Professional, community, and civic organizations: West Kentucky Educational Cooperative Food Service Group Treasurer, WKEC Bid Committee Member, Kentucky Association of School Administrators Member, Kentucky School Nutrition Association Member, School Nutrition Association Member, WKEC Commodity Advisory Council Leader, Brahm Joseph Riley Memorial Foundation Board of Directors What initially inspired you to pursue your profession? I ran into a fellow School Nutrition Director at a KDE Department of School and Nutrition training. She looked at me and said, “You need to do this; you need to be in School Nutrition.” A few months later the position came open at Marshall and here I am! The encouragement of that friend changed the trajectory of my career path. Although COVID-19 was a challenging time to work in school nutrition, it taught me to be tenacious. I still had a job to do; we had to feed the students of Marshall County healthy, nutritious, and delicious meals. What specific steps or strategies did you take to become successful in your field? I am adaptable and a life-long learner. I consistently ask myself, “How can we be better? How can we better serve our students and community?” Like many, COVID-19 significantly impacted the ins and outs of my career. Overnight, we went from feeding students at school to delivering meals to their homes. We had to completely revamp the way we were feeding students. It was a challenge, but I am thankful to say I work with some of the best in the industry. Their help and support are unwavering. Sponsored by 40 Under Forty Professional, community, and civic organizations: Member IEDC, KAED, and KY APA What initially inspired you to pursue your profession? Urban planning is the nexus of people and place, which feeds my inspiration to shape a community that empowers people to thrive. Initially, it was the opportunity for solving large-scale creative problems with long-term impacts that drew me in. It is the passion for people and creating lasting, positive change that keeps me here. What specific steps or strategies did you take to become successful in your field? I have always allowed my curiosity to lead, following big questions into new skills and opportunities. Following this curiosity has been an evolutionary strategy for my career, allowing each phase of my career to build on the last. The most impactful decision that affected my career was taking a leap of faith to leave my public health job and follow my passion to Paducah. Have you had any mentors or role models who have influenced your professional growth? One of the best mentors I’ve had was a very talented planner from New York. She brought me into the fold of city government, providing opportunities for me to build policy, solve problems, and work on some phenomenal projects. Mentorship is the hidden fast track for any career, and I am dedicated to nurturing mentoring opportunities wherever I find them. 20 SEPTEMBER 2023 Professional, community, and civic organizations: Paducah Professional Women Member, Past Secretary, and Social Media Chair, Multiple Coalition Groups What specific steps or strategies did you take to become successful in your field? I think continuous education is vital to any position and any success. Striving to always learn from others and really listen to what is needed. I also think overcommunication (which I do ALL the time) is key. As I often say, it’s about closing the loop on communication so you’re not leaving people to assume anything. For me, the best decision I’ve made is choosing to jump back into non-profit work. Having a passion for the work you do makes such a difference and motivates me to be the best me for not only myself but also my family, my organization, and my community. Have you had any mentors or role models who have influenced your professional growth? Two people stand out in shaping who I am today, Robin Orvino and Roger Reichmuth. Both, I met in college. Roger became my mentor when I was interning at Murray Main Street and Robin was my professor. Roger guided me and pushed me to do things I never would have done. He introduced me to so many people and really taught me to believe in myself and my skills. Robin made sure that I was not sheltered to the life of a college student. She provided real-world examples and was tough. That toughness is something I’ve appreciated all these years and has truly come in handy. I owe her for who I am today. I am so thankful for both of their guidance, without them I would not be where I am today, and I like where and who I am. McKenzie Suiter Director of School Nutrition, Marshall County Board of Education Megan Counce Community Engagement Ambassador, Merryman House Domestic Crisis Center Melanie Reason Business Development Specialist, City of Paducah
