The Future is Brighter and Savvier than Ever
Admittedly, I started this article with the intention of sharing some of the experiences I’ve had working with college nutrition programs over the years. Now I’d prefer to shine the light on how vital great instruction is for those students who are entering into healthcare nutrition and food professional roles.
Over the past number of years, I’ve built some rapport with a number of educational institutions that always appreciate the hands-on perspective that industry professionals can offer. I’m particularly struck by the work that Algonquin College’s Mary Elizabeth
Davies invests in her courses, helping to prepare the budding food professionals who are preparing the make the leap into their careers. Mary Elizabeth has invited me and other Burlodge representatives to speak to her class on a number of occasions and I’ve always been amazed at how engaged and enthusiastic her students are. It has kept me coming back for years.
I’d originally met Mary Elizabeth when we were working with Aramark and then we reconnected when she became the Director of Nutrition at the Ottawa Civic Hospital when they were implementing a new system. Eventually, she ended up teaching at Algonquin College in Ottawa as Professor of Business and Finance Management with the Food and Nutrition Program.
Always Keep Connecting
I really enjoy the opportunity to speak to students who are on the cusp of launching their careers. I’m always impressed with how curious they are and committed to getting all the training they need to advance their lives. But it’s that additional nudge of instructors who recognize that connecting with professionals is particularly worth seeking out.
Learn by doing should be the prime directive for anyone aspiring to a profession. But before that may be possible, learning from the experiences of others can be equally valuable in developing an appreciation for what working in this field demands.
“We have a course that focuses on Facility Design and we produce people who are managers in healthcare facilities,” she explains. “These people have the responsibility to buy equipment, so we want to make sure they are always looking to the future to see what is out there; to be aware of what’s in the marketplace.
“What I’m teaching is the process of procurement but also finding the funds to secure what you want to buy, and how you can show the cost benefits of that purchase. Suppliers are people that you need in your work life,” she explains.
Above All, the Client
Where Mary Elizabeth and I really connect is over the idea of customer care. It’s always been foremost in how I go about business and it’s certainly emphasized in any presentation I give to students. No matter what the situation may be, it is imperative that clients enjoy their food – that it’s properly prepared at the right time, delivered at the right temperature and presented as such.
Better Equipped, Better Prepared
Mary Elizabeth is always encouraging her students to build their confidence by presenting themselves as aspiring professionals in the field and to always stay on top of new ideas that suppliers are presenting.
Granted, as someone who has been responsible for major purchases in her career, Mary Elizabeth stresses the importance of keeping up to speed on product developments.
“There’s a lot of cool equipment out there that solves so many problems, from the simple to the complex. The fact you can use a supplier to find a solution is the takeaway, and you must be receptive to building good relationships and let them know that you’re always interested in hearing about good ideas. Being aware helps you solve specific problems, because if you don’t look to the horizon you may miss a solution.”
Let That be a Lesson
Solid, sensible advice that’s as useful for current purchasers as it is for the students who will be putting these lessons into play soon enough as they enter the workforce. I’m so impressed by these experiences that at Burlodge we’re making a more concerted effort to develop a curriculum that these students can draw upon as they launch their careers.
If you’re interested in learning more about what we have or what is in store on this front, please drop me a note and I’d be pleased to share what I can.
Here’s to looking ahead and tapping into the best of our potential as 2021 unfolds!
