Before Strategic Dining Services existed, communities had two choices: fully outsource their dining program or work with consultants who pointed out problems but didn’t help to fix them. I knew there was a need for a solution that fell in between – so in 2013, I created one.
At SDS, our mission is clear: to help self operated communities improve their dining programs while keeping their existing teams and culture in place. We don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, we get to know the communities we partner with and execute personalized plans to enhance food quality, service, and operations.
My Background
For the first 20 years of my career, I worked as a chef and restaurateur, opening multiple restaurants in the Chicago area before helping start a company called Odessey Cruises. I became involved in a number of local charities, but it was my connection to Meals on Wheels that introduced me to my first opportunity in senior living.
I started as VP of Dining Services for a large senior living management company, eventually becoming the VP of Corporate Services and overseeing not only dining but housekeeping, facilities, maintenance, activities, and programming as well.
During my 8-year tenure, the company grew from serving 40 to over 100 communities. This put us in a unique position to have a bird’s eye view of what worked and what didn’t. Some communities had dining management companies in place, many didn’t, but across the board, there was a level of hospitality that was missing.
The Strategic Dining Services Model
What if we could help senior living communities take their dining programs to the next level, not by doing it for them, but by giving them the tools, training, and direction to pull it off themselves?
This is the commitment that SDS was founded on: providing expertise & resources at an affordable price point while letting the organizations we work with stay in control.
Outsourcing vs Consulting: Where Does SDS Fit In?
SDS fills a huge gap between the two existing options for senior living dining: consulting and full-service outsourcing.
There are very few consulting solutions for senior living, particularly in hospitality and dining. Generally, consultants can point out a problem, but they can’t fix it, and we found that typically wasn’t enough when a community was looking for a long-term solution.
When it comes to outsourcing, it is often not a solution that works for everyone. Full-service dining management companies may not work at all price points and volumes, meaning they can be inaccessible to some operators.
With SDS, communities get everything they would expect out of a full-service dining management company: purchasing and procurement, menu management, recipes, front and back of house training, accounting tools, policy and procedures, hands-on coaching, and more.
The difference is that the way we execute our services is an investment for community teams and leaves a lasting impact on the dining program.
Results with Strategic Dining Services
Improving Team Retention
- We help choose and onboard key team members, ensuring they come into an environment where they can thrive, which leads to a drastic decline in turnover rates.
Building a Hospitality Environment
- When we ask residents what they think of the servers in their community, they say they love the people, but that the service itself could be better. We bridge the gap, giving team members the tools and training to set them up for success and provide the top-tier service they’re capable of.
Enhancing Every Meal
- Any meal can be delicious if it’s made with care. We ensure that food is made from real ingredients, cooked to perfection, seasoned correctly, and plated beautifully to make every item on the menu an excellent choice.
Creating Positive Resident Experiences
- One of our mantras with community teams is “what did you do today to make tomorrow’s experience better for the residents?” We are committed to making sure everything we do impacts the end experience with residents in mind.
Your Partner in Growth
Our hyper-personalized model allows us to deliver solutions to nearly every level of operations. Regardless of size, budget, or specific needs, there is an SDS solution that will drive meaningful results in your community.
Over the last 12 years, Strategic Dining Services has helped shape the future of senior living dining. I am confident that as we continue to grow, we will remain dedicated to setting a new standard for hospitality in self-operated communities across the country.
