinforcing the district’s commitment to nourishing students.
Additionally, Wade initiated a comprehensive department restructuring that significantly improved employee retention and morale. He established a career ladder to provide clear pathways for advancement, improve job security and foster professional growth.
Manager of the Year
Barbie Doyle
Barbie Doyle, Nutrition Manager at Pleasant Lea Elementary in Lee's Summit R7 District, MO, is a hands-on manager and works side-by-side with staff to train them, instilling a sense of caring and pride. Through Doyle’s innovation and commitment to healthy eating, Pleasant Lea menus feature many fresh, local foods in recipes, including spaghetti squash, purple sweet potatoes, green beans and zucchini. Doyle goes above and beyond to make the cafeteria welcoming and enjoyable, creating catchy signage and displays for the garden bar and spotlighting local farmers for students to learn more about the foods they’re eating.
Understanding the importance of connecting with families, Doyle implements several special events to welcome the community, including a Thanksgiving candlelight luncheon. She also voluntarily launched the Tiger Cafe Club as an option for students interested in cooking to learn fun nutrition facts, create simple recipes and participate in events.
Doyle is a hands-on manager and works side-by-side with staff to train them, instilling a sense of caring and pride. When faced with challenges, she remains calm, focused and positive. Her resilience and problem-solving skills keep staff motivated and on track.
Employee of the Year
Jennifer Holbert
Jennifer Holbert, Nutrition Administrative Assistant for Lee’s Summit R7 School District, MO, is a compassionate and dedicated member of her district’s nutrition team. Her efforts have boosted employee support and morale and strengthened parent and community relations. As leader of the district’s monthly cooking club, Holbert also supports students by teaching essential kitchen and safety skills with hands-on lessons. She encourages teamwork, problem-solving and vocabulary development while exploring new foods and recipes to boost confidence, collaboration skills and pride in their shared accomplishments.
Holbert utilizes her business degree and extensive experience conducting focus groups to identify opportunities for team improvement. Through the department’s Facebook page, Holbert also improved community support and generated positive feedback about the nutrition program, posting photos to highlight menu items and special events and increasing parent involvement through her Question of the Day prompts.
Industry Member of the Year Award
Jennifer Armstrong
Jennifer Armstrong, Vice President of Sales, Don Lee Farms, has demonstrated a strong commitment to advancing K-12 school nutrition through leadership, innovation and advocacy. She has led a national sales team and broker network representing more than 100 K-12-focused products, including natural and clean-label burgers, No Antibiotics Ever chicken and plant-based options designed to meet the evolving needs of students and schools.
Jennifer has directed new product development efforts that successfully balance innovation with student acceptance and operational efficiency in school cafeterias. She has served as the primary contact for both Los Angeles Unified School District and New York City Public Schools and has worked closely with USDA AMS and FNS on child nutrition policy and processing procedures. In addition, she has championed industry involvement with State SNA affiliates, ACDA and allied organizations while supporting advocacy, training and community engagement efforts that strengthen school meal programs nationwide.
Regional Award Winners
Director of the Year
Mid-Atlantic: Larry Wade, Sr., M.Div., SNS, Chesapeake Public Schools, VA (National Winner)
Midwest: Darcy Stueber, SNS, Mankato Area Public Schools, MN
Mountain Plains: Cindy Wall, Jamestown Public Schools, ND
Northeast: Ruth Conner, SNS, Buffalo Public Schools, NY
Southeast: Jennifer Buchanan, Hamblen County School District, TN
Southwest: Debbie Trujillo, SNS, Bernalillo Public Schools, NM
Western: Anne Leavens, SNS, Central Point School District 6, OR
Manager of the Year
Mid-Atlantic: Dawn Zepp, Carroll County District, MD
Midwest: Gail Kreager, Perham Dent School District #549, MN
Mountain Plains: Barbie Doyle, Lee's Summit R7 District, MO (National Winner)
Northeast: Diana Barabani, Chicopee Public Schools, MA
Southeast: Shaina Whitehead, Jackson County School District, MS
Southwest: Kirstine Sonner, Ogden School District, UT
Western: Tina Roberson, Kern High School District, CA
Employee of the Year
Mid-Atlantic: Angel Bates, Woodbridge School District, DE
Midwest: Anita Toft, Centennial ISD #12, MN
Mountain Plains: Jennifer Holbert, Lee’s Summit R7 School District, MO (National Winner)
Northeast: Lucia Doria, Braintree Public Schools, MA
Southeast: Hannah-Marie Bond, Tullahoma City Schools, TN
Southwest: Georgia Georgacopulos Lopez, YES Prep Public Schools, TX
Awards & Scholarships
The SNA Awards program recognizes the outstanding contributions of members and state affiliates in school nutrition, leadership, membership growth, and professional development. To explore the full range of awards and opportunities, click the button below.