Team Spotlight

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The team at the Ruth Benner Center. Back row: Scott, Aldrin and Jason; Front row: Ruth and Susana.

Ruth VanNess, Kitchen Manager, Ruth Benner Center Head Start

Ruth has worked for CKC Good Food for 11 years but has been supervising the Head Start food service program for a total of 24 years! When CAP decided it wanted to hire a caterer rather than managing the food service program itself, CKC Good Food asked Ruth to remain in her position as an employee of CKC Good Food. She was happy to do so! She appreciates there are always opportunities to advance with CKC Good Food.

Today, Ruth supervises 5 team members at kitchen at the Ruth Benner Center, where they prepare food for 10 other sites in addition to their own. Ruth does all the ordering and makes prep tags to ensure the right number of complete meals are prepared and delivered to each site. When needed, Ruth helps the servers at the other 6 Head Start locations. Once a month, the team also prepares & serves the parents and children a “Family Fun” breakfast or dinner.

She enjoys making the meal prep tags every day and figuring out how much food each Head Start location will need. Her favorite part of her job though is when the kids ask her, "What's for lunch, Miss Ruth?"!

Prior to working for Head Start, Ruth was a cook for 14 years at Childrens Home Society.

When she's not working, she loves spending time with her nephews, nieces and great nieces; watching the Minnesota Twins; and spending quiet time outside with the moon and stars. Despite cooking for a living, you'll often find her in the kitchen at home, baking cakes, cookies and banana bread.

Ruth lives with her sister Vickie and, together, they take care of their 90-year-old mom. After work, she goes home to cook dinner for the family, except for Friday nights - her “free night” - when she gets take out and relaxes!

Jason Anderson, Dishwasher/Server, Ruth Benner Center Head Start

It takes a special person to clean up after messy toddlers! That job falls to Jason, who has been with CKC Good Food about 4 years. In addition to serving, Jason washes all the dishes the kids at Ruth Benner use plus all the serving utensil, pans and cambros used to make the meals. He really enjoys working with the team at Head Start and appreciates that CKC Good Food has extra hours for him if he wants them - like filling in at the camps this summer.

Prior to CKC Good Food, Jason drove for a sanitation company.  When he’s not working, you’ll find him fishing or boating on the lake. He lives with his girlfriend of over 17 years, Nicole. Together, they have a beautiful, talented 15-year-old daughter, Jessica.

Aldrin Octavio Trejo Delgado, Server, Ruth Benner Center Head Start

Aldrin is the "new kid on the block," having been with CKC Good Food for 2 months. He preps, cooks and serves the food at the Ruth Benner Center. He loves the work and the excellent work environment, and knowing the kids are happy with their food day to day.

Prior to CKC Good Food, Aldrin was a kitchen manager at Wild Bills restaurant.

Outside of work, he likes going to the gym, playing baseball, watching movies and playing video games. He is married and lives with his spouse here in Minnesota. He is the oldest of 4 brothers, two of whom are in Mexico with his parents. His other brother is in Seattle in college.

Scott Spears, Driver, Ruth Benner Center Head Start

Five years ago, Scott was in search of a career change from his job as a cook at the deli at Mississippi Market. He stumbled across a CKC Good Food job posting for a driver on Indeed that caught his eye, especially since he likes to drive! The best part of his job is working with his team to provide delicious meals for the kids!

He greatly loves the outdoors – camping and hiking, and spending time with family. He and his partner have been together for 10 years. They live in St. Paul with their cats, Max & Luna.

Susana Thor, Kitchen Prep, Server and Float, Ruth Benner Center Head Start

The positive work environment is a big factor in the Head Start team working well together and being happy at their jobs. Susana, who has been with the company for 2 years, said she loves her job because "the team is respectful, friendly and kind," and the company "cares about team members’ needs, gives bonuses and recognizes the hard work of all team members."

Each day, Susana prepares and cooks meals according to the company's recipes. She'll count all the pans of food and box them up to go to the other centers or deliver food to the classroom at the Ruth Benner Center.  When a team member at one of the other Head Start centers is absent or there are new team members to train, Susana steps up! For that reason, she's grateful all the Head Start locations are in Saint Paul.

Previously, she was a baker and cake decorator. In her free time, she likes to read but with 7 children, the time is limited!

Kathy Carriere, Server, Roosevelt Head Start

Talk about a career change! Prior to starting with CKC Good Food 8 years ago, Kathy repaired major appliances and heating and cooling systems. Serving meals to three- and four-year-olds is quite a change! But she loves the people she works with.

When she’s not working, you’ll find her spending time with her kids and grandkids, who she says are loving people and are the reasons she cares about others.

Fatima Gonzalez Manjarrez, Server, Battle Creek Head Start

Everyone should be applauded when they walk into a room at work, don't you think? It's the higlight of Fatima's day when, as she delivers food to the classrooms, the kids are excited and clap for her. They all tell her "thank you." She likes talking with the kids when she delivers the meals.

Fatima has worked for CKC Good Food 12 or 13 years. She receives the meals prepared at Ruth Benner, delivers them to the classrooms at her location and serves the meals to the kids. She was referred to CKC Good Food by the Director of her daughter’s elementary school. She was working at a Mexican restaurant at the time.

Outside of work, she walks and plays with her dog and loves to cook. Fatima lived through some difficult times as a single mom to her daughter, who is now 22 years old. Her daughter put in a lot of effort to get ahead and now works and attends college. Today, Fatima and her daughter are very happy.

Others on the Head Start Team:

• Linda Watkins, West Side Head Start, and Thang Nguyen, Mt. Airy Head Start both started working on the Head Start team this school year, transferring from another position within CKC Good Food.
• Mark Silva, University/Skyline Head Start, has been there for at least four years.
• Najat Safar Belhadri, McDonough Head Start, has worked for CKC Good Food on the Head Start team for more than 10 years.