The man considered a rock star of school cafeteria food announced this week he is retiring from his South Carolina school district after 17 years.(Video above is from Nov. 17, 2021.)Joe Urban said his last day as director of food and nutrition services for Greenville County Schools will be Jan. 31, 2024.”Joe will now be dedicating his time and expertise to School Food Rocks on a full-time basis,” according to a post on Urban’s consulting company’s Facebook page. “This is a momentous occasion for our organization and marks a new chapter in our mission to revolutionize school food across the nation.”Other news: Grammy Award-winning Christian-turned-pop singer brings her tour to South CarolinaUrban took the helm of the district’s nutrition program after he sold his chain of ’50s diners in central Florida, according to foodservicedirector.com. He moved to Greenville with his wife, who was hired as an administrator by the district. Urban originally had no interest in pursuing school food, but his wife encouraged him to consider taking a job in school food service. The website went on to say:”Over the years, he worked to transform the food service program at the district by introducing a variety of new menu items and concepts, including several different build-your-own bars, global limited-time offers (LTOs) and a barbecue team that serves students barbecue smoked on-site using a wood-burning smoker. He also oversaw the creation of the cafeteria and kitchen at the district’s Roper Mountain Science Center.”He also maintained his position through the COVID-19 pandemic and the supply chain issues that came with it.Read more about the fast changes he had to make as the system was bogged down in Nov. 2021, here. Watch the video above.Urban said on his own Twitter page that he’s filled with gratitude and pride about his time at Greenville County Schools.”For nearly half of my adult life, I have had the incredible privilege of leading the nation’s greatest school food program,” he posted. “Now, as I embark on a new opportunity to further develop the School Food Rocks brand, I am excited to continue building upon these relationships and creating even more positive experiences for students on a national level.”The school district has not yet announced a replacement for the position.
The man considered a rock star of school cafeteria food announced this week he is retiring from his South Carolina school district after 17 years.
(Video above is from Nov. 17, 2021.)
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Joe Urban said his last day as director of food and nutrition services for Greenville County Schools will be Jan. 31, 2024.
“Joe will now be dedicating his time and expertise to School Food Rocks on a full-time basis,” according to a post on Urban’s consulting company’s Facebook page. “This is a momentous occasion for our organization and marks a new chapter in our mission to revolutionize school food across the nation.”
Other news: Grammy Award-winning Christian-turned-pop singer brings her tour to South Carolina
Urban took the helm of the district’s nutrition program after he sold his chain of ’50s diners in central Florida, according to foodservicedirector.com. He moved to Greenville with his wife, who was hired as an administrator by the district. Urban originally had no interest in pursuing school food, but his wife encouraged him to consider taking a job in school food service.
The website went on to say:
“Over the years, he worked to transform the food service program at the district by introducing a variety of new menu items and concepts, including several different build-your-own bars, global limited-time offers (LTOs) and a barbecue team that serves students barbecue smoked on-site using a wood-burning smoker. He also oversaw the creation of the cafeteria and kitchen at the district’s Roper Mountain Science Center.”
He also maintained his position through the COVID-19 pandemic and the supply chain issues that came with it.
Read more about the fast changes he had to make as the system was bogged down in Nov. 2021, here. Watch the video above.
Urban said on his own Twitter page that he’s filled with gratitude and pride about his time at Greenville County Schools.
“For nearly half of my adult life, I have had the incredible privilege of leading the nation’s greatest school food program,” he posted. “Now, as I embark on a new opportunity to further develop the School Food Rocks brand, I am excited to continue building upon these relationships and creating even more positive experiences for students on a national level.”
The school district has not yet announced a replacement for the position.