2023-2024 GSNA Executive Committee
President
Cathy Johnson - Richmond County
President-Elect
Kimberly Kiker - Calhoun City
Secretary
Dee Mathis - Hall County
Treasurer
Sandra Thrift - Ware County
Chair of District Presidents
Dr. Dana Bing - Columbia County
School Level Section Chair
Amber Martin - Butts County
System Level Section Chair
April Cox - Hall County
Advisor to the President
Cheryl Jones - Hall County
State Staff Advisor Dr. Linette Dodson - GADOE
Inside This Issue
From the President
From the President-Elect
GSN Foundation Golf Tournament
Pre-Conference Sessions
Leadership Academy
Hole In One Culinary Demo
Educational Sessions
Exhibit Hall Opening General Session
Reception
From the President
Enthusiastic Greetings, Friends!
A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who contributed to making the 69th Annual GSNA Conference in Augusta, Georgia, from April 18-20, 2024, an overwhelming success. Whether you attended as a participant, industry partner, presenter, volunteer, sponsor, or expo patron, your involvement was invaluable!
A Classy Start with the GSN Foundation Golf Tournament
The GSN Foundation Golf Tournament set a high bar for excellence, thanks to the stellar efforts of Foundation Chair Alyssia Wright and Warren Goldsmith, who brought the “ParTee-Time” theme to life. The array of retro golf outfits added a delightful touch to the event, and the Bartram Trail Golf Club served as a stunning backdrop for our school nutrition professionals and industry partners.
Stellar Pre-Conference Sessions
Our Pre-Conference Sessions were exceptional, led by remarkable facilitators like The Dairy Alliance Reps, Scott Richardson with his engaging Farm Crawl, and Shelley Daniel and Lisa Budd from Glynn County, who presented a star-studded panel of experts to guide our new directors. With over 20 diverse learning sessions tailored to meet every participant's needs, we even introduced a panel of maintenance team members sharing their expertise with school and system-level staff for the first time ever.
Memorable Awards and Exhibits
The awards sessions were a true delight, honoring our winners in memorable moments. Our exhibit hall was bustling with over 175 companies eager to support us in making the upcoming school year the best yet. The Friday night party was an absolute highlight! The energy on the dance floor was unparalleled, proving once again that school nutrition professionals know how to let loose and have fun.
Inspirational Closing and Gratitude
We concluded the conference with inspiring words from our own Vanessa Hayes, sending us back to our districts with renewed purpose.
As this incredible conference comes to a close, I want to express my deepest gratitude for an unforgettable year as your 2023-2024 GSNA President. Working closely with so many of you has made this journey truly enriching. I encourage you all to continue fostering the passion we share for school nutrition and to support the next generation of leaders. Special thanks to my Richmond C enabled me to seize this once-in-a-lifetime o I am thrilled to pass the torch to Kim Kiker, forward to witnessing her year's successes. T continued support, always here with an open to remain "Mission Minded, Vision Focused
With immense appreciation and excitement,
GSNA President 2023 2024
JohnsCa@bo
From the President-Elect
Dear Members of the Georgia School Nutrition Association,
I hope this message finds you well and your summer is off to an amazing start. As I reflect on the past year under Cathy’s Leadership, I feel that I have grown as a leader and am more ready to lead our association into the next year as your President. As I learned from Cathy, I realized the amazing passion that she has for School Nutrition. Cathy’s passion comes from the demanding work that it took for her to get to her current position.
Cathy takes that passion and pours it into everything that she does, including supporting our state as our President. Cathy supports each of you and our association each day by living out her “Mission Minded, Vision Focused” theme for this year. She is truly an advocate for School Nutrition and the students we serve. We saw this passion while in Augusta at our annual conference this year. As we planned the conference Cathy was incredibly involved with all the planning down to the smallest details. Cathy was committed to providing our members with an amazing experience in Augusta. Well, she succeeded in that goal. We had an amazing time in Augusta learning from our colleagues and interacting with our industry partners. Augusta did not disappoint; the venue was great, and the experience was wonderful. Thank you, Cathy, for being an amazing host in your hometown.
Looking ahead, I am committed to advancing our mission with a renewed focus on collaboration, innovation, and inclusivity. Together, we will continue to prioritize the nutritional needs of our students, ensuring they have access to wholesome meals that support their academic success and overall well-being.
Throughout the coming year, we will embark on initiatives aimed at:
·Advocacy and Policy Reform: Strengthening our voice in advocating for policies that prioritize nutrition in schools and communities.
