Lisa Suriano

Lisa Suriano, the inspired creator of the Veggiecation program, had little choice but to love and respect her vegetables. As a child, she picked armfuls of fresh string beans, escarole, and squash from her grandfather’s abundant garden and placed them in the capable hands of her grandmother and father, both of whom raised (and fed) her right in their busy kitchens. Meanwhile Lisa’s mother taught her the art of light-style cooking and helped develop her love for whole grains. After she grew strong on delicious home-cooked meals, she went off to The College of New Jersey, where she earned a degree in Business Administration. In the spring of 2010, Lisa completed a Masters of Science in Nutrition and Food Science at Montclair State University.  She has studied food processing and its effect of nutrient denaturation, sports-specific nutrition, FDA/USDA regulations, and food allergy safety and labeling. Currently, Lisa keeps abreast of the most current research in the areas of nutrition and nutrition education.  She has been a guest writer on these topics for several popular school food advocacy blogs such as Better DC School Food and The Lunch Tray. Lisa has also attained a variety of complementary credentials. She is:

• a Certified Personal Trainer;
• educated at Columbia Teachers College Center for Ecoliteracy's Seminar on "Rethinking School Lunch";
• ServSafe Certified in proper food handling and protection against foodborne illness; and

Upon completion of her undergraduate degree, Lisa joined the family business, J.C. Food, a premier school food service  company for independent schools in New York, Connecticut and Boston metro areas, as the Director of Operations. Since joining the J.C. Foods Management team, Lisa has assisted with the opening of several new accounts; she also supervises the day-to-day operations in many of the schools. Behind the scenes, she coordinates the company’s annual food show, which brings numerous vendors together with the unit managers to showcase and discuss the latest, healthiest products for students. In addition, Lisa assists with the internal operations of the company and researches local, organic and natural food offerings for use in the schools. Lisa also serves as an officer of the board of the New York Coalition for Healthy School Food. 

From an early age, Lisa cultivated a keen interest in healthy eating and maintaining an active lifestyle. Lisa delights in creating recipes for healthy and nutrient rich snacks that will both fuel students and please their palates. She also enjoys the challenge of analyzing and revamping school lunch menus to create nutrient balanced lunch programs. To ensure that she recommends and serves only the highest quality products, Lisa meticulously reviews ingredient lists, nutrition information and product sourcing.

Jovanni Ramos, Education Consultant
Jovanni Ramos graduated Fordham University in 2005 with a degree in English and Sociology. He immediately was accepted into Americorps’ New York City Teaching Fellows program and has been teaching elementary school in Washington Heights for the last six years. Jovanni taught all early childhood grades (K, 1, 2), as well as small intervention groups with students in grades 3-5. While  teaching he obtained a masters degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages from the City College of New York. After he completed Bank Streets College’s leadership program for Bilingual and ESL teachers and received a leadership certification.

To expand his teaching experience and continue his professional growth Jovanni will be a founding teacher and team leader at a new charter school in New Orleans, Louisiana beginning the 2011-2012 academic year.

Nancy Burgos-Jackson, Recipe Developer
Nancy Burgos-Jackson began her school food career in 1989. She received her degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management from New York City Technical College. After graduation, she was selected by the school to do an internship in Germany. She took full advantage of her time in Europe, traveling extensively and getting first hand experience in sampling different foods and cultures. At every opportunity, Nancy has continued her travels - always on the trail of new food adventures, which she brings back and shares with the schools she works with. Nancy worked in independent school food service for four years as the Assistant Chef Manager before becoming the executive chef at JC Food in 1993. Nancy is a very talented and innovative chef who oversees the day-to-day operations of many schools throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn. She is passionate about creating more nutritious, lighter versions of classic dishes. Her favorite part of her job is getting to see the smiles on students’ faces and see how excited they get about the foods she serves them. Nancy’s greatest accomplishment is her two beautiful twin daughters in whom she has successfully grown a love of vegetables!

Marc Pomije, Recipe Developer
Marc Pomije has been working in school food since in 1995 with JC Food. He holds a B.S. in Food Service Management and an A.O.S. in Culinary Arts from Johnson & Wales College in Rhode Island, where he was a Fellow and Teaching Assistant. Marc also holds a ServSafe Certification. He has helped open four restaurants and has experience cooking in hotels, restaurants, catering and schools. He is an accomplished chef and is always eager to expand his repertoire and try new foods. He oversees the day-to-day activities of numerous school food service operations in New York and Connecticut, teaching innovative cooking practices and developing healthy new menu items for lunch and special events. Marc is pleased that he has the opportunity to shape healthy eating habits for children and teach food service staff members to create meals they are proud of.

Lauren Roth, Program Illustrator
My artwork is a unique combination of specialty paper, watercolor, acrylics, paint markers, ink, you name it and I have probably used it!
My focus is a mainly a linear based whimsical expression of simple objects found in life. The dreamy colors and organic shapes layered on a textured surface invite the viewer in. To me it brings an understanding of what I see and what I want to express to the world.

I received my degree from the Savannah College of Art and Design in Illustration. Since graduating I have worked as an artist and marketer for Whole Foods Market in New Jersey, New York and Hawaii, while keeping up a steady freelance of gallery exhibitions, magazine publications, and many more unique fun projects. The places I have lived and traveled hold a heavy influence on my world.

I have an array of styles, all unique to me, please check out my website see them all. You will also find all my current fun happenings on my facebook page under Yellow Bird Bohemia.

Jenna Pepper, Lead Sales Consultant
Jenna Pepper, sales and personnel consultant, and health and nutrition advocate for kids, joined the Veggiecation Program in 2011 as sales consultant. As a mother of two children, Jenna shares the same goal of Veggiecation – create a healthy and nutritious food environment for kids in the classroom and lunchroom. As a mom on a mission, Jenna started Kid Appeal in 2008 to reach parents who share a passion of raising healthy eaters. Jenna is active in the school food reform movement and informs parents how they can become proactive partners with their kids’ schools in order to make healthy changes to school lunch programs. Jenna reaches parents through her blog and public speaking to family and school groups in the Houston area. In addition to Kid Appeal, in 2004, Jenna founded Insight Talent, a sales and personnel consultancy specializing in emerging products and services. Through Insight Talent, Jenna has played an integral role in staffing for new program initiatives and advising clients in sales and marketing strategy. Jenna, wife and mother of two young sons, resides in Houston, Texas.