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FM On Demand: Catching up with SNA’s vice president on the possibility of universal free meals

The week COVID hit, Chris Derico was changing school districts and taking on additional challenges with the School Nutrition Association.

Becky Schilling, Group Content Director/Editor-in-chief

May 19, 2021

The last in-person conference I attended was the School Nutrition Association’s (SNA) Legislative Action Conference (LAC) in Washington, DC, in mid-March of 2020. When I was there, I caught up with Chris Derico. Chris and I have known each other for many years and he shared the news that he was leaving the following week to start a new position with Harrison County School in West Virginia.

When SNA announced Chris was elected vice president a few weeks back, I decided it was time to catch up with his big moves. In this FM On Demand interview, Chris and I talk about what it’s like to start a new position at the height of the COVID pandemic, the elevated status of child nutrition programs in light of their work during COVID and just how close are we to getting universal free meals for children.

About the Author

Becky Schilling

Becky Schilling

Group Content Director/Editor-in-chief

Becky Schilling is Food Management’s editor-in-chief, and the group content director for Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group, managing editorial for digital, print and events for Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, Food Management and Supermarket News media brands. Becky holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Texas A&M University and a master's degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. Before joining Food Management in 2014, Becky was with FoodService Director magazine for seven years, the last two as editor-in-chief. Becky is a history nerd and a sports fanatic, especially college football—Gig'em Ags—and tennis. A born and raised Texan, Becky currently resides in New York City.

Becky Schilling’s areas of expertise include the onsite foodservice industry (K-12 schools, colleges and universities, healthcare and B&I), foodservice menus, operational best practices and innovation.

Becky Schilling is a frequent speaker at industry events including The Association for Healthcare Foodservice (AHF), The National Association of College & University Food Services (NACUFS) and The Society for Hospitality and Foodservice Management (SHFM).

Becky Schilling’s experience:

Group Content Director, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Feb. 2020-present)

Editor-in-chief Food Management (Nov. 2014-present)

Director of Content Strategy & Optimization, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (March 2019-Feb. 2020)

Editor-in-chief, Supermarket News (April 2019-March 2019)

Executive Editor, Supermarket News (July 2016-April 2017)

Editor-in-chief, FoodService Director magazine (March 2013-Oct. 2014)

Managing Editor (FoodService Director magazine (March 2012-March 2013)

Associate Editor (FoodService Director magazine (Nov. 2007-March 2012)

Contact Becky Schilling at:

[email protected]

@bschilling_FM

https://www.linkedin.com/in/becky-schilling-39194ba/

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