Darin Schluep, Food Service Director, AS Dining Services

Darin grew up in the town of El Dorado Hills, California and began attending UC Davis in the fall of 1995. In the fall of 1996, he was hired as a student employee in the kitchen of the Coffee House. Darin worked his way up the ranks, filling the role of employee for two quarters, student supervisor for two years, and student manager for one year. In the summer of 2000, Darin applied for, and was offered, the full-time position of food service manager, where he was responsible for day-to-day supervision, hiring, and scheduling of the out-front student staff, training development, marketing, and safety and sanitation.

As food service manager, Darin continued his college education on a part-time basis, completing his degree in 2005. He continued to develop his management skills by attending conferences and workshops through the National Association of College and University Food Services.

In November of 2012 Darin was promoted to the position of Food Service Director for AS Dining Services.  He currently lives in West Sacramento with his wife Nicky, son Aiden, daughter Avery and golden retriever Lucy.  He has a penchant for obscure, folksy sayings and an uncanny ability to put the cart before the horse, dismiss some small potatoes and fill multiple kettles of fish in one sitting.

 

Lauren Woods, Out-Front Manager

Lauren grew up in San Diego, California and began attending UC Davis in the fall of 2006.  In the fall of 2006, she was hired as a kitchen employee, was then a kitchen supervisor for two years, and finally during her senior year was a kitchen Student Manager.  Lauren graduated in the spring of 2010 with a degree in Political Science.

After graduating, Lauren moved to the Bay Area where she worked as the Front of House Manager at a Berkeley restaurant.  In late 2011, the former AS Dining Services Director recruited her to launch and manage the Coffee House’s first satellite retail operation, the CoHo South Café.   Lauren gladly accepted the position and was instrumental in its’ successful opening to rave reviews in January 2012.

In June 2012, Lauren was hired as the Out-Front Manager, where she oversees approximately 150 servers and cashiers.  She is excited about learning more about food service management and expanding her role within AS Dining Services.  She also loves anything having to do with Indiana Jones, Kittens(!), and unsuccessful attempts at playing practical jokes on her co-workers.

 

Ed Andrade, Facility Manager

Ed was born and raised in Woodland, California, where food was always a part of his life. His grandmother taught him how to cook at the age of nine, and his family started a retail food sales operation as well as a Mexican restaurant in 1970. This created a love of cooking that eventually led to Ed opening his own restaurant, styled after his parents’ cooking techniques and unique menu. He owned his Woodland restaurant for nine years, and briefly opened another restaurant in Davis. After years of working in the private sector, Ed decided to sell his restaurants and look for opportunities in college and university food service.

In 2001, Ed brought his exceptional cooking skills and infectiously positive attitude to the Coffee House management team. As Facility manager, Ed is responsible for all equipment upkeep, inventory and ordering, as well as overall Coffee House maintenance. Ed currently lives in Winters with his wife Norma, where he enjoys Bar-B-Queuing with his friends and teaching the family cooking techniques to his children, Matt and Samantha.

Ed’s biggest weaknesses are that he works too hard, he cares too much, and he tells what some people would consider “lame”, “old man” or just plain “not funny” jokes.  We love him anyway.

 

Elisa Hagopian, Kitchen Manager

Elisa grew up in Alameda, California, and began her college experience at UC Davis in Fall of 2003. During her second year she began her Coffee House career first as a kitchen employee and then Student Manager in Summer 2006. Elisa graduated in Spring 2007 with a double major in History and Communications.

Elisa’s passion and dedication, as well as her wide knowledge of the interworking of the CoHo was obvious to all of her co-workers. In the Fall of 2007 Elisa was promoted to full-time Kitchen Manager. Her job duties include ensuring food quality, regulating kitchen sanitation, and making sure that all kitchens run efficiently. Along with these duties, Elisa is a mentor and friend to those working at the Coffee House and works to keep morale positive in the workplace. Her hard work and commitment to making the ASUCD Coffee House a success is evident just by observing the amazing food served on a daily basis and the enthusiasm of all the employees working at the CoHo.

Elisa lives in Sacramento with her husband Nick and dog Larry, who has a huge head.  Her dog, not her husband.  She also loves digging holes in the backyard with him.  Again, with Larry, not Nick.

 

Susie Houlden, Kitchen Production/Sustainability Manager

Susie was born and raised in Oak View, California, and began her college career at UC Davis in 2007.  During her second year she started working in the Coffee House kitchen and was quickly promoted to supervisor then student manager.  She recently graduated from UC Davis with a major in Environmental Horticulture and Urban Forestry.

During fall quarter 2011 Susie was offered the Kitchen Production Manager position, where she’s happily been ever since.  She loves working with such a great group of people, and is constantly learning more and more from her awesome co-workers what it means to work in the college food service industry.

Susie grew up with a big extended family, where food was always a focal point of gatherings.  She learned at an early age how to cook for a large group of people, which is why she felt so at home working at the Coffee House.  On weekends you can find her taking long walks in the arboretum while sipping her favorite drink, pina coladas.

 

Levi Menovske, CoHo South Cafe Manager

 

Levi Grew up in Big Sur California and started his college career at UC Davis in fall of 2007.  In the fall of 2010 Levi was hired at the Coffee House as a kitchen employee and quickly became a Supervisor and then Student Manager.  Levi Graduated in the spring of 2012 with a major in English and a minor in Political Science.  Upon completion of his education at UC Davis he was asked to take on the position of Production Manager at the Coffee House.

Levi has always been exposed to a food friendly environment, growing up with his mother and uncle, both of whom worked together in a kitchen; his uncle as the head pastry chef and his mother as the head line chef.   Levi’s passion for food shines through in his hard work and dedication to AS Dining Services as it strives to play its role as a resource to both students and the UC Davis Community.

Levi is known for his love of glitter.  Lots and lots of glitter.

Meet our Student Managers!

Kitchen

From Left to Right:  Kari Nakamura, Megan Landen, Austin Hoggatt, Jacquelene Obeid

 

Out Front

From Left to Right:  June Fabillaran, Michelle Liu, Mourid Ali, Kevin Elmore

 

CoHo South Café

From Left to Right:  Daniel “DK” Kosykh, Jacob Flathers, Toni Nguyen, Leeron Tzalka, Hayley Rappoport