Congratulations to the 2021 ANFP award recipients! ANFP celebrates the critical work they are doing across the country to provide innovative leadership and support the value of the CDM, CFPP credential.
Ambassador Award
Doris Freeman
Doris Freeman is a 21-year veteran of the food service industry. She is a 1989 graduate of Chess Champion-Magnet School “Martires de Barbado,” a prestigious athletic school in La Habana, Cuba. Doris is currently the Director of Food and Nutrition Services with Sodexo at the Waterman Village Community in Mount Dora, FL.
Doris is committed to the experience and knowledge that a CDM, CFPP brings to the facility’s environment. She values employee opinions and often implements changes based off employee suggestions to demonstrate her support. Doris collaborates with staff and clients to make certain residents live their best lives.
Student of the Year Award
Tara Ransom
Tara Ransom, a native of West Virginia, has served in various foodservice roles over the years including her most recent role as lead server at Waterman Village in Florida. She is currently enrolled at the University of Florida and will sit for the CDM Credentialing Exam later this summer. After graduating high school, she chose not to attend college and went to work full time instead. While working in customer service and healthcare facilities has always provided work, Tara is looking forward to taking the next step in her career.
Tara’s tireless work ethic, dedication, and desire to learn proves she is truly committed to advancing her career within the foodservice industry.
Horizon Award
Myra Schroepfer CDM, CFPP
Myra Schroepfer, CDM, CFPP has worked in the foodservice industry for 16 years at various long-term care facilities as well as in the restaurant industry. With a growing family she required hours more conducive to family life which led her to become Food and Beverage Manager for Ecumen in Mapleton, MN. The facility was eventually acquired by Monarch where she was asked to facilitate both dietary departments at different locations. She has since passed the CDM Credentialing Exam and is currently serving as the CDM, CFPP at Oaklawn Rehabilitation Center in Mankato, MN.
During the pandemic, Myra developed a facility garden with the help of a local master gardener. She renovated multiple outdoor spaces into green spaces where she led the growth of sustainable produce for her facility residents throughout the summer and into the late fall. This gave residents, who were unable to see family in person due to the virus, some normalcy as many of these residents had gardens while at home. Myra graduated with honors from South Central College, North Mankato, MN, with a degree in Restaurant Management.
Innovation Award
Shannon DeLeur, CDM, CFPP
Shannon Deleur, CDM, CFPP earned her CDM, CFPP credential in April 2019. While she has recently relocated to Arizona, at the time of the nomination, she was the Food Service Director at Skagit Regional Health (Thomas Cuisine) in Mount Vernon, WA. She oversaw two campuses. Shannon sought out innovative processes that were complemented with technology to make improvements to ease workflow and increase nutrition and satisfaction in all areas.
She added seasonal menus, snack program and fun themed cafe days to promote healthy options. Shannon is an integral part of the Super Chef Team which promotes producing the best quality and healthiest food through made-to-order scratch cooking, fresh ingredients, and farm-to-table programs wherever possible. Shannon is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York.
Public Policy Award
Elaine Deutchman, CDM CFPP
Elaine Deutchman, CDM, CFPP, FSD has been a CDM, CFPP, and a member of ANFP for 38 years. She has worked in healthcare facilities for 27 of those years as CDM, CFPP and was a preceptor for the University of North Dakota Dietary Manager Correspondence Course. Currently, Elaine is working at Windom Are Schools at Windom, MN, as the Food Service Director for the last 11 years, directing the food service departments at three school sites and two satellite service cafeterias.
More recently, Elaine was faced with the challenge of providing meals to children in their community through public school foodservice departments until the end of the school year, as mandated by the governor of Minnesota and USDA. She worked with team members at the Minnesota Department of Education to ensure all students were served healthy meals throughout the summer and past school year.
