Presenters

Nancy Levandowski

Nancy has been the Director of ISU Dining at Iowa State University since October 2006. During that time, she launched ISU Dining's Farm to ISU program. This program educates students, staff and the community on local, sustainable and organic foods. In 2010 she added GAP (Good Agricultural Practices) Training for the local farmers thru an IDALS (Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship) Grant. Local purchases have increased from $25,000 to $900,000 in the four years and she organized the Central Iowa - Buy Fresh Buy Local campaign in 2011. The ISU Team has won the Governors Award for Environmental Excellence and the ISU President's Green Team Excellence Award.

ISU Dining has just completed $20,000,000 in renovations for many facilities including extensive renovation of a convenience store and two campus dining centers. Nancy has presented at several Regional and National conferences and educational programs speaking on Marketing, Etiquette, Sustainability and Business Practices. The ISU Team has been honored with many NACUFS Loyal E Horton Awards in Retail, Residential and Catering. Nancy has built a Chef team of 8 that have won many awards and annually support the Special Olympics Fundraiser with a Culinary Program that raised $38,000 in 2011. This Chef team creates a dynamic, innovative, nutritionally balanced and tasty dining program that draws over 3000 voluntary meal plans on top of the 5000 required.

Before ISU, Nancy worked in food service as a student at Santa Clara University in her home state of California. From there, she worked her way through the food service ranks with the Saga Corporation, Service America and Canteen. Working at the self operated program of Cal Poly Pomona as the Director and she and her team won one state, one regional and six national awards. She then served as a District Manager for ARAMARK's Pacific region. Nancy also spent time as a business consultant where she trained staff in customer service and building master plans.

Nancy and her partner, Steve enjoy traveling, golfing and hiking with their dog, Star.