- Prior multi-sport collegiate athlete
- Team and Endurance Sports
- Outdoor Recreation
- Foodie
Alison Christensen
Forest Ranch
Summary
Senior Food Service Director with extensive experience leading complex healthcare foodservice operations and cross‑facility initiatives. Known for building chef‑driven, scratch‑made programs, aligning menus with performance outcomes, and operationalizing standards across teams. Strong track record in budget and labor management, HACCP/SOP compliance, multi‑system go‑lives, and data‑driven continuous improvement. Passionate advocate for REAL food and transparent sourcing. Ready to translate high‑reliability healthcare operations to athlete fueling environments—standardizing excellence while allowing sport‑specific flexibility.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Food Service Director
Thomas Cuisine Management
Chico, CA
01.2024 - Current
- Oversaw operations of food service and clinical programs at multiple sites, ensuring compliance with state, federal standards and safety and health regulations.
- Mentored leadership staff, fostering skill development and enhancing teamwork and communication.
- Implemented cost control measures to optimize food procurement and reduce waste across multiple dining facilities.
- Lead inpatient and retail foodservice with a scratch‑made, whole‑foods approach; designed patient and retail menus that emphasize clean label and exciting options aligned to nutrition and satisfaction goals.
- Built and managed KPIs for food cost, labor, quality, safety, and satisfaction; partnered with finance/HR on productivity, overtime, and budget adherence.
- Led multiple system implementations including interface mapping, database creation, training and SOP creation.
- Coordinated cross‑facility support and knowledge‑share for training, systems rollouts, and audit readiness, standardizing practices while accommodating local needs.
- Implemented local/vendor partnerships and transparent sourcing practices to strengthen quality, availability, and cost control—supporting farm‑to‑table standards.
Food Service Director
Thomas Cuisine Management
Chico, CA
03.2021 - 01.2024
- Developed and implemented strategic food service programs enhancing guest satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Oversaw compliance with health regulations, ensuring safety standards consistently met across all operations.
- Managed budgeting processes, optimizing resource allocation to maximize cost-effectiveness in food services.
- Led staff training initiatives, fostering team development and improving service quality through skill enhancement.
- Collaborated with culinary teams to design seasonal menus that reflect dietary trends and customer preferences.
- Analyzed service delivery metrics, identifying areas for improvement to enhance overall performance and guest experience.
- Implemented sustainability practices in food sourcing, reducing waste while promoting environmental responsibility within operations.
Assistant Food Service Director
Thomas Cuisine Management
Chico, CA
09.2019 - 03.2021
- Oversaw daily food service operations, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations.
- Trained and mentored staff on best practices for food preparation and customer service.
- Collaborated with culinary teams to develop seasonal menus aligned with dietary guidelines.
- Managed inventory levels, optimizing supply chain processes for cost efficiency.
- Navigated and stabilized operations through unprecedented challenges—including the height of COVID‑19 and an extended cybersecurity event—by redesigning workflows, reallocating resources, and sustaining reliable service.
- Partnered as a JAMIX beta test site, assessing recipe database functionality and shaping enhancements for enterprise-wide adoption.
Patient Services Manager
Thomas Cuisine Management
Chico, CA
04.2016 - 09.2019
- Managed patient services schedule to enhance operational efficiency and service delivery.
- Developed training programs for staff, improving customer service and patient satisfaction rates.
- Led initiatives to streamline patient meal delivery processes, reducing wait times and enhancing workflow efficiency.
- Implemented quality assurance protocols to ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and standards.
- Implemented the Horizon dietary software system, including full buildout, testing, and staff training, while simultaneously supporting the hospital’s transition to the EPIC EMR platform.
- Managed foodservice operations during the Oroville Dam emergency, ensuring safe patient feeding and seamless support during large-scale patient transfers.
Education
Master of Science - Nutrition And Human Performance
Logan University
Chesterfield12-2022
Dietetic Internship - Dietetics
Montana State University
Bozeman, MT06-2016
Bachelor of Science - Food Science And Human Nutrition
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO12-2013
Skills
- Operational efficiency
- Labor management
- Sanitation standards
- Menu planning
- Nutrition research
- Evidence-based advice
- Nutritional analysis
- Health promotion
- Strategic planning
- Project Management
Interests
Timeline
Senior Food Service Director
Thomas Cuisine Management
01.2024 - Current
Food Service Director
Thomas Cuisine Management
03.2021 - 01.2024
Assistant Food Service Director
Thomas Cuisine Management
09.2019 - 03.2021
Patient Services Manager
Thomas Cuisine Management
04.2016 - 09.2019
Master of Science - Nutrition And Human Performance
Logan University
Dietetic Internship - Dietetics
Montana State University
Bachelor of Science - Food Science And Human Nutrition
Colorado State University