AHF Philadelphia/South Jersey Chapter
Upcoming Events
Annual Symposium
The PSJAHF Board of directors, symposium, education, and business partner chairs are proud to announce and release details of our 49th annual PSJAHF symposium. The event will take place on Thursday, March 7th, 2024 at the Sheraton Buck County Hotel, Langhorne, Pa 19047. This year’s theme is “Bridging the Gap: Innovations in Foodservice, Technology, and Workplace Culture Across Generations”. Attendees will earn CEU’s. Attached is the program for your sneak preview. We have an exciting, jam-packed day planned with some engaging and dynamic speakers, industry experts, a top-notch business partner show, time to re-connect with colleagues and meet new ones!
We hope that you will block your calendar for March 7th, sign up, and join us!
Register and purchase your tickets on Eventbrite (Deadline to sign up via Eventbrite is March 1st):
PayPal will be available for those needing to register after March 1st (on our chapter website):
Annual Symposium – Philadelphia South Jersey Chapter (healthcarefoodservice.org)
Link below for 49th symposium registration form.
Philadelphia/South Jersey Chapter Symposium – Association for Healthcare Foodservice
Registration can be paid by PayPal, Venmo or check. For check payments please refer to the registration form AHF-Registration-Form-2024.docx (live.com)
Pay pal ID: [email protected]
Venmo ID: @psjahf
This event would have been possible with YOU – our members, our business partners, and our symposium sponsors:
About AHF PSJ
PSJAHF was founded in 1967. Our organization is dedicated to providing educational seminars, networking opportunities, recognition programs, scholarships, foodservice resources, and alerts for job opportunities to our members. The goal of the organization is to provide services for all members, and to also offer support and direction for the next generation of foodservice professionals for our industry. Membership is open to all foodservice professionals. We value every member of our organization.
The Mission of the Philadelphia South Jersey Association for Healthcare Food Service (PSJAHF) is to provide an environment for members to enjoy a working network of support for professional growth and educational opportunities. This organization is committed to setting, supporting, maintaining and recognizing the highest standards of performance and leadership within the healthcare foodservice industry.
Join AHF Philly/ South Jersey
- Best value for continuing education credits at annual Educational Symposium
- Great peer networking opportunities
- Annual holiday party honoring members for contributions to the organization
- Posted Job Opportunities
- Website that highlights and photographs memorable events
- Scholarship opportunities
Links
Pennsylvania Food Code
Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture
FDA- U.S. Food & Drug Administration
USDA – U.S. Department of Agriculture
Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA)
Healthier Hospital Initiative – A Practice Green Health Program
Good Food, Healthy Hospitals – Food Fit Philly
Food Management Magazine
Food Service Director Magazine
Foodservice Equipment & Supplies
Hospitality News | Hospitality, Bakery, Education, Healthcare News
Association of Nutrition and Foodservice Professionals
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Our Board
| President Brian Dixson, MBA Foodservice Manager Central/North Central RegionGeisinger4200 Hospital Rd. Coal Township, PA 17866570-644-4320 [email protected] AHF National Chapter Advisory Board | President-Elect Joseph Ludwig Sr. Supervisor Retail Food Operations Tower Health Reading Hospital6th Ave & Spruce Street West Reading, PA 19611484-628-5592 [email protected] AHF National Membership Committee Chair | Past-President Dennis Brennan 484-628-4336 [email protected] |
| Treasurer Tom Cooley, MA, RD, LDN Managing DirectorTCB Partners LLC Quakertown, PA 18951267-772-0633 [email protected] Benchmarking AHF National Awards Committee | Symposium Chair Mary Cooley, MS, RD, LDN Director, Dining Services Pennswood Village 1382 Newtown-Langhorne Road Newtown, PA 18940(267) 759-1028 [email protected] AHF National Awards Committee | Board Member H. Scott Greenley Business Solutions Specialist US Foods 9399 W. Higgins Road Rosemont, IL 60018 302-250-3034 [email protected] |
