What does being a CDM, CFPP mean to you?

Philip Decker, CDM, CFPP

Burlington, KS

"I have always been drawn to working with food. There was nothing more satisfying than to provide someone a great tasting meal that they could not provide for themselves. I started working in an assisted living dietary department in January of 2016. I became a CDM, CFPP in 2018 and I am in charge of the dietary department. The training that I received while studying for the exam was beneficial on many levels. Nutrition, scheduling, receiving products, and even dealing with staff. This is the best job for me because like I said when I started, there is nothing more satisfying than providing someone a great tasting meal that they cannot provide for themselves."

Donna Ynostrosa, CDM, CFPP

Brownwood, TX

"When I first started long-term care, I didn’t have a clue! I went to school, earned my CDM, CFPP certification, and have grown from there. My CDM, CFPP certification has taught me so very much and I can’t imagine experiencing this pandemic without it. I was lost when I started, but now I am found! The learning opportunities are abundant. Thanks to everyone who has helped me on my journey."

Dan Chenault, CDM, CFPP

Columbus, OH

"Since I became a CDM, CFPP almost 5 years ago, I have garnered so much information & knowledge about food service, especially in a clinical setting. I managed restaurants for 11 years before I decided to make a career change, and I thought I knew a lot about food service in general, but boy was I wrong. To this day, I am still continuing to learn new and exciting things pertaining to our industry, especially because of the current circumstances we are dealing with. There are many things that will forever change becasue of our current situation, but the one thing I believe is most important, that more poeple should and will pay more attention to and understand the importance of, is infection control." 

Delia Rogers, CDM, CFPP

Amarillo, TX

"Being a CDM, CFPP means I am making a difference. I am bringing my expertise and fullest potential to the table. It means that I am expecting the best through gaining the wealth of knowledge that so many CDMs achieve through hard work and dedication." 

Stephen Slicis, CDM, CFPP

Hingham, MA

"I am so proud of being a CDM and being a member of ANFP. I thought I knew about food, being in the restaurant business for so long, but I was mistaken. A few years back I decided to change my job and work for Erickson Living. At Linden Ponds I was encouraged to reach for the stars and grow my knowledge. So I challenged myself to dig deeper and learn more about food and how I could help people with their choices. I am so happy to stand in front of residents and talk about food and understanding the health benefits, flavor profiles, program systems we use, and feel really confident. Being a member of ANFP and a CDM, CFPP has really made such a positive feeling when people ask what those initials beside my name stand for - now I simply smile and say 'Let's talk about food!' Hands down one of the best things I have done to improve myself and be better at my job is become a CDM, CFPP. I was very lucky to have a great instructor, a great director to push me, and a great company to support me on my path." 

Paul L. Lee, CDM, CFPP

Philadelphia, PA

“I have been in the food business for many years, and in the healthcare business for the last seven years. I always want to be the very best at what I do and be in the forefront of the new regs and new thinking in the healthcare business. I believe along with hard work and engaging with teams, the next most important role for leaders is continuous learning, so in the end we can give our stakeholders the best experience for their investments, whether they be residents, owners, or team members. If we succeed in our quest, it will ultimately be good for the industry and the association we belong to. I believe in it so much that I started a consulting firm, CDM for Hire, and it has been a very rewarding experience.”

Gloria Spottswood, CDM, CFPP

Alexandria, VA 

“CDM, CFPP means explicitly to me, being a professional. It means I’ve walked the line, taken the courses, continued my education, advanced my knowledge, honed my skills, and enhanced my qualifications in the Food Services, Hospitality, Culinary Arts, and Food Safety and Sanitation industries. This directly means that every customer, whether a patient, resident, guest, family member, team member, or patron is to have the benefit of my extensive experience, which in great part includes my years of being a CDM, CFPP. This is the premiere certification that asserts me as capable, and an expert in many categories, to ensure a job well done in institutional healthcare food service operations, but also extends to all other facets of a fabulous plethora of choices in the entire industry on a whole. My CDM, CFPP credential is everything. It opens doors, grants me access, puts me in the lead, and assures that I am on the forefront of an ever-changing industry, helping me to maintain a high level of expertise.”

Angie Paxton, CDM, CFPP

Marseilles, IL 

"I love being a CDM because it is a pleasure to give back to our older generation and people who can’t take care of themselves. I love learning something new every day. I love nutrition. My job is very satisfying to me. I have been blessed to have touched so many lives. I would never want to do anything else.”

Cindy Chan, CDM, CFPP

Springdale, AR

"What being a CDM means to me: waking up ready to go do what I love doing and that is taking care of my residents, ensuring they are receiving nutritious and tasty meals, taking into consideration their health needs. Talking with the residents individually is always a pleasure to get to know them and the way that they grew up. Through our conversations I learn their likes and dislikes and am able to ensure they receive what they like. They are my first priority.

Secondly is my kitchen staff. People from different stages of their lives all working together as a team to ensure the residents’ nutritional needs are met with a smile! I have always believed the heart of the home is in the kitchen. At home that is true, but I also bring that to work. Making the kitchen a better place to work which is through my training and continued training as a CDM, CFPP."

Lisa Stokes, CDM, CFPP

Henryetta, OK

"Being a CDM, CFPP has provided me with the skills needed to educate patients on managing their nutritional needs for better health. This role gives me a feeling of purpose and accomplishment that allows me the opportunity to touch lives for the better.

I feel blessed to work as a CDM, CFPP at Hillcrest Hospital in Henryetta, OK, one of Modern Healthcare's 2019 Best Places to Work in Healthcare. This makes my job even more rewarding because I get to work in a culture where we all take pride int he services we offer as a team."

Amanda Shirley, CDM, CFPP

Indiana, PA

"Being a CDM means being ready and knowledgeable to take on a higher standard in the ever-changing foodservice industry. With regulations and trends changing and updating constantly, being a CDM gives me the skill and leadership to guide our department to the next level when it comes to patient care and overall satisfaction."

Robin Kalinowski, CDM, CFPP

Bismarck, ND

"Becoming a CDM, CFPP has allowed me to move forward in my career goals. I am an expert in foodservice and food safety. I have met so many new people at the Annual Conference & Expo and on the Open Forum." 

Terri McGhee, CDM, CFPP

Mobile, AL

“Being a CDM, CFPP is a great personal accomplishment. Being in the food industry for over 30 years has given me a feeling of great success. I love this industry, and this made it all came together!”

Janet Derrickson, CDM, CFPP

Batesville, AR

“Being a CDM, CFPP means more than just food to me; it’s a career to help me get my family the things they need and want, and to help my residents get the best nutrition they can possibly get. I get to make it more than a meal and make it a family gathering.”