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Samantha Barrett, food service production manager
Jennie Edmundson Hospital, Nebraska Methodist Health System
Nominator: Allison Adrian, director of food services, Methodist Health Systems
“The Food Service Hero I would like to nominate has hands down always put our patients, customers and employees come first. She has been assisting with covering positions when short, ensuring service runs smoothly when staff is short. There have been many nights and weekends she has filled in working two back-to-back shifts for multiple days. Her passion for our healthcare service and ensuring patients’ needs are met, and desire to help elevate our retail operations, has been inspiring. She has given up nights and weekends with her children to keep the department running. Our department has been short 4-8 staff positions for the past year and my hero nominee does everything in her power to help ensure our staff have the tools and assistance to keep our patients, guests, staff and co-workers fed. She works hard at ensuring, when we have short supply or inabilities to get in products, that we think outside the box and create new substitute items or are able to find replacements. Her commitment to her job, co-workers and day to day activities at work has continued to shine. Working through staffing issues, equipment problems, vendor shortages and many long nights and weekends has truly made Samantha stand out as a Food Service Hero. She was even challenged with covering the director’s duties for 12 weeks while I was out for spinal fusion surgery recovery. She always comes in with a smile and works hard, and ensures things are done and are done right! She is a true unsung Hero!”
Lesli Chandler, supervisor
George Regional Hospital
Nominator: Rebecca Alvarado-Munguia, director of culinary services, HHS
“Lesli Chandler went over and beyond this last year to keep our kitchen going here at George Regional. Lesli at one point had to step up and do the job of a director, as the director of her location transferred elsewhere. She goes over and beyond for her fellow coworkers, patients, residents and customers.”
Kathryn Foster, patient services manager
McKenzie-Willamette Medical Center/HHS
Nominator: Cory Cox, director of nutrition, HHS
“Katy excels at everything she does here at the hospital. As patient service manager, she provides the finishing touches that really make the difference in quality healthcare service. She is irreplaceable and deserves to be recognized for her amazingness.”
Ruth Gonzalez, supervisor
Ascension St Francis, Touchpoint Support Services
Nominator: Sandy Christoffel-Brewer, director of dining services, Touchpoint
“Golden is Ruth to us. Ruth has extended outside of her main role as our PM supervisor through most of the time I have known her. Ruth does an exceptional job at her current role guiding the PM staff: leading daily huddles, shadowing to ensure they are meeting standards of customer service and growing a great team. Ruth leads perfectly, knowing when to instruct and give direction and when to show by example. Ruth's versatility as a supervisor, grill cook, cashier or cook is something that comes around rarely; add into it that she is truly a genuine leader of people, as she is often gathering a group for a potluck either to celebrate or just because. Ruth keeps up on work anniversaries and birthdays. Those are the tasks that seem to be just something she easily fulfills. In recent months, we have been extremely short-staffed in the cook position, and she has requested to learn all of the positions as she wants to be sure this upcoming summer we are prepared for everyone to take their vacations. There isn't a single time when Ruth is not thinking of others. This resonates in her home life as well, as she cares for her father, and prior to some sadness with COVID had cared for other members of her family as well. Ruth embodies every aspect of a leader shining in all the human qualities that draw people to follow. We are grateful for Ruth and all she contributes to building and growing our team, but also holding together the team we are today.”
Sammy Hanna, assistant purchasing manager
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center/Morrison Healthcare
Nominator: Stefanie Herbert, communications specialist, Compass One Healthcare
“Sammy Hannah is an assistant purchasing manager at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. He and his wife go above and beyond to give back to those in need in their community. They visit local homeless shelters 2-3 times a month to donate care packages that they have purchased themselves. On Christmas and July 4th, Sammy donated clothes, socks and whatever they could gather to donate to the homeless in Concord. Last Christmas, they even bought three heaters for the homeless community. When there is a disaster, Sammy and his wife visit the area with bottled water and snacks for whoever needs it. The team is very lucky to have him and his charity by giving within the department to help the community!”
Kristin Lane, retail manager-Starbucks
UCMC-Hyde Park/Morrison Healthcare
Nominator: Deanna Schaffino, retail director, Morrison Healthcare
“This manager of a fully licensed Starbucks franchise at the UCMC-Hyde Park location was able to pull the unit out of a double default situation. She was promoted in November of 2021 after starting her career as a Barista 10 years ago. This location was in a situation where the license was about to be pulled. The former manager was removed, and she stepped in. A lot of hard work, late nights, early mornings and weekends—she was here to ensure that standards were being met and/or exceeded. She managed to hire a team that was built from a skeleton crew, as all other baristas had quit during that time of duress. Now, we receive compliments on the atmosphere of the unit, as well as kudos for recognizing a blossoming star who we hired from within to get this franchise back on track.”
Curtis Mallory, assistant director/administrative assistant
HHS-1/Rogers Behavioral Health Brown Deer
Nominator: Curtis Mallory, director, HHS1/Rogers BH Brown Deer
“Always goes above and beyond to help all team members and staff without question. Team member assists in sister locations as well, and everyone loves his calming presence. He is awesome, such an asset for all of our entities.”
Kenneth Ortiz, foodservice manager
Tewksbury Hospital/Aramark
Nominator: Caitlin Sullivan, clinical dietitian, Aramark
“Kenneth Ortiz continuously goes above and beyond for the patients and his employees. Of course, things don't always go according to plan, and he never fails to jump into action. He really shined this last month during our celebration of National Nutrition Month by preparing and serving fantastic recipes each week! This was a big hit throughout the hospital and would not have been possible without his care, commitment and enthusiasm!”
LaWanda Payne, operations manager
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Foodservice Dept.
Nominator: Richard Farmer, executive chef-training & development, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
“LaWanda is the most selfless, considerate and hardworking person I know. She can often be seen going well beyond her job description.”
Johnette Williams, foodservice supervisor
Iberia Medical Center North
Nominator: Gina Prince, assistant manager of food and nutrition, Iberia Medical Center
“Johnette is the epitome of what an Institutional food service worker should be. She genuinely cares for each and every one of our employees, patients and guests. She goes above and beyond the call of duty daily on behalf of the Food and Nutrition Services Department at Iberia Medical Center. She has faced all the challenges the pandemic has thrown her way with courage. She is a valued member of Iberia Medical Center.”