·Professional Development: Offering expanded learning opportunities and resources to empower our members to deliver excellence.
·Community Engagement: Deepening our partnerships with schools, families, industry, and local stakeholders to promote health and wellness because, “We are all in this Together.”
I am eager to hear your insights and ideas as we embark on this journey together. Your engagement and support are vital as we work collaboratively to uphold the highest standards of school nutrition across Georgia.
Please stay tuned for upcoming events, workshops, and opportunities to contribute to our shared goals. Together, we have the power to make a meaningful impact on the lives of Georgia's students and communities.
Thank you for entrusting me with this privilege and responsibility. I look forward to serving you and working together to create a brighter future for all.
And remember, “We are all in this together”! #AllinGSNA
Warm regards,
Kimberly Kiker kikerk@calhounschools.org
President Elect, 2023-2024
Transforming Schools, Inspiring Futures.
GSN Foundation Golf Tournament
THANK YOU to our CONFERENCE
Pre-Conference Sessions
The Dairy Academy, led by Will McWhirter, Manager of Youth Wellness at the Dairy Alliance, was a major success. Attendees gained insights into the nutritional advantages of incorporating dairy products into a well-rounded diet. They also discovered strategies to advocate for dairy nutrition and improve school menu offerings.
Participants of the Farm Crawl visited three farms in the Augusta area that collaborate to provide food for students. These farms are members of the CSRA Black Farmer Cooperative, which aims to educate minority farmers on sustainability, organic cultivation, and business practices.
The main goal of the GSNA Rookies Guide to a Hole in One was to offer rookie directors reliable resources to help them effectively manage a successful program.
LEADERSHIP ACADEMY
2023-2024 GSNA
Leadership Academy Graduates
Instructors:
Dr. Debra Morris, Ashley Whitener and Dawn Garrett-Martin
Heidi Aselton, Bibb County
Ashley Bailey, Butts County
Marie Beverley, Glynn County
Ricketa Carr, Dublin City
Kim Cash, Putnam County
Katherine Clum, Sumter County
Gisela Coley, Bibb County
Marvin Davis, Gwinnett County
Kelli Dodd, Crawford County
Tara Fields, Hall County
Christy Taylor, Crawford County
Naomi Gonzalez, Gwinnett County
Yashika Halls, Richmond County
Tracey Harvey, Dougherty County
Martha Harvey, Sumter County
Leslie Hill, Carroll County
Marit Hilliard, Cobb County
Tiffany Jones, Tift County
Delmy Kilroy, Gwinnett County
Angela Laster, Sumter County
Stefania Lawrence, Gwinnett County
Charles Lu, Gwinnett County
Shannon Martin, Glynn County
Kendra Miller, Hall County
Juana Moore, Fulton County
Lillian Mosley, Bibb County
Andrea Murray, Gwinnett County
Ellen Newby, Decatur County
Beanadinta Nolley, Carroll County
Jessica Peaden, Bremen City
Monica Porter, Decatur County
Kim Rhoton, Crawford County
Latasha Rowe, Dougherty County
May Sapp, Richmond County
Erica Nicole Smith, Hall County
Chasity Stanford, Forsyth County
Sharon Wesley, Cobb County
Chastity West, Cherokee County
Julie Williams, Forsyth County
HOLE IN ONE CULINARY DEMO
EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS
CHEF BOYD ROSE CGA
CHEF BRUCE MARLETTE MASTER MARKETING
CARLOS CASALS PACE REP
EXHIBIT HALL
OPENING GENERAL SESSION
CULINARY ART AWARDS
ESIDENTS
INDUSTRY RECEPTION
ROLLIN ON THE
AWARDS
Manager of the Year Award
Kerry Lopez Houston Co
Director of the Year Awar
SNA Southeast Region Director of the Year
Dawn
Employee of the Year
Shannon Martin, Glynn Co
Dr. Josephine Martin Award of Excellence Award
Valerie Bowers, GADOE
Ann C. Smith Hall of Fame Award
The Late Mary Ramsier Kirk
Local Chapter President’s Award
Media Award Anna Dilcher, Cobb Co.
LIRT Award te and National cal Association ichmond Co.
Beyond the Plate Award
Local Chapter President’s Award Richmond Co.
Highest District Attendance Award – District 7
Teena Carr, Putnam Co.
Naomi Tolbert Central Office Support Award
Sheila Cooper, Coffee Co.
Matt Rigdon South GA
Alex Broe North GA
Dimple Mitchell Lea Ann Riley Director of K-12 Schools North GA
CLOSING SESSION
