News Article

Kneading, shaping, and rising in the foodservices industry


6/15/2011 9:07:03 AM


By Andrew Pike

Peter Andrews knows how to live a healthy and prosperous lifestyle.

In 2007, just before graduating from the Nutrition and Foodservices Management program at College of the North Atlantic (CNA), he landed a job with Compass Food Services; a company that provides health care foodservices to Eastern Health. Andrews has been working there since graduation.

But this is only the tip of the iceberg for Andrews, who holds a CNA diploma in cooking, is currently working on a diploma in Business Management with the college’s Distance Learning Service, and has plans to pursue further study in the area of commerce.

“The college has prepared me to conduct my duties at work with the utmost professionalism, and to be proud of a job well done,” said Andrews. “It has shown me how to study and prepare for exams and projects, and I transferred the same processes towards my projects and duties at work.”

After initially completing the college’s Cook program, Andrews received a full-time position with a restaurant in St. John’s. He quickly worked his way into a position as the chef’s assistant. The experience gave him an appreciation of a stressful kitchen environment, as well as a strong background in foodservice and kitchen fundamentals.

“After several years I began to realize I wanted to do more than cook and applied to the Nutrition and Foodservice Management program at the college,” said Andrews.

Until that point, Andrews’ interest was mainly in the tactical side of the foodservice industry. However – as is often the case when starting an educational experience in a new field – new avenues of interest and opportunity quickly open up.

“The (Nutrition and Foodservice Management) program seemed to be a way to extend the skills I had already learned before, little did I know at the time I would become so interested in business.”

Andrews’ knowledge of cooking, nutrition, math, and customer service was strengthened, but he was also able to develop new essential skills.

“(It) forced me to go and get help with study techniques and help with research projects, along with public speaking,” said Andrews. “I had a real issue with public speaking, if there is one aspect of me that was created through the course, it was the fact I can now speak publically and with very few hang-ups. The program overall increased my public speaking confidence and skills that affect my daily performance at work.”

The program’s instructor, Marg Ewtushik, speaks highly of Andrews’ time in the program.

“Peter was diligent. He spent extra time on the material he struggled with and he asked for help. He was detail-oriented in his work, he was well organized, and always prepared for class and labs,” she said. “He was a team player who got along well with his peers, other instructors and college staff. He gave direction well to others, had a sense of humor, and was always reliable and dependable.”

Andrews has developed a satisfying career for himself in the foodservice industry based on his dedication and determination. However, like many successful graduates, he is quick to credit the industry members that offered helpful guidance.

“I owe a lot to the Nutrition and Foodservice Management program and am very grateful for the time I spent there.”

The Nutrition and Foodservice Management program is offered at the college’s Prince Philip Drive campus in St. John’s. There are still seats available for September enrollment. More information on this program can be found on the college’s website at www.cna.nl.ca.

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Media Contact:

Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca