CSUSM Dining Services Triumphs at Best of the West Awards

On September 23, 2024, California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) Dining Services celebrated a night of triumph at the Best of the West Awards Ceremony, held at Chapman University. Competing against Sodexo accounts across the West Coast, CSUSM Dining Services claimed several prestigious accolades, including the coveted Best of the West award. Their standout performance over the past year was further underscored by Bernard West, Operations Manager at CSUSM, being named Manager of the Year.

Eric Cameron, District Manager for Southern California, emphasized the significant progress CSUSM Dining Services has made. “San Marcos had one of the most significant turnarounds year-over-year. Their student satisfaction scores exceeded expectations and district averages. They’ve found success in finances quarter after quarter, web of influence, building community, and staff development. These are all aspects of Best of the West award winners,” Cameron said, recognizing the team’s achievement.

This year, CSUSM Dining Services led in student satisfaction while consistently performing in key areas such as financial improvement and operational excellence. According to Jason Adams, former Vice President of Operations, “The ‘Best of the West’ encompasses more than just producing great results. Developing a great team, leading through change, innovating, delivering services that drive student engagement and success, and providing maximum value for students and the University are the hallmarks of a great dining program. CSUSM Dining Services accomplished all of these things and more. The team implemented successful new programs, improved the quality of the student experience, implemented new technologies, and delivered high satisfaction and results for the University and for the organization.”

Adams went on to highlight the dedication shown by the CSUSM team: “The CSUSM team put all that they had into delivering on our promises and well-exceeded expectations – this year they truly went above-and-beyond and clearly demonstrated excellence.”

One of the evening’s key moments was Bernard West receiving Manager of the Year honors. Eric Cameron praised West’s ability to lead through innovation and restructure the dining services team. “Bernard West is one of the best project managers in our industry. He aggressively and effectively revamped retail and restructured the labor force. He also developed and supported management growth, safety quality, and the standard of Sodexo services, and he’s the safety champion in the district. Overall, he exceeded already high expectations,” Cameron noted.

Adams also commended Bernard West’s leadership and contributions: “We are blessed to have many high-level managers in our region, so the competition for this award is extremely high. In my opinion, this may be the toughest award for an individual to win. Bernard accomplished results across the board this year – he brought our team together and poured into them, developing them throughout the year and putting our team first. He improved safety in our kitchens and dining rooms, implemented systems and processes that improved quality, efficiency, and results.”

Reflecting on Bernard’s impact, Adams continued, “He operated with a positive, kind, professional spirit regardless of what situation he faced. Bernard delivered an unrivaled student experience while at the same time providing our team with a better quality of life and results for our client partners and our organization.”

Throughout the past year, CSUSM Dining Services won numerous monthly awards for their performance, including Best Student Satisfaction, Revenue Improvement, Best Financial Performance, and Excellence in Leadership for Paul Reardon, General Manager. Their commitment to continuous improvement was a driving factor behind these achievements. “I believe they were so successful because they were dedicated to continuous improvement,” Adams said. “Student feedback was carefully considered and then put into action to deliver a program that students love. Dedication to excellence was apparent by the high-quality delivery of excellent food and a great atmosphere in the dining venues.”

As CSUSM Dining Services moves forward, their focus on community building, student engagement, and operational excellence serves as an example of what can be accomplished through hard work, teamwork, and a commitment to delivering exceptional service. The Best of the West award is a recognition of past success and a motivator for future growth and innovation.