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How Bob Raymond balances high-tech with high-touch for a winning dining program at Commonwealth Senior Living

From hydroponic gardens in the dining rooms to robots bussing tables, this Charlottesville, Va.-based senior-living network is on the cutting edge. But hospitality is still key.

Patricia Cobe, Senior Editor

November 5, 2020

1 Min Read
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Menu Feed · How Bob Raymond puts his ‘crazy ideas’ to work at Commonwealth Senior Living

This podcast is brought to you by Campbell's FoodService

menu feed

Bob Raymond, vice president of Procurement and Dining Services for Commonwealth Senior Living, isn’t afraid to experiment with what he admits can be “crazy ideas.” From hydroponic microfarms installed in the dining rooms, to using robots to bus tables and deliver mail, this innovative thinker is putting his ideas into action at Commonwealth’s 35 communities. At the same time, Raymond is laser-focused on engaging with residents, upgrading hospitality training for employees and developing broadly appealing menus. That balance of high-tech and high-touch has proven to be a successful combination for Commonwealth Senior Living.

 

About the Author

Patricia Cobe

Senior Editor

Pat plans and executes the menu sections of Restaurant Business and FoodService Director, covering food and beverage trends, Menu R&D, profiles of chefs and restaurateurs and Technomic research. She also contributes to the digital content of both RB and FSD and is editor of two weekly e-newsletters, Recipe Report and On the Menu. Pat’s weekly podcast, MenuFeed, covers a wide range of menu topics through interviews with chefs and operators.

Pat came to Winsight from Hearst, where she was an executive editor. She is the co-author of the Mompreneurs series of books as well as two cookbooks. She graduated from Cornell University and earned a Masters in Journalism from Boston University. She is active in several professional organizations, including Les Dames d’Escoffier and the International Foodservice Editorial Council (IFEC), and serves as a judge for the James Beard Media Awards.

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