The new dietary manager at Cherry Village Benevolence Inc., 1401 Cherry Lane, understands the importance of good nutrition for residents and is pursuing even more formal education.

          Tina Mingenback has completed ServSafe management training and is working to become a certified dietitian. Her background includes 15 years of management experience in the private and public sectors.

          “We want to ensure our meals are tasty and appropriate for our residents,” Mingenback said. “We serve only high-quality meals and snacks, and buy products only from approved vendors.”

          Nutrition requirements are especially important for residents of long-term care facilities, she noted.

          “With the help of our great kitchen staff, we are diligent about serving the proper food and supplements to our residents,” Mingenback commented. “We monitor this on a daily basis so all residents get what they need and are not served something they don’t need.”

          While Cherry Village has certain protocols and regulations to follow, the kitchen staff honors food requests whenever possible.

          “We collaborate with Donna Marbut and her nursing staff on nutrition questions all the time,” Mingenback said. “If someone has a special request, we will do what we can to honor that request.”

          The two cooks, Dee Godfrey and Riva Vazquez, have both completed their ServSafe course work related to their positions. “We want to meet and even exceed industry standards, while keeping up-to-date with new information,” Mingenback said. “All of us are one team with one purpose – to ensure the safety and comfort of our residents.”

          Mingenback is currently enrolled in the dietitian program at the University of North Dakota. She graduated from Ottawa (Ks.) University in 2000 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

          Jeremy Lewis, Cherry Village chief financial officer, said the facility is fortunate to have found someone of Mingenback’s caliber for the job.

          “Tina is really good at ensuring our high-quality food meets nutritional requirements,” Lewis said. “She is bringing a new level of professionalism to our dietary team.”

          Mingenback and her husband, Andy, have one daughter, Alyvia.