My Recipe for Success - September 2025

Mark Budd, CDM, CFPP

Rapid City, SD
ANFP Member Since: 2008

Mark Budd, CDM, CFPP is an experienced leader in the food and beverage industry, specializing in staff and menu development. He began his career in the military working in food production and distribution, P&L management, and process improvement. Budd says his best career decision was when he became a CDM, CFPP, having earned his degree from the University of North Dakota. He has worked in hotels, private housing, hospitals, and long-term care. He is currently Director of Dietary Services with Avantara North. Budd tries to lead with a passion for community involvement through volunteer work. It has been his pleasure to lead many programs in a variety of settings. Budd says, “My most meaningful work is the ability to care for my residents, staff, and coworkers daily. I enjoy nurturing, training, and providing opportunities for continuing education of my staff.”

Mark's Recipe for Success

  1. Be present in the moment and in conversations. Pay attention and listen.
  2. Make successes about the team. Receive compliments on the department, but be sure the staff know they were the driver of that success.
  3. Be open and honest. No one wants to work for someone who can’t be up front with them.
  4. Give more than you get. Reward the team often as they will go the extra mile when they are appreciated. Small gestures mean a lot.
  5. Greet your staff at the start of the shift and at the end. Make them feel wanted and included.
  6. Be realistic. Most people have lives outside of work and expect time off or crisis management time when needed.
  7. Make it simple when teaching or simply communicating in general. Lay the groundwork for good collaboration.
  8. Show up with the attitude you want to be met with. Spread joy and happiness and it will rub off.
  9. Be willing to do the work you expect to be done. Staff members respect leaders who can and will work with them to accomplish the job.
  10. Be yourself. No attitude required or mask to put on. Just be true to yourself and your staff.

View the archive of My Recipe for Success articles at www.ANFPonline.org/myrecipeforsuccess. 

Nominate Yourself or a Fellow ANFP Member

Have you spent a career in foodservice? Share your wisdom and advice in a new feature from ANFP. My Recipe for Success is aimed at retired members or those who have spent a long career in foodservice. Share the biggest lessons you’ve learned to a lengthy, fruitful, and successful career in the non-commercial foodservice industry. 

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My Recipe for Success Archive

January 2021 - Dorothy Radermacher, CDM, CFPP
March 2021 - Wanda Dickson, CDM, CFPP
May 2021 - Tom Thaman, CDM, CFPP
July 2021 - Chef Richard "Nick" Nickless, CEC, CCA, AAC, CDM, CFPP
September 2021 - Karen Swift, CDM, CFPP
November 2021 - Paula Bradley, CDM, CFPP
January 2022 - Deborah McDonald, CDM, CFPP
March 2022 - Trish De Leo, CDM, CFPP
May 2022 - Deb Dawson, CDM, CFPP
July 2022 - Rosalind Davis, CDM, CFPP
September 2022 - Ken Owens, CDM, CFPP
November 2022 - Janice Hemel, CDM, CFPP
January 2023 - Bonna Brown, CDM, CFPP
March 2023 - Becky Massey, CDM, CFPP
May 2023 -  Colleen Zenk, CDM, CFPP
July 2023 - Joey Rost, CDM, CFPP
September 2023 - Milton McGowian, DBA, FMP, CDM, CFPP
November 2023 - Robert McKeon, CDM, CFPP
January 2024 - Hunter Hying, CDM, CFPP
March 2024 - Kim Kyle, CDM, CFPP
May 2024 - Sharon Vermeer, CDM, CFPP
July 2024 - Regina St. Clair, CDM, CFPP
September 2024 - Ken Hanson, CPM, CDM, CFPP
November 2024 - Barbara Thomsen, CDM, CFPP, RAC, QCP
January 2025 - Michael Kopec, CDM, CFPP 
March 2025 - Preeti Padmanabhan, CDM, CFPP
May 2025 - Chef Louie Prantil
July 2025 - Rosemary Aho, CDM, CFPP