Pisanick Partners, LLC

09/03/2026

Went to see RÜFÜS DU SOL in Cleveland last week and found myself watching the drummer almost as much as the show.

The guy was an absolute machine.

Carrying the beat for the entire concert.
Having a blast doing it.
Bringing energy to everyone around him.
Keeping the whole thing moving.

And I started thinking…

The cafeteria is the drummer of the school.

It’s the heartbeat.

And the leaders in our kitchens are the ones keeping the beat.

When the truck is late. When someone calls off. When equipment goes down. When 500 kids are about to come through the doors whether you're ready or not…

You keep playing.

But the best leaders do more than keep things moving.

They bring energy. They have fun. They jump in. They make the people around them better.

They might not always be at the front of the stage, but take them away and you sure notice the difference.

Every great school needs a heartbeat.

And a whole lot of them are wearing aprons. 🥁🍎

-David
I wrote a little more about it here - Read it: https://wix.to/vx7XpMm

Last week I went to see RÜFÜS DU SOL in Cleveland.The music was incredible. The production was incredible. But I found myself watching the drummer.He was having an absolute blast. For the entirety of the concert, he was on the side of the stage there carrying the beat, playing with energy, putting...

09/02/2026

Great school nutrition programs aren't built by one person;
They are built by teams.

When your team sees that you are genuinely invested in them—
Not just as coworkers, but as human beings—

They will go above and beyond for the students they serve.
Together we serve more than meals.

09/01/2026

I'm not sure if you've heard - but Oreo-gate has officially entered the lunchroom.

But what we want to highlight is the fact that for about $3.50, students get a balanced meal intentionally planned to include:

🥦 Vegetables
🍎 Fruit
🌾 Grains
🍗 Protein
🥛 Milk

That’s nutritious food, thoughtful planning, and a whole lot less lunch-packing stress—all in one tray.

For families with two students, choosing school lunch can also mean hundreds of dollars in savings over the school year compared with packing lunch every day.

So before we start a full-scale Oreo-gate lunchbox summit, let’s remember:

School lunch is a smart choice for your family budget—and a nourishing choice for your student.

08/28/2026

What if we ditched the 'cafeteria grind' mindset—

We are here to fuel potential!
True leadership isn't a title on a business card;

It's a mindset.

It’s about stepping outside of your comfort zone,
And turning fresh ideas into real, measurable impact.

Bring your best energy to the kitchen everyday.

08/26/2026

If you can read, you can do anything." — Dolly Parton

Today, we are pausing to honor the incredible life and legacy of Dolly Parton. While the world will always remember her iconic voice, at Pisanick Partners, we will always admire her tireless dedication to education.

Just as healthy school meals provide the physical foundation students need to thrive in the classroom, Dolly provided the inspiration to help them dream big. Her commitment to children’s literacy reminds us all why we do what we do: to set the next generation up for success. Rest in peace to a true legend.

08/24/2026

Strong school nutrition programs are built by strong, connected teams.

When food service teams, administrators, wellness leaders, and staff collaborate, good ideas move faster—and students benefit.

Pisanick Partners’ Cooking and Conversations series brings culinary training and leadership development together because meaningful professional development should build practical skills and stronger relationships.

Break down the silos. Share the goal. Build a school nutrition culture your whole team is proud of.

Read the full article: https://www.pisanickpartners.com/post/school-nutrition-professional-development-building-stronger-school-teams
Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=48FHmmXdFnY
Listen wherever you get your podcasts: search NutriSmart SNAX

08/21/2026

We’ll be joining will you ? 💚🍎🍏🧡

🍎 SAVE THE DATE! 🍎

October is National Farm to School Month, and there's no better way to celebrate than with Ohio's Great Apple Crunch!

Join schools, early care and education programs, families, farmers, workplaces, and communities across Ohio as we crunch into locally grown apples on October 8 at Noon or anytime during October.

🍎 Celebrate Ohio apple growers
🍎 Support local food and agriculture
🍎 Promote healthy eating
🍎 Crunch with thousands across the state

📅 October 8, 2026
🕛 Noon local time or anytime in October

Who's ready to crunch with us?

08/17/2026

Dairy in school nutrition is about more than protein—it is an opportunity to build meals students choose, communicate the value of nutrition, and create experiences that increase participation.

In the latest episode of NutriSmart SNAX, Maureen Pisanick talks with Jan Diamond from American Dairy Association Mideast about practical, creative ways school nutrition teams can make dairy work harder on the tray.

They discuss:

Using smoothies as a flexible, student-friendly menu opportunity

Moving yogurt beyond sweet applications with savory dips, sauces, and “Dip & Go” concepts

Using warm chocolate milk to create breakfast excitement and increase participation

Connecting school nutrition to running clubs, athletics, wellness events, and family engagement

Bringing students into the development process—because, as Maureen says, “It isn’t nutrition unless the kids eat it.”

Leveraging community partners when a good idea needs a little extra support

The big takeaway: innovation does not always require a new program, a major investment, or an entirely new menu. It can begin with one small, well-executed idea that gives students another reason to visit the cafeteria.

Read the full blog: https://www.pisanickpartners.com/post/dairy-in-school-nutrition-simple-ideas-to-power-up-breakfast-and-participation
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/fX-KUvILBNM
Listen wherever you get your podcasts: search NutriSmart SNAX

08/13/2026

Innovation Academy 2026: By the Numbers 💚

What happens when school nutrition professionals, industry leaders, culinary creativity, and big ideas come together? This time last week - we found out. Let's take a look at Innovation Academy by the numbers...

- 221 attendees
- 46 school districts represented
- 55 vendors, including local partners & national brands
- Hours of food, learning, training, connection, and inspiration
- 400 pounds of food diverted with help from Rust Belt Riders

Innovation Academy is proudly a local event with national-level expertise, products, and energy. Most importantly, it is a place for the people doing the important daily work of feeding students to connect, learn, share ideas, and head back to their schools with renewed momentum.

Pisanick Partners is incredibly grateful to every attendee, presenter, vendor, sponsor, and partner who made this year’s Innovation Academy so special.

We’re already looking forward to doing it even bigger—and even better—next year.

08/10/2026

From ideas to impact—what a day.

Last week, Innovation Academy brought school nutrition professionals, administrators, culinary leaders, and industry partners together for a day of learning, fresh ideas, practical solutions, and connection.

From hands-on culinary inspiration and professional development to meaningful conversations in the vendor expo, the room was full of people who care deeply about creating better school meal experiences for students.

A huge thank-you to every attendee, presenter, vendor, sponsor, and partner who showed up ready to share what’s working, ask great questions, and bring new energy back to their schools.

We are grateful to serve school nutrition teams across our community—and we’re already feeling inspired by the ideas this group will turn into impact this school year.

Thank you for making Innovation Academy 2026 one to remember. 💚🍊