Tips from Trestle: The Senior Living Food and Hospitality Podcast

Are you ready to spice up your community's dining experience? This TFT has the technological ingredients & recipe for success for senior living dining operations!

In the fast-paced world of senior living food and hospitality, technology is quickly becoming a critical component for success. In this episode of Tips from Trestle, we speak with Matt Stenerson, Co-Founder and CEO at eMenuCHOICE POS about the value of point-of-sale systems in senior living communities. From revenue capture to process improvement to customer service, Aaron & Matt share valuable insights on why a good point-of-sale system is more than just a "nice-to-have" tool. If you're an owner/operator, executive, or even a dining director in the senior living industry, you won't want to miss this episode!

Matt Stenerson is the co-founder and CEO of eMenuChoice. Matt has over 15 years of experience managing the development and implementation of complex software applications. In 2012, Matt began working with Lyngblomsten, a nonprofit Senior Living provider in St. Paul, MN, on an application to provide residents in their care center with more choice, while also modernizing the kitchen’s then, paper-based process. That work led to the creation of eMenuCHOICE Point of Sale. In 2015, eMenuChoice won the LeadingAge Minnesota Leading Change Innovation award and Lyngblomsten began offering eMenuChoice to other communities. Today, eMenuChoice has evolved to support the complex needs of all senior communities from dietary management in Skilled Nursing, to Point-of-Sale in Assisted, Independent Living and CCRCs/LPCs. eMenuChoice is improving dining at hundreds of communities throughout the United States and Canada.

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & hospitality operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry.

TFT is sponsored by:

Additional Links:

Connect with Matt & eMenuCHOICE

What if I told you that your Sales and F&B teams could be as great together as peanut butter and jelly?

In the senior living industry, it's not enough to just sell a room or a meal - it's about selling the entire experience. In this episode of Tips from Trestle, Aaron visits with Julie Podewitz of Grow Your Occupancy to explore the importance of creating a seamless and exceptional experience for residents, and how sales and food & beverage teams can work together to make that happen. We offer actionable tips and insights to help you avoid overselling and under-delivering, and to adjust to the ever-changing market.

Julie Podewitz is the CEO & Founder of Grow Your Occupancy, a sales & marketing consultancy specializing in senior living. Julie is a senior living sales expert and published author, and has spent time on both the provider and consultant side, all focused on sales and marketing. Julie began her career as a community sales director and quickly filled census-challenged buildings. Her experience as a teacher, trainer and coach gave her great insight to consult with hundreds of communities across 46 states. She has spent the past eight years in the VP Sales and CMO roles on the provider side.  All along, she kept her foot on the ground, never losing the “here and now” experience of the customer – the prospects, families, community, executive and ownership entities she serves.

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & hospitality operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry.

TFT is sponsored by:

Additional Links:

Connect with Julie Podewitz:

Motivation. Mindset. Momentum. All words we use to describe creating a success in any endeavor. Do you and your teams Aspire for More of this in your everyday operations?

In this episode, we visit with Erin Thompson, a seasoned executive director with 20 years of experience in the senior living industry, specializing in assisted living and memory care. Erin's passion for serving residents and their families has enabled her to lead each community she has worked with to high occupancy and peak performing teams, through her focus on teamwork, hard work, and motivation. We talk about how she managed her foodservice operations with little experience in a kitchen, and how her willingness to learn helped her achieve a high level of success there and throughout her career.

Erin's new endeavor is Aspire for More with Erin, a company that focuses on leadership development for families caring for elderly loved ones, as well as for leadership teams in the senior living industry. The company's main mission is to fill in the gaps in training and development, to create, hire and retain great leaders in the industry. Aspire for More with Erin is a group and individual leadership development company that focuses on mindset, motivation, and momentum. Join us in this episode as Erin shares her inspiring journey and sheds light on the importance of mindset, motivation, and momentum in the senior living industry. She is the host of two podcasts aimed at improving the senior living industry: I Have Fallen and Need Some Help (for families) and Aspire for More with Erin (for industry professionals)

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & hospitality operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry.

TFT is sponsored by:

Additional Links:

Connect with Erin Thompson

Serving seniors & open to the public? Buckle up for a culinary collaboration that breaks the mold, as we explore how the expertise of a James Beard award winner and a forward thinking senior living operator is bringing the public inside of their unique restaurant concept.

In this episode of TFT, we delve into the unique partnership between MedCore Partners and Stephan Pyles, the "founding father of Southwestern Cuisine" in the creation of Alma by Stephan Pyles, a public-private restaurant that aims to serve both the residents of The Hacienda at Georgetown, and the larger community of Sun City, a suburb of Austin, TX.

Along with Tiffany Cobern (Director of Senior Housing Operations), we explore the journey of how this partnership came about and what it took to bring Alma by Stephan Pyles to life. Tiffany & Chef Pyles share their insights into what makes this partnership so special and how it will change the face of senior living F&B operations going forward.

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & hospitality operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry.

