Jeff Denton Receives Prestigious National FAME Award

SCOTTSDALE, Az. – Basic American Foods, Schwan’s Food Service, Inc., and Tyson Foods, Inc., sponsors of the 26^th annual Foodservice Achievement Management Excellence (FAME) Awards program are pleased to announce the 2015 FAME Award winners.

The FAME Awards most prestigious honor – the Golden School Foodservice Director of the Year Award – will be presented to Jeff Denton, director of child nutrition, Ponca City Public Schools, Ponca City, Okla.

Denton is being recognized for his commitment to innovation in child nutrition in his 25-year career as a food service director. He is passionate about helping students understand the benefits of healthy food options and is being recognized for his ability to successfully operate a challenging Child Nutrition Program.

“When they notified me by phone, I was extremely excited and somewhat caught off guard,” said Denton. “This is the top award in the nation for child nutrition directors. Being recognized by industry, national publication editors and my own peers is very humbling. I have an incredible staff who are such a big part of this award and I am so thankful for the opportunity to work for Ponca City Schools and make a difference in student’s lives.”

Chef Jeff has had to overcome adverse conditions in his district when he was challenged with shrinking enrollment and state mandates. He was able to increase participation by creating a “layers of flavor” concept with redesigned bid documents for better pricing and incorporating ways to convert students from ala carte to participation in solid reimbursable meals.

Denton has been applauded by his district’s leadership for overcoming increased costs, loss of students and continuing to keep a positive cash flow for the child nutrition program. Many districts visit Ponca City Public Schools to observe methods and operations to implement and enjoy the same level of success. Recent challenges with new guidelines, increases in cost, aging equipment and changes in student preferences have been met head-on with success. He was able to meet budget requirements for salaries and equipment while starting the year with a surplus for the child nutrition program.

Innovative is one of many words of praise that colleagues use to describe Denton. He has been able to create and effectively operate two large production kitchens and one small kitchen site to feed over 6,000 meals daily. The uniqueness of this allows elementary sites to offer eight protein selections and two fruit selections. Often, two vegetable selections are available to these sites as well. Chef Jeff’s recent creation of On the Fly and CHIX at Senior High has resulted in greater student participation.

Chef Jeff conducts at least one assembly a day at an elementary site and has constant interaction with the students. In the past, he created, funded and operated Junior Chef Camps during the summer. He also assists and advises small school districts around the state in the area of menu development and procurement.

Denton has served as President of the School Nutrition Association of Oklahoma for four different terms and has also served as the state legislative and Public Policy Chair for many years. He is well known at the state capitol when it comes to child nutrition issues and has met with members of Congress on a national level to address issues faced by child nutrition operators around the country. He personally led the charge to hire a paid state lobbyist to champion child nutrition in Oklahoma. Chef Jeff started a very successful state leadership conference for the School Nutrition Association of Oklahoma, which has grown each year. According to many individuals in the food business, he is a passionate innovator in the industry and has earned this recognition.

The National Award will be presented January 11^th in Scottsdale, Arizona at the OMNI Resort and Spa, during the National School Nutrition Association Industry Conference.

For 26 years the FAME Awards have been honoring school nutrition professionals who raise industry standards by tackling challenges within their school districts and communities.