Director of Food & Nutrition
My journey with The Nutrition Group began long before I imagined where it would take me. I started as an hourly employee at Penn Hills School District while completing my studies in Dietetics. Even then, I knew without a doubt that I wanted to become a Director of Food & Nutrition, a person who could make a meaningful impact every day through service, leadership, and the power of good nutrition.
After graduating, I applied with The Nutrition Group in 2011, excited for the opportunity to grow within an organization whose mission aligned so closely with my own values. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of working successfully in nine different accounts, each experience shaping me in its own unique way. Every account taught me something new – about operations, about leadership, and about the importance of building relationships with students, staff, and communities.
Along this journey, one of the most meaningful milestones was being recognized as one of The Nutrition Group’s Directors of the Year in 2024. This honor reflected not only my dedication to the work, but also the support, collaboration, and encouragement I’ve received from the incredible teams around me. It remains one of the proudest moments of my career.
Over time, my path led me to become a Regional Trainer, a role that has been a true highlight of my career. Being able to train and mentor new directors before they step into their own accounts is incredibly rewarding. Helping them to feel confident, prepared, and supported reminds me of where I started and reinforces why I’m passionate about what we do.
Most importantly, being part of the TNG family has meant so much more than just professional growth. It has meant being surrounded by people who genuinely care – about the work, about each other, and about the communities we serve. It has meant having leaders and colleagues who encourage, empower me, and challenge me to continue growing. It has meant being part of a culture where teamwork, compassion, and dedication aren’t just values, they’re lived out every day.
Looking back, I’m grateful for every step of this journey and for the opportunities The Nutrition Group has given me to grow, contribute, and make an impact. And as I look ahead, I’m excited to continue developing within the company and look forward to new opportunities to expand my skills, take on new challenges, and continue making a difference.
Being part of the TNG family has shaped not only my career, but also the person and leader I’ve become. I’m truly excited for what the future holds.
- Kylene McLean
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.