TFT is sponsored by:

Additional Links:

Connect with Tiffany Cobern:

Follow MedCore Partners

What is the secret to creating a menu featuring Italy's healthiest secrets? Join us as we discover the beauty of the Mediterranean Diet and explore the traditional methods and key ingredients that make this diet so beloved.

In this episode, we welcome Amanda Goldman, a registered dietitian who took a trip to Italy to explore the Mediterranean diet and bring back its "secrets" to the non-commercial foodservice sector in the US. She shares her experience visiting various regions in Italy and learning about the traditional methods of product preparation, as well as the key ingredients used in the Mediterranean diet. She speaks about the importance of incorporating these healthy habits into our daily lives, and how the Mediterranean diet can have a positive impact on our overall health and well-being. We also explore how producers in these regions are working to bring their authentic products to the US for use in operations such as senior living food service.

Amanda Goldman is currently the Healthcare Industry Sales Strategist for Gordon Food Service. In this role, she utilizes her background to serve as a segment customer operational and financial subject matter expert for the national healthcare sales team. She obtained her B.S. in Dietetics from Miami University, and her M.S. in Clinical Nutrition from the University of Kentucky. Prior to her current role, Amanda was the System Director for the Catholic Health Initiatives Food & Nutrition Services national program. There she helped to implement room service dining, healthy food initiatives, as well as guest satisfaction & comprehensive malnutrition programs. Amanda volunteers on a number of committees affiliated with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. In addition, she is an Association for Healthcare Foodservice Industry Advisory Board member, a Past President of the Kentucky Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and a member of the AHCA/NCAL Customer Experience Committee. She is passionate about food & nutrition, and has been speaking for several years at multiple state & national association events on a variety of timely topics.

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & hospitality operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry.

TFT is sponsored by:

Additional Links:

Connect with Amanda Goldman: 

Follow Gordon Foodservice:

Ready to unlock new opportunities and advance your career in senior living? This episode of "Tips From Trestle" explores the "Full Spectrum" of senior living recruitment and will help you uncover the secrets to success in getting to the next level in your senior living journey.

Aaron sat down with Katie Churchill, a leading expert in senior living recruitment to discover the keys to unlocking new opportunities and advancing your career in the industry. She shares her insights on the recruitment process for senior living, discusses the different factors she looks for in a candidate when hiring for leadership roles, the difference between filling a community leader position versus a regional or corporate role and how using a recruiter can be beneficial for individuals looking to find their next position

Katie is a Managing Partner at Full Spectrum overseeing the Senior Living practice on the West Coast, recruiting in retained searches for executive leadership roles. She began her journey in senior living began at a young age, calling bingo at a local non-profit senior living community and with a grandfather diagnosed with Alzheimer's. She set out to earn a degree in Health Administration and Gerontology and her mission was to change the lives of seniors and family members she had the privilege of interacting with.

She spent ten years in the Senior Living industry as a Regional Sales Director and Sales Director for senior living operators on the West Coast and after traveling and being heavily involved in her regions sales and marketing efforts, she joined an Independent and Assisted Living community working in Resident Relations and Operations. It was there that Katie became Forbes Customer Service Certified, expanding in providing exceptional customer service to residents and family members of the community.

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & hospitality operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry.

TFT is sponsored by:

Additional Links:

Follow Katie Churchill:

Follow Full Spectrum Search Group:

It's a Food Network staple -Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.. But how did it start, and what does it have to do with our experiences with food in senior living?

Get ready for a captivating season premiere episode of Tips From Trestle where Aaron sits down with two-time Emmy winner David Page, the mastermind behind the hit food show, Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. He shares his journey, secrets behind his book "Food Americana", shares the common thread he has discovered when people dine, and future trends in food industry.

David shares his predictions on the hottest trends that operators will embrace, including the increased focus on sustainability and the use of technology in the restaurant industry. He also shares his personal food experiences with his mother-in-law in assisted living, and the challenges of providing delicious and nutritious food for older adults. Join us for an engaging conversation with David Page and gain access to his wealth of knowledge on American food culture and the world of food television.

David Page changed the world of food television by creating, developing, and executive-producing the groundbreaking show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Before that, as a network news producer based in London, Frankfurt, and Budapest, he traveled Europe, Africa, and the Middle East doing two things―covering some of the biggest stories in the world, and developing a passion for some of the world’s most incredible food.

Once back in the states, Page pursued his passion both personally and professionally. Show-producing Good Morning America, his substantial food coverage included cooking segments by Emeril Lagasse. Creating Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and hands-on producing its first eleven seasons took him deep into the world of American food―its vast variations, its history, its evolution, and especially the dedicated cooks and chefs keeping it vibrant. His next series, the syndicated Beer Geeks, dove deep into the intersection of great beer and great food. It is those experiences—that education, the discovery of little-known stories and facts—that led Page to dig even deeper and tie the strands together in his new book, Food Americana.

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & hospitality operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry.

