Regional Manager
My career with The Nutrition Group (TNG) began as a Kitchen Manager at Greenwood High School.
I originally worked at Greenwood under a different management company. After a bid year, TNG took over management of the Greenwood School District, and I had the opportunity to interview the Regional Manager. I’ve always believed you can learn a lot about someone from a first impression, and from that very first meeting, I felt an immediate sense of positivity and confidence about TNG. In that moment, I knew this was a company where I wanted to build my future.
Over the following months, I focused on becoming the best manager I could be by providing fresh, high-quality meals to students and staff. I also made it clear to the Regional Manager that I was eager to grow and advance within the company.
During my first year with TNG, I received an incredible amount of support and guidance from the entire team. At the start of the next school year, I was given the opportunity to manage my own account at Susquenita School District. This experience played a significant role in my growth and success as a Director of Food & Nutrition. I truly believe every trainee would benefit from a similar opportunity.
Transitioning from a Director of Food & Nutrition to a Regional Manager role has been one of the most rewarding steps in my career.
As a Director, I took pride in building strong teams, delivering high-quality meals, and creating a positive environment for both staff and students. Stepping into a Regional Manager role challenged me to think bigger – not just about one program, but about supporting multiple teams, developing leaders, and driving success across an entire region.
This transition pushed me outside of my comfort zone in the best way possible. It strengthened my leadership skills, deepened my understanding of operations, and allowed me to mentor and inspire others who are on their own career paths.
What made this growth possible was the support and belief that TNG placed in me. Knowing that the company invests in its people and encourages advancement gave me the confidence to take this next step.
Moving into a Regional Manager position isn’t just a promotion; it’s an opportunity to make a broader impact, empower others, and continue growing both professionally and personally. I’m proud to be part of the TNG team that values development and truly supports its people every step of the way.
- Jenn Zeigler
Join a team that cares for each other like family.
Ed stands by a solid brand promise: “At The Nutrition Group, we try to do exactly what we say we will do. No surprises. Guaranteed.”
The Nutrition Group began when Walter McGrew and Ed Caswell purchased a small division of Potter McCune in June of 1975. Walter needed someone that would help grow Nutrition Inc. Providentially, Ed was in the right place at the right time. Walter offered him the opportunity to help grow the new business along with a share of the company. Ed enthusiastically accepted and became Vice President. The early years were characterized by transition, from a volume-based commissary operation to bid-based contract catering and then to contract food service management.
As with any successful business, many hours were invested, much experimentation was tried and many lessons were learned. The main key to early success was hiring quality, team-oriented management personnel and nourishing and encouraging their personal and professional growth.
Mr. McGrew retired in the early 1980’s and divested his interest to Ed in 1991. The leveraged buyout necessitated creative capitalization beyond bank financing. As it turned out, the idea to sell stock to key management personnel remains a powerful component in the company’s success. This has allowed The Nutrition Group to maximize growth opportunities and improve operational capabilities. Being an actively involved owner of the company is energizing, it lights the fire of pride and commitment because it is personal.
The Nutrition Group has enjoyed continual growth guided by their top management leadership team, which has been another hallmark throughout the years of our management philosophy: a strong, dedicated and focused top management team. The corporation has developed teamwork structures and principles within all levels of our business and closely monitors and supervises daily implementation and progress.
Ed’s customer-first philosophy that fueled company growth from the beginning is still the driving principle today. The employees of The Nutrition Group embrace that philosophy in all that they do. Today, The Nutrition Group serves over 240 school districts across six states and has a Commissary Division serving daycare and Head Start children, Senior Centers and Healthcare facilities. Also, the Facilities Management Services division provides custodial maintenance management, capital project management and owner’s representative services.
Ed’s parents and grandparents passed on their entrepreneurial beliefs. He was raised in a business household. He is grateful to Mr. McGrew his first partner and business mentor. He is grateful to God, his wives, family, the many “Nutritionites”, customers, vendors and outside sources of inspiration – all of which helped him to grow and develop into the person God has graced him to be. Ed believes, “We grow more through our hardships than blessings, but we are grateful for both.” He is a man of faith whose resourcefulness, perseverance and leadership helped build The Nutrition Group.
The integrity and commitment of The Nutrition Group business model, focusing on trying to consistently please the customer and sincerely attempting to do what we say we are going to do, is what sets us apart from the competition.
