Justine McGlone

Justine attributes her success to hard work, faith, and the people who have believed in her along the way. She has been fortunate to have incredible women mentor, encourage, and lift me up throughout her career, including a former school director who played a significant role in shaping my path. She has learned to trust God’s direction, work hard for the opportunities in front of her, and always be willing to learn from those around her.

The best career advice I’ve ever received was to truly follow my heart. A lot of times, we’re encouraged to focus on the money, the title, or what seems like the most successful path. But someone reminded me a few years ago that when you follow your heart, it can lead you to the right opportunities, the right people, and the right places.

That advice really stayed with me. I believe that when you choose work that aligns with your values and brings you a sense of purpose and fulfillment, success becomes about more than just a paycheck. It’s about finding joy in what you do and knowing that you’re making a meaningful difference along the way.

My advice would be: don’t give up, and enjoy the journey. Take things one step at a time and don’t feel like you have to have everything figured out right away. This is a field with so many different opportunities and directions you can take, so I encourage young women to explore the different avenues and remain open to where their careers may lead them.

Most importantly, keep your eyes open, keep learning, and keep growing. Be willing to step outside of your comfort zone, ask questions, and take advantage of opportunities when they come your way. You never know where one opportunity or one connection may lead you.

I think one of the biggest challenges in our field right now is funding for school nutrition programs. Middle-class families can sometimes feel this challenge the most because they may earn too much to qualify for free or reduced-price meals, but still struggle to afford everyday necessities. Families are having to make difficult choices, and making sure children have consistent access to nutritious meals should never have to be one of those choices.

At the same time, I see a tremendous opportunity in school nutrition. We have the ability to reach children across the board and provide them with nutritious meals while also teaching them about the importance of food and how nutrition supports their health, development, learning, and overall well-being. I believe school food service is about much more than serving a meal—it’s an opportunity to positively impact children’s lives and help them develop healthy habits that can stay with them for years to come.

The values that are most important to me, both personally and professionally, are family, faith, respect, and caring for people as a whole. My family is very important to me, and we keep God at the forefront of everything we do. I believe that same foundation carries into my work.

I also believe in valuing people, treating others with respect, and creating an environment where everyone feels supported and has an opportunity to grow. Whether I'm working with staff, students, families, or colleagues, I want people to know that they are valued and that we are all working together to help one another succeed. For me, strong relationships, compassion, integrity, and teamwork are essential to both personal and professional success.