Samantha Lunsford, CDM, CFPP

I attribute my success to hard work, perseverance, and the ability to build strong teams. I stay focused on serving others, solving problems, and continuously looking for ways to improve. I also believe that success comes from the collective efforts of a dedicated team, not just one individual I get along with just about everyone & the people that I put into my life reflect who I am.

But honestly, my dad is the biggest influence on my success. He works in the studio industry and started as an intern putting film reels into containers. When someone called out sick, they asked if he was paying attention, he stepped up, and from that day he got a job and worked his way up to Director of Operations of a large sound studio in Hollywood. My dad always taught us that your greatest success is how much work you put into it. He put so much work ethic into his career that I always knew I wanted a career just like him, but not in his field. My dad really set the bar of what a director and a manager should look like in a career, so I attribute a lot of my success to him.

The best career advice I ever received was to focus on being valuable, not just busy. Early in my career, I learned that success comes from consistently solving problems, supporting your team, and looking for ways to improve operations rather than simply completing tasks. That advice has helped me stay focused on making a meaningful impact, building strong relationships, and creating opportunities for growth.

As cliche as this may sound, don't stop chasing your dreams. I took a chance even though I didn't have healthcare manager credentials to get into the position I was applying for. My husband told me to take a leap of faith, basically saying, if I applied for the position, what's the worst that can happen? They could say no. So I took that leap of faith, the company took a leap of faith with me, and it got me to where I am now. I didn't let the fear of the unknown stop me from chasing my career goals.

Be confident, stay curious, and don't underestimate the value of your voice. Take on challenges, learn from every experience, and build a strong network of mentors and peers. Hard work, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning will open more doors than you can imagine.

In my industry, especially being in healthcare, just being kind to people can get you far. So for young women, if you want to be in this food industry, you've got to learn to just work with everybody, keep your head held high, and have confidence. Because if you don't have confidence, this industry is definitely not for you.

I believe the biggest challenge is meeting growing demands with limited resources while maintaining excellent patient care and employee engagement. The economy's rising a lot higher, inflation with the cost of living, food and everything else around us is getting so expensive.

One of the greatest opportunities in healthcare food service is changing the way people think about hospital food. My goal is to elevate the patient dining experience by delivering meals that are not only nutritious and clinically appropriate but also fresh, appealing, and enjoyable. Shifting those long-held perceptions is challenging, but it's one of the most rewarding aspects of what we do.

My family is what matters most to me. I want my children to be proud of me and to see the value of hard work, kindness, and perseverance through my example. I also deeply value my husband and strive to maintain a healthy work-life balance so I can be fully present for the people I love. Time with my family is precious, and I've learned never to take the little moments for granted because those are often the ones that mean the most.

As a leader, I strive to be approachable and supportive rather than someone my staff fears. While I am their director, I believe the strongest teams are built on mutual respect, trust, and open communication. I respect my employees, and in return, they respect me. That foundation of respect is what makes our department successful.

I lead by example and would never ask my team to do something I wouldn't be willing to do myself. I maintain an open-door policy and work hard to create an environment where employees feel heard, valued, and supported. Trust is a two-way street, and I believe that when people know they are respected and appreciated, they are empowered to do their best work.