CDM, CFPP of the Month - June 2026

Name: Cathy Wheatley, CDM, CFPP

Job Title: Nutrition Services/Purchasing Agent

Employer: Royal Oaks Hospital/Compass

Job Location: Windsor, MO

Years at Current Facility: 31 Years

Years in Current Position: 27 Years

CDM, CFPP Since: 1999

 

Why did you decide to become a CDM, CFPP?

Basically, it was required of the position I have, and my company offered to send me to school and pay all the costs for me to become a CDM, CFPP. This was a great accomplishment in my life.

What are your main responsibilities in your current position?

I oversee the nutrition services department, run the day-to-day operations, deal with staffing, food purchasing, and I purchase supplies for the hospital.

How do you organize your time at work to make sure you accomplish all your responsibilities?

I start at home most mornings to answer all emails and take care of any situations that might arise from when I left the building the evening/afternoon before, because when I hit that door, things are always waiting for me. I am on call 24/7, and I have flexible hours. I go in anytime from 5:30 a.m. - 7:00 a.m. and work until I feel I have completed all requirements of my job for that day. If there is anything that needs my attention for the next day, I accomplish that as well.

What is an example of an innovative way you have made change at your facility and how did you implement it?

Working in a psychiatric behavioral acute care hospital has many challenges, and situations arise daily. We always used normal plastic glasses until one patient broke one and threatened an employee. So, I collected all kinds of glasses, and my staff and administrator got to slam them against a wall to see if they would break. The only conclusion we could come to was silicone cups. These cups are expensive, but they are counted after every group comes to the dining room to eat so they are all counted for. This also led to using silicone utensils for finger food diets.

What was your first job in the foodservice industry?

I was a dishwasher at the age of 14.

Who has been your biggest mentor in foodservice and how have they helped shape your career?

A good CDM, CFPP friend, Marsha Lutjen, has been a great mentor from the very beginning of achieving my CDM, CFPP. She has always been just a phone call or text away, and has helped me in every aspect of being a CDM, CFPP, to being Missouri state President a couple of times, and now the state treasurer. She was the treasurer right before me and mentored me through every aspect of it. Also, Jon Bair, my administrator here at Royal Oaks, and Al Greimann, President of Royal Oaks have been there on a daily basis to help me with many different things that we see in psychiatric and behavioral health.

What are the biggest challenges you face in your position and how do you handle them? 

Staffing and employee conflict. In regards to staffing, we move employees around to a different position as most of them are cross trained. For employee conflict, I talk with each one and then we meet with all involved to try and work out the best solutions to our issues.

What is your favorite part of your job?

Providing the very best for my patients and my staff.  Without either one of them I wouldn’t have a job.

How do you stay up to date with current innovations and trends?

By attending my state conferences and going on social media.

How do you envision the foodservice industry changing in the next few years?

I envision it will be more costly and there will be less workers available. We are going to have to be very innovative to take care of our patients.

What is your advice to those just getting started in the foodservice industry?

Honesty, take care of yourself, stay involved in ANFP, and be proud of your accomplishments.