SPRINGDALE, Ark. (November 11, 2008)—The School Nutrition Association (SNA) recently recognized Tyson Food Service team members Gail Ferguson, Deanna Jones and Nikki Loupe with the prestigious mark of professional distinction in the school nutrition industry—the School Nutrition Specialist (SNS) designation—naming Tyson Food Service the SNA industry member with the largest number of SNS credentialed employees. Ferguson, Jones, and Loupe have successfully completed the necessary training and received a passing score on the credentialing exam and now join fellow SNS-credentialed Tyson School Team members Barb Jirka, Randy Collins, Scott Jacobsen, Terry Brown and Brenda Harvey.
“We congratulate the newest Tyson School Team members who join the elite group of fewer than 100 industry members to receive this honor,” said Johnny Hughes, senior director of government sales, Tyson Food Service. “Tyson Food Service is focused on customer interaction, and the SNS credentialing program is important to our school team as it helps us relate to our customers and better understand the daily challenges they face within their school nutrition programs.”
The Credentialing Program of the SNA communicates to others a level of knowledge and expertise in the profession. The program is based on the standards of practice and indicators in the Keys to Excellence in School Food and Nutrition Programs that define nationally accepted standards for quality programs. To achieve SNS credentials, an individual must display key knowledge in all aspects of the Child Nutrition Program, including but not limited to, nutrition, federal regulations, meal pattern requirements and menu planning, school nutrition finance, food production, safety and sanitation and personnel.
To learn more about SNS Credentialing, go to www.schoolnutrition.org/Content.aspx?id=132, or for information on Tyson Food Service, visit www.tysonfoodservice.com.
The School Nutrition Association is a national nonprofit professional organization representing more than 55,000 members who provide high-quality, low-cost meals to students across the country. The Association and its members are dedicated to feeding children safe and nutritious meals. SNA is the only association devoted exclusively to protecting and enhancing children's health and well-being through school meals and sound nutrition education.
Tyson Foods, Inc., founded in 1935 with headquarters in Springdale, Arkansas, is the world’s largest processor and marketer of chicken, beef and pork, the second-largest food production company in the Fortune 500 and a member of the S&P 500. The company produces a wide variety of protein-based and prepared food products and is the recognized market leader in the retail and foodservice markets it serves. Tyson provides products and service to customers throughout the United States and more than 90 countries. The company has approximately 107,000 Team Members employed at more than 300 facilities and offices in the United States and around the world. Through its Core Values, Code of Conduct and Team Member Bill of Rights, Tyson strives to operate with integrity and trust and is committed to creating value for its shareholders, customers and Team Members. The company also strives to be faith-friendly, provide a safe work environment and serve as stewards of the animals, land and environment entrusted to it.