TFT is sponsored by: 

Additional Links:

David Page's Food Americana:

Senior living food service is a unique operation. It's not exactly a restaurant or country club, but it's also not healthcare. It is a delicate blend of managing both while balancing the vision of full-service hospitality in the homes of our residents. And as dedicated professionals in this immense sector, we know that our professional networks are invaluable to our growth, development, and even our sanity. But when you are a dining & hospitality professional in senior living, your options seem limited. What should you do? That where the Senior Dining Association comes in to fill this void.

Started in 2018 by founder & CEO Harris Ader, the Senior Dining Association was started to provide foodservice professionals something much needed for our industry - a place where we could come together with other professionals that specialize in senior living. Ien this episode of TFT, Aaron talks with Harris about the origins of the SDA, how it evolved and grew throughout the pandemic, and what he has on the horizon for senior living food service professionals heading into 2023.

Harris Ader has more than 20 years of operational experience in the senior living industry. His extensive background also includes experience in contract foodservice management, the national school lunch program, hotels and restaurants. Prior to founding the Senior Dining Association, Harris was the Vice President of Dining Service at Senior Living Communities, based in Charlotte, NC. Harris’ areas of expertise include conceptual development, financial and business acumen, organizational effectiveness, project management, talent development and strategic vision & planning. Harris graduated from Johnson & Wales University.

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & beverage operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry. To support the podcast, click here: https://anchor.fm/tips-from-trestle/support

Additional Links:

Aaron Fish: www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfish 

Trestle Hospitality Concepts: www.trestlehospitalityconcepts.com

Harris Ader: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harris-ader-161b792/

Senior Dining Association: https://seniordining.org/

Mental health is hard to talk about in any setting. But especially in the hospitality industry.

In a recent survey of 1273 hospitality professionals, 8 out of 10 respondents had experienced mental health issues during their career and 46% would not feel comfortable talk about their health concerns with their colleagues. So how do we address this looming crisis? Enter the The Burnt Chef Project.

Launched in May of 2019, The Burnt Chef project was set up with the sole intention of eradicating the mental health stigma in the hospitality industry. Knowing how important this need is, Aaron talks with David Thornton, the lead Ambassador for The Burnt Chef Project in the United States. They talk about David's mental health journey, the mission behind The Burnt Chef Project, and how invaluable it is to address mental health in the hospitality industry.

Starting in the hospitality industry 24 years ago in a small brewing company in Wasilla, Alaska at age 14, David Thornton found his passion for the industry. He attended the Scottsdale Culinary Institute Le Cordon Bleu, where he received an Associate’s Degree in the culinary arts. He is a Pro Chef mentor through The Culinary Institute of America and instructs any chance he can at Christian Culinary Academy in Cannon Beach, Oregon. I currently live in Washington and have spent time traveling throughout the Pacific Northwest looking for adventure, places to forage and promoting the beauty of our unique cuisine. Myguests, in many sectors of our industry, have enjoyed the bounty of this seasonal, fresh approach to menu planning. My most uncommon work experience was 400 miles north of the Arctic Circle, serving 1,800 meals a day. Like many Hospitality workers, he has struggled with mental health. As the ambassador for Burnt Chefs in the USA his goal is to work to ensure there is always a safe space to talk and work through the mental struggles we face in our industry. 

If you need help with your mental health or need to speak to someone, you can text 'HOME' to 741741, or visit https://www.theburntchefproject.com/helpandsupport for additional resources.

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & beverage operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry. To support the podcast, click here: https://anchor.fm/tips-from-trestle/support

Additional Links:

Aaron Fish: www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfish 

Trestle Hospitality Concepts: www.trestlehospitalityconcepts.com

David Thornton: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chef-david-thornton/

The Burnt Chef Project: https://www.theburntchefproject.com/

The senior living industry is set for expansive growth in the coming years to meet market demand. But with these great opportunities will come new barriers to capitalizing on them. Especially the barrier of labor.

So how do we tackle the ongoing labor challenges? What is the right combination of tools & actions needed to overcome these obstacles?

This episode of TFT Aaron tries to sort through where we are and how we can get there by talking to Kate Risa. They talk about the looming labor challenges, and the four things that Kate and her team believe will be actions that any operator can take to ease and overcome what the industry faces as we move into this exciting time of growth.

Kate Risa has specialized in the senior living PEO industry for over 10 years and regularly supports clients with analyzing, developing and implementing strategic HR initiatives that support workplace culture, improve employee retention and engagement and drive occupancy. Kate has over 20 years of human resources experience across a variety of industries, holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, a Master’s of Business Degree in Human Resources Management, a Paralegal certification in employment law, and National certificates as a Strategic Human Resources Professional from SHRM (SHRM-SCP) and HRCI (SPHR). She currently is the HR Enterprise Accounts Director focusing on Senior Living for Paychex.

Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & beverage operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry. To support the podcast, click here: https://anchor.fm/tips-from-trestle/support

Additional Links:

Aaron Fish: www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfish 

Trestle Hospitality Concepts: www.trestlehospitalityconcepts.com

Kate Risa: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kate-risa/

Paychex: https://www.paychex.com/