At Oklahoma City Public Schools, Sodexo facilities management leaders recently implemented a school garden program at an elementary school. Now, students will have a hands-on experience as they learn about the importance of nutrition and physical activity.

This is just one example of Sodexo Schools division’s focus on student well-being and how the team creates an active learning environment for students and staff. Combined with the company’s partnership with the First Lady’s Let’s Move initiative – an effort that strives to eliminate childhood obesity within a generation – Sodexo has developed a variety of programs that address student nutrition programs through fun activities. Read more»

Does your family have a unique Thanksgiving tradition? While many of us will gather with family this Thanksgiving and eat too much turkey, some of you may be eating or doing other things. What is your unique Thanksgiving tradition? Share it here!

At Sodexo, we take great pride in the diversity of our employees – not just in their demographics, but in their cultures and traditions, too. What will you be doing this Thanksgiving? After you take the poll, read everyone’s stories here.

SAALT and Sodexo, Growing and Learning Together
By Michelle Robinson, Director, College and External Relations

Sodexo employees (left to right) Patina Jackson, Hossein Akhtarkhavari and his children plant trees at Usher Elementary School.

For many years, I have had a strong affinity for the Asian culture – the food, the people and the many different countries that encompass the Asian culture have always fascinated me. So much so that as I was growing up, my African American parents would often joke that I had been born into the wrong family. I do have to admit that for years my view was rather limited to the Chinese culture, as this was the only segment of Asian culture to which I had been exposed.

Needless to say, when I was asked by Hossein Akhtarkhavari, the Atlanta chair for PANG, Sodexo’s Pan Asian Network Group, to represent the company by volunteering with fellow employees at one of the many Be the Change community service events being held around the country, I jumped at the opportunity. Read more»

Students Learn about Foods and Cultures from Around the World
By Trish Freshwater, Senior Communications Manager

High school students at Tucson, Arizona’s Catalina Foothills School District had the opportunity to experience the culture and flavors of the world without ever leaving the cafeteria, thanks to Sodexo and its event series that combines nutrition with education to introduce students to the food, music and customs from the corners of the globe. This effort and so many others exemplify Sodexo’s dedication to student well-being, which focuses on nutrition and learning.

Sodexo supports Theme Day events to enhance culinary education during lunchtime. In addition to serving authentic world cuisine, Sodexo creates a festive ambiance with national flags, traditional music and decorations and shares interesting historical facts, such as key political leader biographies and the flag’s history and significance. Read more»

Sodexo was once again named one of the G.I. Jobs Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers® for 2011. The list serves as the primary benchmark of corporate recruiting programs aimed at military veterans. The annual survey is one of the critical metrics used to determine the nation’s most military-friendly employers.

Criteria for the G.I. Jobs Military-Friendly Employers rankings include assets dedicated to military hiring, Reserve/Guard policies, percentage of new hires that are veterans, veteran training programs and previous three years’ rankings.

Sodexo COO and Education Market President Lorna Donatone was recognized for her role in mentoring women who are aspiring leaders when she was awarded an Ascendancy Award from w2wlink.com, a professional online community for women, in the Entrepreneurial category.

The awards were established in 2009 to recognize, reward and inspire women to maximize their potential in their careers. Candidates were nominated from eight cities and other locales across the country for achievements in corporate, entrepreneurial and career transition settings. Award categories included Corporate, Entrepreneurial and Career Transition.

"Encouraging women to excel reflects my personal and professional commitment," said Donatone. "I’m honored to be recognized for something that is a passion of mine."

Feeding Hope in Chile
By Janet Awad, Director General of Sodexo Operations in Chile

Click the picture for additional photos of our Sodexo team at the Chile Mine Rescue

A few days after the mine accident in Chile, which trapped 33 men 2,000 feet below the earth, our Sodexo Chile team mobilized all its capabilities and experience to deliver a requirement of every rescue worker: food.

Our teammates in Chile worked tirelessly to come up with a creative way to feed warm, nutritious meals to almost 300 people working 24 hours a day on the rescue effort. Our own Sodexo heroes were able to come up with the means necessary to move the required supplies and food from Santiago, the Capital of Chile, all the way to the rescue site, about 560 miles away. Read more»

One Washingtonian Center, the North American headquarters of Sodexo, Inc., has earned Platinum certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating program for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, making it one of only three such structures in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area to achieve the USGBC’s highest rating. The building, which is owned by LaSalle Investment Management® and operated by Transwestern®, with Sodexo North America as its anchor tenant, also won the ENERGY STAR Award for the fourth consecutive year, earning 94 out of a possible 100 points under the EPA rating program. Read more»

Whether you are beginning your career search for the perfect job or seeking a career change, your resume is a critical tool and a great starting point. The resume can function like a documented plan with supporting evidence that, if well executed, will position you for job interview opportunities.

First, you need to create a resume outline. List your contact information at the top of the page. Only use phone numbers and e-mail addresses where you can be easily reached. Read more»

I recently caught up with a colleague at Sodexo and was excited to learn about how he has been able to grow his career from a patient tray line supervisor to a general manager in just a few short years. I asked how in the world he accomplished this, and he explained that it was a matter of determination, drive and a willingness to build mentoring relationships.

Upon graduation from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore in 2001, Keonte Hazelton started working as a tray line supervisor with Sodexo at Johns Hopkins Hospital. There, he oversaw a staff of 60 union employees and managed the delivery of more than 1,500 meals to patients. “While working the patient tray line, I realized that I had found an ideal work environment for me,” said Hazelton. And so, with a passion for working with people and the skills of a natural problem solver, he quickly rose through the management ranks at Hopkins. Read more»

Sodexo’s Medical Benefits Include Free Preventive Care under New Legislation

As an employer, Sodexo has always been proud of offering a comprehensive suite of benefits to our employees, including medical, dental, vision, vacation, 401(k), disability and life insurance.

In March, Congress passed the health care reform law that makes changes to private insurance coverage and government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. Some of the provisions affect employers like Sodexo and the benefits we offer to our employees and families. Read more»