Vice President
I started with The Nutrition Group in 2002 as an hourly cook, working Sundays and Thursdays at a church camp. I never expected that a couple of shifts a week would grow into a career that’s now nearing 25 years. My first step into leadership came when I became the Director for the Senior Citizen Program in Johnstown, PA. That experience showed me how much of a difference we can make in people’s daily lives. From there, I transitioned into the schools as a Food Service Director, which really set the direction for everything that followed.
As I grew into roles like Regional Manager and later Director of Operations, one thing that never changed was the support The Nutrition Group gave me. As someone who is dyslexic, I always worried that certain doors might not open for me. But at The Nutrition Group, those doors opened wider than I ever expected because TNG looked at my work ethic and my commitment, not my challenges. The company has always put family first and work second, and anytime something came up with my kids, TNG worked with me and supported me. The support and the caring for me as a person is why I have chosen to build my career with The Nutrition Group.
Today, I’m proud to serve as Vice President for the Southern Division, and I still love what I do every single day. We’re not just serving food, we’re feeding the future. We’re helping teach children and young adults about good nutrition, and in some districts, we’re providing the only hot meal a student might get that day. I take a lot of pride in knowing we play a part in supporting these kids. My journey shows what’s possible here: no matter where you start or what challenges you come with, there is a real path to grow, lead, and build a career with The Nutrition Group.
- Joe Geisweidt
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.
