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Grasela moves up in Philadelphia Schools reshuffle

Longtime dining services head Wayne Grasela named acting deputy COO of the district and will be succeeded by Amy Virus.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

July 9, 2015

1 Min Read
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Wayne Grasela, longtime senior vice president for food services with the School District of Philadelphia, has been named acting deputy COO of the district as part of a significant administrative overhaul initiative. Amy Virus, MS, RD, LDN, who had served as manager of administrative & support services for the district’s food services division, was tabbed to succeed Grasela.

Among Grasela’s recent initiatives was the move last year to universal free lunch under the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision. He has also instituted a program of upgrading or replacing site kitchens to enable more onsite meal production.

The 17th largest public K-12 detract in the country in FM’s 2013 K-12 Power Players listing with an enrollment of over 145,000 and dining program revenues of around $80 million, School District of Philadelphia has self-operated its meal program after a two-year experiment at contracting ended in 2007.

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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