How to Start a Career in Healthcare Food Service Management

Kay Lakhi is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Dietary Solutions, bringing 25 years of dedicated experience as a community leader and wellness advocate. Her career has centered on advancing health and wellness services aimed at the treatment and prevention of chronic diseases, giving her deep insight into the challenges facing healthcare and long-term care organizations nationwide. As the visionary behind Dietary Solutions, Kay has built a people-first organization that connects skilled nutrition professionals with facilities across the country. Her leadership reflects a genuine commitment to improving patient and resident outcomes through personalized, compassionate care solutions. Kay's passion for wellness and her decades of community engagement continue to shape the company's mission of delivering real solutions and results that matter to every client and partner organization she serves.

Ashwin Lakhi serves as Vice President of Security & Infrastructure at Dietary Solutions, where he oversees critical projects that support the organization's continued growth and operational stability. He applies innovative project management techniques and cross-collaboration strategies to enhance business efficiency across the company's nationwide network. His work ensures that Dietary Solutions maintains the infrastructure and security necessary to reliably serve healthcare, senior-care, and community nutrition clients across the United States. Ashwin's strategic approach to organizational development helps the company scale its services while maintaining high standards of operational integrity. His contributions are integral to the company's ability to deliver consistent, dependable support to the facilities and professionals it partners with every day.

Melissa Baumbach is the Vice President of Operations at Dietary Solutions, leading customer service initiatives and personalized nutrition strategies for organizations nationwide. She brings specialized expertise in regulatory compliance, nutritional excellence, dining program development, and food cost management. Melissa is also well-versed in QAPI (Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement) and PDPM (Patient-Driven Payment Model), making her an invaluable resource for healthcare and long-term care facilities navigating complex regulatory environments. Her operational leadership ensures that clients receive tailored, effective nutrition and food service solutions that align with both compliance requirements and resident satisfaction goals. Melissa's commitment to operational excellence and her deep understanding of the industry's regulatory landscape make her a trusted partner for organizations seeking to improve their nutrition and dining programs.

Denise Fedorek serves as a Regional Director of Operations for Dietary Solutions, bringing extensive experience as a nutrition and dietetics professional. Her background spans clinical nutrition, food service management, cost control, training, education, menu development, and gerontological nutrition. Denise plays a key role in providing regional leadership, mentorship, and facility-level support to organizations across the country, helping them maintain compliance while optimizing their nutrition and food service operations. Her comprehensive expertise allows her to address the diverse needs of skilled nursing centers, assisted living facilities, and other healthcare settings that rely on Dietary Solutions for consulting and staffing support. Denise's dedication to gerontological nutrition and resident-centered care reflects the company's core mission of delivering real solutions and meaningful results for every client she supports.

Chauntel Horaney is the Director of Human Resources at Dietary Solutions, where she leads talent acquisition, onboarding, training, and professional development initiatives for the company's nationwide team. As a Certified Human Resources professional, she brings specialized expertise in organizational processes and employee experience, ensuring that Dietary Solutions attracts and retains top nutrition and dietary professionals. Chauntel's focus on building strong organizational foundations supports the company's ability to deliver consistent, high-quality staffing and consulting services to healthcare and community organizations across the United States. Her commitment to fostering a positive employee experience helps maintain the people-first culture that defines Dietary Solutions, ensuring that every team member is well-equipped to serve clients with professionalism and care.

Marcy Cook serves as a Regional Director of Operations at Dietary Solutions, bringing extensive experience as a dietetics and post-acute care leader. She specializes in supporting regulatory compliance, client service, and professional education, all while prioritizing the health and well-being of residents and patients. Marcy's regional leadership provides essential mentorship and facility-level support to organizations across her service area, helping them navigate the complexities of nutrition and food service management in post-acute care settings. Her dedication to combining clinical expertise with operational excellence ensures that client facilities receive comprehensive support tailored to their unique needs. Marcy's contributions align closely with Dietary Solutions' mission of delivering real, people-first solutions that produce meaningful results for the communities and organizations she serves.

Dawn Howard is a Regional Director of Operations at Dietary Solutions, bringing valuable experience as a nutrition and dietetics professional with a strong background in clinical nutrition and food service management. Her work is centered on gerontological nutrition and resident care, making her particularly well-suited to support skilled nursing, assisted living, and memory care facilities across her region. Dawn provides critical regional leadership, mentorship, and operational support to help client organizations maintain compliance and deliver optimal nutrition outcomes for the residents and patients they serve. Her focus on resident-centered care reflects Dietary Solutions' broader commitment to empathy, collaboration, and authenticity in every service engagement, ensuring that facilities receive knowledgeable, compassionate support tailored to their specific operational and clinical needs.