| Board Member Susan Kapun, MS, RD, LDN Dining Experience DirectorInglis Foundation2600 Belmont Ave.Philadelphia, PA [email protected] | Education Chair Danielle Kronmuller DHSc, RD, LDN Dietetic Internship Director West Chester University | Board Member Tom Boyd Nutrition Service Area Director Trinity Health Hospitality Services [email protected] |
| Board Member Erik Schunk, MBA, CEC, RD, LDN Corporate Director Universal Health Services 367 S. Gulph Road King of Prussia, PA 19406 610-382-4644 | Board Member Matt Torres Program Director UHS for Culinary & Nutrition Division Corporate Supply Chain | Board Member Steph Torres Tower Health Reading Hospital Supply Chain-Distribution Clerk |
| Past-Symposium Chair Shelley Chamberlain, RD, LDN Consultant The Common Market 428 East Erie Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19147 215-680-7408 [email protected] | Symposium Vendor Chair Alice Barr Account Executive US Foods 2255 High Hill Road, PO Box 545 Bridgeport, NJ 08014 215-962-6884 [email protected] | Past Education Chair Susan Adams, M.S., RD, LDN Assistant Professor, Lasalle University Lasalle University School of Nursing & Health Sciences-Retired 3023 St. Benilde Tower 1900 West Olney Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19141 215-951-1866 [email protected] |
Join a long tradition of Healthcare
Foodservice Leadership!
The vision of AHF is to advance self-operated healthcare foodservice as the industry best practice. AHF develops healthcare foodservice professionals to ensure that food and nutrition services are valued as an essential contributor to the organizations mission. In addition, the purpose of our chapter is the promote continual improvement of the leaders of food and nutrition services in healthcare organizations through collaborative relationships, networking and sharing of information.
We believe in:
- Building collaborative relationships, networking, and sharing information.
- Conducting ourselves with integrity and respect to create an open, trusting, and safe environment.
- Achieving success through personal and professional development of all.
Elections:
- Elections are held annually in November with new board members taking office each year in January
- Board members hold a 2-year term which runs January – December.
- Every PSJAHF member is eligible to run for office and to vote.
Board Meetings:
The board of PSJAHF meets regularly. We plan our annual symposium, our educational and networking programs, and discuss ways to give back to our community. We meet in-person 2 times per year and hold additional meetings via conference call. Our board members may also volunteer to serve on a committee to help advance the work of the chapter. Each year a contingency of our board members travel to National AHF Conference to represent our chapter.
Consider joining us! We’d love to have you!
Submit your name for consideration this fall. Look for member communication on the call for nominations or let us know you are interested by sending an email Brian Dixson at [email protected] or Joseph Ludwig at [email protected]
Member Spotlight:
Joseph Ludwig, President Elect- PSJAHF
Title: Senior Supervisor- Retail Food Operations, Reading Tower Health
Career Highlights: I have been a supervisor in hotel and food service for 20 years. I have worked in quick service, hotels, university food service and now for Tower Health-Reading. I completed my CDM/CFPP course from the University of Florida in the sprint of 2020. I attended West Chester university and have a BA in History. I am a Serve safe certified trainer and Proctor. I am currently enrolled at Alvernia University in the post-graduate MBA program and due to graduate in Spring of 2025.
Time with PSJAHF Board: Board member since 2019 and Secretary since 2020. President Elect since 2022.
Community Involvement: I volunteer at Joanna Furnace in Morgantown, PA which is an historic iron furnace site that recreates what life was like at the furnace in the late 19th century.
National AHF Member? Yes
Best memory from National Conference: The rainstorm that descended upon the hotel on the last day of the conference and how blue the sky was when it was over. And of course all the good people I met associated with AHF.
Why do you like being a member of AHF? The message boards are always an interesting area to see what other people in the industry are dealing with and how they run their operations. I also enjoyed the symposium I attended last year and the information we learned that day. Events like that are needed to see what trends are happening in the industry and how you can improve your own operation.
