Dona Watson has worked at San Saba Rehabilitation for 20 years, and she received national recognition as the Certified Dietary Manager, Certified Food Protection Professional (CDM, CFPP) of the Month for November 2022 by the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals.
Dona said she has worked in Long Term Care for 17 years. Dona has also been involved with the community. She began working with Meals on Wheels in 2007. She is on a regular rotating schedule, and she also fills in when someone is needed.
Dona noted that the Rehab center where she works has annual inspections just like a restaurant, and in her 17 years, she has had ZERO deficiencies. That is quite an accomplishment! She stated she “closely follows standard procedures for safe food preparation, assembly, and presentation to ensure resident satisfaction.” Currently she has nine employees under her direction, and they apparently make a great team.
Dona’s favorite part of her job is “making a difference in someone's life every day.” She also likes watching her employees grow, learn, and become a great team player.
Do you want to get started working in the foodservice industry? Here is Dona’s advice to you: “Treat others like you would want to be treated. Teach and show them every day that today is a new day. Live for today and not tomorrow and cook for your residents like how you want to eat. Inspire and remind them - tough times don’t last, tough people do. And when working with food, we must learn to be tough.”
Thanks for being a role model, Dona, and congratulations on your well-deserved recognition!