Director of Food & Nutrition
I started my food service career in 1994 as a “lunch lady” for the competition at New Brighton Area School district. Back then we had six different FSD’s, and none of them were involved in the day-to-day activities with the staff or students.
In 2009, The Nutrition Group took over as the food service provider in New Brighton. It was a big change for us lunch ladies. The FSD took an interest in us and brought in innovative ideas that boosted participation along with the morale amongst the staff. She was a breath of fresh air that we had never experienced before. Her example of cooperation and training boosted my self-esteem so I could move ahead to become head cook. I was elected to the PSEA Support Union and working with our FSD on any issue was a breeze. Now I understood what The Nutrition Group was all about: “Caring People, Serving Great Food.”
With constant encouragement, I found the courage to become a Food Service Director in September 2012. In mid-September of that year, I was placed in my own account at Beaver Falls Area School District. Back then, training was not as in depth as it is today. The FSD from the New Brighton Area guided me through the paperwork and made a weekly visit to my account to support me on any venture I came across. I made a lot of mistakes in my first year, but I was never made to feel bad about any of it.
I was transferred back to New Brighton Area School where I was able to focus on my career. During my third year as an FSD, I was given a trainee. Together, we kept learning.
My fourth year I was sent to a district that I had never experienced before. The Nutrition Group had acquired this account a few months before, and I became the fifth director to be placed there. There were many days I felt like walking out and quitting just as the four directors before me did. But I was given a saving grace – a trainee to train – that, unbeknownst to me would one day become my Regional Manager. Together we learned a lot about difficult staffing and an administration that was not the easiest to understand. My struggles did not go unnoticed by upper management. The president of The Nutrition Group came to the account, sat me down and asked how could she help. Once again, the “Caring People, Serving Great Food” came into play. I lasted for three years with that account.
In 2019, I moved to another account that I thought would be my “home.” At the same time, The Nutrition Group acquired an account in Lawrence County that I occasionally helped with setting up. A few months later, I was asked to take over that Lawrence County account. It was a long daily drive to get there. Most of the staff there had never worked in a cafeteria before. They were all new hires and moms with children in school who were starting out just as I had back in 1994. It was a bit of a struggle getting everyone on board, but with the support of The Nutrition Group’s corporate staff behind me, we made it. I say “we” because it takes people like The Nutrition Group who believe and live the motto, “Caring People, Serving Great Food” to make it happen. This account is my pride and joy. I have such a great staff who also live and work by the same motto. They care for each other, they care for their clients, and they care about the quality of the product they serve. This staff is truly “Caring People, Serving Great Food” and it is the corporate comradery that has shown them; they are part of the TNG family.
While here at this Lawernce County account, I have had quite a few trainees move on to accounts of their own taking that motto with them. I have also had the family of the owners of the company job shadow here with me. People ask me if I have a long drive to work every day. And the answer is, yes – it’s a long drive. However, being a part of the “Caring People, Serving Great Food” culture at The Nutrition Group makes it worth every minute!
- Rebecca Jaros
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.
