Meet the ACDA 2024
Board of Director Candidates
Monday, February 26 | 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Registration for this event is FREE!
Join us to meet the ACDA 2024 Board of Director Candidates before you cast your vote. Each candidate will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and share their vision for ACDA. Visit our candidate webpage to learn more about the candidates!
Meet the Speakers:
Vice President Candidate
Jaclyn Cantu
Jaclyn Cantu is the current Director for USDA Foods with the Texas Department of Agriculture (TDA) Food and Nutrition Division. Jackie has been with the agency for 15 years holding various positions such as monitoring the National School Lunch/School Breakfast Programs and overseeing 6 Cents Certification. Today, Jackie oversees the operations of USDA Foods for the National School Lunch Program, Summer Food Service Program, The Emergency Food Assistance Program, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program, Seniors Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program and Disaster Assistance. She received her bachelor’s degree in Dietetics from Bowling Green State University and is a native of Ohio. Jackie moved to central Texas in 2003 to complete her Dietetic Internship at Texas State University and now lives in Austin Texas.
Associate Representative Candidate
Cliff Meyers
Cliff is the current President of ClearVu School Services, a Procurement Services Provider to K-12 school districts. Before launching ClearVu in 2019, he was a part owner of K12 Services where he spent fifteen years working within the further processing program. He is the current Associate Representative on the ACDA Board of Directors and has been an active member of the association for over twenty years. He holds degrees in hospitality from Florida International University, the Culinary Institute of America, and Brookdale Community College. He lives with his wife of 30 years in Frederick, Maryland.
School District Recipient Agency Representatives
Amy Hayden
I have been with Leon County Schools since 2000 in various roles. I have been with Dining Services for the past 21 years doing everything from managing, procurement, commodities, software implementation and everything in between. I am currently the Culinary Coordinator/Executive Chef for the district. I have a Culinary background, attending Johnson & Wales University out of high school. I received my Bachelor’s in Business Administration from Flagler College in 2022. I am currently in my last year on the Florida School Nutrition Association board but plan to continue being an involved member.
Craig Hempel
Craig Hempel, Assistant Director of Nutrition and Menu Operations, works for Garland ISD in Garland, TX. Craig has been with Garland ISD since January 2022 and holds a Master’s Degree in Nutrition from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, TX. Craig has been working for K-12 school districts for the past 10 years of his career with job responsibilities ranging from Menu Planner to Director.
Ken Simcox
Ken Simcox is an accomplished Assistant Supervisor of Food & Nutrition Services at Washington County Public Schools, leveraging his extensive background in the private sector after earning a Bachelor of Science degree from Shepherd University. With a career spanning since 1996, Ken oversees operations for 12 schools, managing POS software, leading free and reduced outreach initiatives, and spearheading recipe development district wide. Currently, he holds the pivotal role of co-chair for the education subcommittee within the processing committee for ACDA; building on his prior contributions as a member of both the Convention and Education committees. Ken is a seasoned speaker and moderator at the ACDA conferences, sharing his expertise as an Recipient Agency in the field.
On a personal front, Ken finds joy in his family, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. His commitment to excellence extends beyond the workplace, as he takes pride in spoiling his grandchildren and sending them home with cherished memories for their parents. Ken's dedication to his profession and community involvement underscores his passion for well-fed children across the country.
Shannon Solomon
Shannon Solomon is a passionate, innovative leader in the Restaurant Business and K-12 Industry. She is also a proud mother of five amazing adult children and grandmother of three. Shannon lives in Colorado, has a robust portfolio varying from Restaurant Operations, Efficiency Engineering, Corporate Training, and Organization Leadership. Shannon holds a master's degree in Business and is a Credentialed School Nutrition Professional. Shannon has also competed on the Food Network’s show “Chopped” Chef competition as a School Chef, and has received several local and national awards for her relentless leadership regarding customer service, innovation and positivity. Shannon’s deep passion is rooted at the heart of feeding her customers delicious, nutritious quality food with excellent customer service so that they may always be the best versions of themselves!
Visit our candidate webpage to learn more about the candidates!
