Karen Johnson wins FAME’s Golden Director of the Year Award
November 3, 2009
Nov. 3—The 21st annual Foodservice Achievement Management Excellence (FAME) Awards were announced, with Karen Johnson, director of child nutrition programs at the Yuma (Ariz.) Elementary School District, winning the Golden School Foodservice Director of the Year Award.
Johnson was given the award for her work developing a wellness policy for the district, which included the implementation of a free breakfast program. In addition, Johnson expanded revenues from $2.8 million to $5 million despite only a small increase in enrollment during the past 20 years by implementing procedures and equipment changes that made each site more efficient.
“Johnson is described by colleagues as an inspirational leader and a professional with the highest of standards,” a FAME press release stated. “She has placed a priority on higher education for herself and her employees by completing a bachelor’s degree one class at a time over several years while working and raising her family.”
Other FAME winners are: Mary Anderson, director of Culinary Express, Wayzata (Minn.) Public Schools, with the Silver Leadership Award; Jacci Morrow, assistant director of child nutrition and food service programs, Westminster (Calif.) School District, with the Silver Spirit Award; Harold Sullins, food service director, Fontana (Calif.) Unified School District, with the Silver Rising Star Award; Lori Adkins, nutrition supervisor, West Bloomfield (Mich.) School District, with the Silver Special Achievement Award; and Gene White, president, Global Child Nutrition Foundation, with the Silver Friend of Child Nutrition Award.
A new FAME award—the Lifetime Achievement Award—was given this year to Gertrude Applebaum, an independent contractor in Corpus Christi, Texas, and a school nutrition professional since 1946, for her dedication to the industry of school nutrition.
The winners will be honored Jan. 10 at the School Nutrition Association’s Child Nutrition Industry Conference in Ponte Verde Beach, Fla.
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