WHITNEY ELLERSICK
Executive Director for Nutrition Services, Hillsboro School District
Whitney Ellersick, MS, RDN serves as Nutrition Services Executive Director at Hillsboro School District after serving over 17 years in Portland Public Schools (OR). Under Whitney’s leadership, PPS Nutrition Services was recognized as a leader in local food procurement with at least 32 percent or $2.2 million in annual local purchases. Their innovation and collaboration resulted in Food Management Magazine selecting their yakisoba lunch as one of the Best K-12 School Meals in America 2019.
Ellersick serves in the executive leadership for the association’s K-12 Foodservice Leadership Council (FLC) and was chair of the group last year. She has been an Oregon Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics board member for the past seven years and is currently the Oregon Delegate for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
In 2014. Ellersick was Oregon Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Recognized Young Dietitian of the Year and in 2022 was Oregon’s Outstanding Dietitian of the Year. She is the recipient of the 2023 International Fresh Produce Association K12 Award.
NOMINATED BY | 
IN HER OWN WORDS
How did you get your start in the foodservice industry?
Almost immediately after graduating from Oregon Health and Sciences University with my Masters in Clinical Nutrition and becoming a Registered Dietitian, a position opened up with Portland Public Schools. While I had performed short term internship experiences in the VA hospital foodservice, a California school district, and others, I felt the position called to me. Growing up in a family-owned business gave me many insights into the work that paired well with my education and love of food.
What do you enjoy most about your career in foodservice?
I love changing the stereotype and stigma of school food by providing great customer service and high-quality foods for our students to enjoy. I love working with manufacturers of all sizes to create new options for our students that either reflect the diversity of our community, trends, or improvement of the ingredient list and food source to align with our values. I enjoy problem solving and finding solutions that help our team members do their job or result in a great outcome for our customers. Lastly, the people. The people who make up school foodservice are some of the most amazing people I have met. Helping them to reach their professional goals and showcasing their great work is so rewarding. I love being their cheerleader.
What does being a Silver Plate recipient mean to you?
It is an incredible honor. When I review the list of those who have won before, and to be a recipient or acknowledged at this level, is truly unbelievable. All the work I have accomplished has really been made possible by the team members I have worked with, and the partners who make it possible, so I see this as a reflection of our accomplishments together.
If you could have dinner with any chef, past or present, who would it be and why?
I love it whenever my husband or mom cook for me; they are amazing at what they do. My mom cooked every meal for me growing up; she made every birthday cake for not only me and my sister, but every employee in my parent’s business, and sometimes our friends and neighbors, too. She is incredibly caring and generous. My husband is incredibly talented and creative, and I love his attention to detail, precision and flavor development.
WHITNEY'S MENTOR
Bertrand Weber
Director Culinary and Wellness Service
Minneapolis Public Schools
Since January 2012, Bertrand has served as the Director of Culinary and Wellness Services for Minneapolis Public Schools. Under his leadership, the district has redefined school meals and returned to scratch cooking across all seven high schools, five junior high schools, and 46 elementary schools.
Weber’s career spans over 40 years, with extensive experience in both hospitality management and school food service. He began his journey in hotel management, but his deep commitment to the well-being of children and the environment led him to the Hopkins School District in Minnesota in 2003, where his innovative approaches garnered national attention.
He received a Silver Plate Award in 2020.