You may have noticed some new faces in the Dining Commons recently. Joining Assistant Food Service Director Chris Couchon is a friendly and experienced new leadership team that will be making sure all our meals and functions on campus are terrific.
Food Service Director Jim Grimaldi has been in management and operations for 33 years, including at Springfield College. He’s an avid cyclist, riding more than 1,100 miles last summer! And he loves pan seared scallops. Can you blame him?
Executive Chef Patrick Shannon has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 30 years and is a graduate of the New England Culinary Institute. He was chef manager at Mount Holyoke College and enjoys golf, photography, and hiking. Cooking short ribs is right up his alley.
Rebecca Chace, assistant food service director/catering, has worked at Elms College and Western New England University. As an executive meeting manager, she planned and executed company meetings for hotels. She enjoys gardening, and is a fan of pizza.
And let’s not forget Chef Chris, who many regard as a rock star (and they’d be right!), who has spent 20 years in the food industry, including a few years spent on the road as a “carny” operating an independent food concession stand, and working for three years under Chef Casey Douglas of Galaxy at the now-closed but wonderful Apollo Grill. He was hired as a cook for Williston in 2004 and has been here ever since, working his way out of his chef whites and into a shirt and tie.
Go team!