Her Story
About Christy
Christy White is a seasoned food-service professional with nearly 25 years of experience spanning restaurants, corporate dining, healthcare, higher education, and correctional food service. She currently serves as a District Manager at Elior North America, overseeing multi-store operations across Indiana, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee. In this role, she manages general managers and unit directors, and negotiates approximately 35 food service contracts with municipal leaders. Christy ensures operational excellence in food safety, sanitation, inventory, and human resources. Christy’s career journey began in entry-level restaurant management, where she gained hands-on experience in both small independent establishments and corporate chains. She then transitioned to contracted food service with Aramark, managing business dining, hospital, and university contracts. Over the years, she has developed expertise in operational oversight, financial management, and client relationship building, consistently turning around challenging accounts and ensuring high-quality service delivery. Outside of work, Christy is passionate about family, travel, and the outdoors. She enjoys visiting national parks, off-roading in her Jeep, and supporting her stepdaughter’s softball activities. A devoted animal lover, she actively supports local shelters and conservation efforts. Christy is known for her integrity, humility, and commitment to building reliable teams, values that have guided her success in managing complex, multi-state operations.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Christy
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to passion, perseverance, and a commitment to learning from every experience. Starting in entry-level restaurant management, I embraced each opportunity to grow, moving across sectors from business dining to healthcare, higher education, and now correctional food service management. Building strong relationships with clients and my teams, staying adaptable, and leading with integrity have allowed me to expand from managing a handful of contracts to overseeing dozens across multiple states. Ultimately, my dedication to excellence and inspiring those around me has been key to achieving my career goals.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is to believe in myself and embrace every challenge as an opportunity to grow. My late mother, Brenda, showed me through her sacrifices and guidance that anything is possible, and her example continues to inspire me daily. I’ve also been fortunate to learn from incredible leaders—both women and men—who challenged me, opened doors, and encouraged me to develop the skills and confidence that have shaped my career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say you're going come across so many challenges, so keep your eye on the prize. Don't give up . We are in such a male-influenced industry, so don't let that intimidate you. Challenge yourself to overcome because you'll see yourself on top with that blood, sweat, and tears mentality.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest opportunities in my field right now is the chance to lead and innovate within correctional food service, creating high-quality, efficient operations that truly serve clients and communities. A key challenge is managing complex multi-state contracts while balancing operational, financial, and HR responsibilities, all while maintaining strong relationships with clients and staff. I see these challenges as opportunities to mentor others, build strong teams, and inspire the next generation of women leaders in hospitality and operational management.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Integrity is key. It's important to remember where you came from and where you're going, be humble. You write your own story. Live every day as it is your last.
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