Barb Kempken
Director of Dining Operations
- Role
- Director of Residential Dining Operations at Harvard University Dining Services
- Location
- Medford, MA, US
- LinkedIn followers
- 500 followers
About Barb Kempken
Operations‑driven Food Service Director with 25+ years leading large‑scale K‑12 and university dining programs, including Ivy League residential dining and major urban school districts. Proven success overseeing $50M–$65M budgets, unionized workforces of 300+ associates, and complex multi‑unit operations (board, retail, catering and faculty club). Deep expertise in menu development, nutrition, procurement, USDA/NSLP compliance, and financial management. Known for improving participation, driving cost control, and elevating service quality through strong team development, data‑driven decision making, and cross‑functional collaboration
Experience
Director of Residential Dining Operations
Harvard University Dining Services
Jan 2023 — Present · Cambridge, MA, US
Oversee all operational aspects of a $65M Ivy League Residential Dining program which includes 13 residential dining halls, a kosher production kitchen, and service at Hillel dining hallLead a team of thirty-five managers and 350 union associatesLead improvements in service innovations, team building, and financial achievements
Education
Johnson & Wales University
Associate's degree, Culinary Arts/Chef Training
1994 — 1995
Cornell University, T. Colin Campbell Center for Nutrition Studies
Certificate in Plant-Based Nutrition, Plant Based Nutrition
2015 — 2015
Gies College of Business - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Bachelor of Science (BS), Business Administration and Management, General
1990 — 1994
Skills
- Food Service
- Catering
- Menu Development
- Food
- Restaurant Management
- Culinary Skills
- Food Safety
- Restaurants
- Hospitality
- Inventory Management
- Customer Service
- Team Building
- Cooking
- Multi-Unit
- Profit
- Food & Beverage
- Chef
- Event Management
- Recipes
- Sanitation
- Food Preparation
- Cuisine
- Banquets
- P&L
- Food Industry
- Budgets
- Management
- Training
- Hospitality Management
- Purchasing
- P&L Management
- Budgeting
- Hospitality Industry
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