CDM, CFPP Spotlight Award
Milton L. McGowian, MBA, CDM, CFPP, FMP, MCP
Milton McGowian, MBA, CDM, CFPP, FMP, MCP is a native Floridian, where he began his career at the North Florida Retirement Village in Gainesville. While there, he worked as a sous chef, assistant director, and director of culinary operations over a span of 14 years. Milton began working as the Director of Dining Services at Sharon Towers in Charlotte, NC in January 2019, and became a CDM, CFPP in 2020.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Milton had to in the way the facility provided service to both residents and staff. He rose to the challenge and was able to accomplish this while reducing overtime for his department to almost zero. Milton received his BS in Business Administration in 2018 (with Cum Laude honors), his Master of Business Administration in 2019, and he is currently a doctoral candidate at the school of business at Liberty University.
Dining Distinction Award
Jeffrey Carpenter, CDM, CFPP
Jeffrey Carpenter, CDM, CFPP currently serves in a dual role of Food Service Director and Patient Services Manager at PeaceHealth St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Bellingham, WA. In his roles, he was able to elevate the patient services dining room program, focusing on food quality. Jeffrey works closely with the Clinical Nutrition Coordinator RD to offer foods that meet each therapeutic diet while maintaining their high standard of quality.
Jeffrey and his team have implemented creative ways to improve the dining experience. With COVID-19 restrictions changing daily, he and his team were able to redesign the flow of their cafes, allowing caregivers to visit and purchase food in a safe manor. They were able to hold appreciation events that the caregivers have grown to love. Jeffrey’s dedication to high-quality customer service and food is demonstrated each day through his actions and pride in his work.
Distinguished Service Award (Member) and Chapter Volunteer of the Year
Tamra Rutten, CDM, CFPP
Tami Rutten, CDM, CFPP has been a member of ANFP since 1992. After enrolling in the CDM, CFPP course from Florida State Gainesville, she immediately became active in her district in northwest Louisiana and served in various chapter roles, eventually serving as president. During her term, Louisiana ANFP received the coveted Diamond Award for the first time.
Tami demonstrates an extraordinary commitment to the ANFP community by providing exceptional support to new members. She is a true champion of the foodservice industry, has exemplified the mission of ANFP, and has positively impacted the members of the Louisiana chapter. Tami became certified in 1992 and is a Leadership Institute alumnus.
Distinguished Service Award (Corporate Partner)
Hormel Health Labs
Hormel Health Labs (HHL) has been a Corporate Partner member of ANFP for over 20 years. During this time, they have been actively engaged in supporting members through their participation in our national and regional events, as volunteer leaders, as a grant funder, and as active marketing partners in several of our programs.
The HHL team has dedicated themselves to supporting students in pursuit of the CDM, CFPP credential. In 2017, they established the Hormel Health Labs Student Grant program through the Nutrition & Foodservice Education Foundation (NFEF). To date, 12 students have been awarded this grant in pursuit of their credential, with another three to be supported this year.
In addition to HHL’s student grant program, they provide additional funding each year to NFEF for general support of its initiatives which benefit CDM, CFPPs and the industry. For the past several years, HHL has provided volunteer leadership on ANFP’s Industry Advisory Council, a seat they have earned due to their high level of support of ANFP. They have been a fixture at the Annual Conference & Expo (ACE) for many years, along with regional events. Overall, HHL has been a strong and steadfast partner for ANFP members and NFEF, and they exemplify the spirit of the Distinguished Service Award for a Corporate Partner.
Legacy Award
Janice Hemel, CDM, CFPP
Janice Hemel, CDM, CFPP is a 29-year member of ANFP. She began serving with the organization in 1998, and since then has held various positions at the district, chapter, and national levels, eventually serving as Chair in 2016. Janice has been a strong representative for ANFP in other ways over the years, including advocating for the credential at the state level. She demonstrates unwavering leadership and knowledge in any role she takes on.
Janice has been employed at Lane County Hospital in Dighton, KS for the entirety of her 32-year career. She is active in her church and community. Janice has been married to her husband for 21 years and has two grown children and one grandson.