What advice would you give to someone considering healthcare foodservice as a profession? It is very rewarding when you can help a patient or family member understand a particular diet and what foods are good for them. The appreciation they show is worth the work put in to ensure we are providing healthy, and appetizing food and delivering them in a timely manner. If you make patient service your main priority, all other things will fall in line.
Share a quote that sums up your professional or personal views. Be kind, be firm and be consistent.
In my free time, you can find me: Attending Penn State or Eagles football games, going camping, visiting friends or working on Antique farm equipment (I help my father run a circular sawmill that was built in 1910)
What makes you happy? Its just my wife and two dogs. In addition to the activities listed above my wife and I enjoy visiting antique shops and attending tractor shows.
Community Support
Supporting our local community and beyond – PSJAHF
In 2020 During the Covid-19 pandemic, St. Francis Inn Ministries experienced a great increase in the numbers they are serving, with that, come increases in their expenses, in the “Thank You” letter sent, they expressed overwhelming gratitude and appreciation for the generous donation, at a very needed time.
A portion of the proceeds from our annual symposium (Spring 2022), along with some additional contributions from individual board members, allowed PSJAHF to provide a donation of $4,000 to Saint Francis Inn Ministries, a local organization that prepares meals, provides clothing and hospitality for the poor and homeless in the surrounding Philadelphia area.
The Pennsylvania South Jersey chapter of AHF is proud to announce that due to a successful spring symposium (2022) we are able to donate funds to the following charities.
- Bethany Slavic / Ukraine Aid Fund $4000. $18 donation feeds a family of four for three days. Board members are also donating money of their own to this cause. If you would like to donate please use the link below. Log in with your pay pal account information and follow the instructions. You can also pay as a guest. All donations will be collected by the PJ-AHF treasurer and sent to Bethany Slavic church – Donate Here.
- Francis Inn (Kensington) $4000.
- NE Pennsylvania Weinberg Food Bank $1000.
- World Central Kitchen / Ukraine Aid $1000.
Chapter President Dennis Brennan was approached by a former co-worker about how to directly help with aid efforts in Ukraine. Through a network of other professionals he was able to locate Bethany Slavic church in Ephrata, PA. They are working with a group that takes an $18 donation and turns that into a packet of food that will feed a family of four for three days. They prepare and distribute the food directly to people affected by the conflict in the Ukraine.
St. Francis Inn works in the Kensington area of Philadelphia helping to feed and care for those affected by drug use in that neighborhood.
The donation to the Weinberg northeast food bank helps those in need in the Scranton, PA area and represents the efforts of board members located outside the Philadelphia region.
The World Kitchen has fed many people around the world suffering from war or natural disaster. They are working in the Ukraine right now but will continue their efforts to help all over the world when called upon.
All of these charities help feed people in need and we are humbled to be able to provide them with assistance. The great showing at our spring symposium by members and vendors was the reason we were able to be so generous this year. Thank you for your continued support.
Check out the work St. Francis Inn Ministries is doing in Philadelphia HERE
Thank you PSJAHF members for your support, allowing us to continue to support our community in this way!
Student Scholarships
Deadline to apply 2/2/2024
Each year, PSJAHF invites local students who are interested in the field of Food Service Management/Hospitality, Dietetics to apply for one $1500 scholarship. In 2021 we added an additional $1500 scholarship for those acquiring a Certified Dietary Manager (CDM/CFPP) certification.
The Dietetics scholarship application should include:
- Resume
- Recommendation from a College/University faculty member
- Recommendation from current employer or most recent employer
- Most recent college transcript.
- One-page (typed) essay on why you have selected the dietetics or hospitality industry for your career, and your perspective of food service management in healthcare today
- Verification of program acceptance or admission
Scholarships are awarded in the Spring of 2024.
Please contact Danielle Kronmuller ([email protected]) for more information.
If you are interested in the Certified Dietary Manager scholarship, please use the link below. You may also contact Danielle Kronmuller or Joe Ludwig ([email protected]) for more information.
2024 RDN Scholarship Flyer – closed
2024 CDM Scholarship Flyer – closed
