For Immediate Release
Contact: Glenn Michaels
(602) 432-9937
FEMALE ENTREPRENEUR DRIVES ARIZONA-BASED FOOD SERVICE COMPANY
FROM ZERO TO $7 MILLION ANNUAL GROSS IN SEVEN YEARS
July 8, 1988. Tempe, Arizona--A common adage suggests that "The bigger they are, the harder they fall." Virginia Mayer's career establishes the corollary: The harder they fall, the higher they bounce.
In a 1980 company shakeout, Virginia Mayer lost her job as the district manager of the Western United States region for ARA Services, one of the world's largest food management service companies. At the time she was one of the first women ever appointed to a district management position within ARA.
Almost immediately upon Mayer's departure from ARA, former clients began calling with requests for bids. Within a year, Mayer had formed her own company: Sun West Services, Inc. In seven years of operation, the Tempe, Arizona-based firm has grown into Arizona's largest school meal provider, grossing $7 million annually. The company serves over five million meals a year. Sun West's clients are located across Arizona, New Mexico and California. Its clients include school districts, senior centers, community colleges, hospitals, corporations, summer camps and detention facilities.
"I began my career, " recalls Mayer, "as a registered dietitian (RD) at a time when RDs' career possibilities were limited to the realm of hospital food service."
Mayer helped break the barriers to career growth for women, first with ARA, in such non-traditional positions as director of operations services and district manager for an 11 state region, and later, in her own firm.
The great majority of Sun West Services employees are women and minorities. Of 27 company facility food service directors, 20, or 77%, are women. Of three district managers, two are women.
In its roster of senior managers, Sun West Services counts three American Indians, a Filipino and two Mexican-American food service directors.
Many individuals whose careers blossomed under Mayer's supervision have since become significant achievers themselves. Among these is Barbara Mitchell, formerly a clinical dietitian in Tucson. She eventually became director of patient services at the University of California Medical Center in San Diego. Alice Smitherman, once a food service director responsible to Virginia, is now a past president of both the Arizona Dietetic Association and the American Dietetic Association.
Meanwhile, both Virginia Mayer and Sun West Services, Inc. continue their meteoric rise. Mayer recently received the prestigious 1988 Pacesetter Award from the Roundtable for Women in Foodservice for her contributions to the industry. Virginia Mayer has been listed in Who's Who in Finance and Industry, Industry in the West and the Who's Who of American Women. She has also been chosen as an advisor to programs in dietetics for the University of New Mexico and Arizona State University. Mayer's civic and professional involvement is also significant. She has served as an alternate delegate to the 1987 White House Conference on Small Business and as a board member of the National Association of Women Business Owners in addition to her activities within local, state and national dietetic associations.
Today, Sun West Services, Inc. employs over 300 people in two states. Two years ago, for example, the Marana Public School System awarded a huge competitor a contract. That company promptly ran up a deficit of $60, 000. and resigned the account. At the Marana district's request, Sun West assumed responsibility for the food service program. The following year, Sun West ran the same program at a profit. This year, Sun West's contract with the Marana School district was renewed for three years.
"Our success has only been possible because of the efforts of our hard-working and resourceful employees," said Mayer, "Many have made personal sacrifices on behalf of Sun West Services. But, on the other hand, I'm proud to say that our firm's success has enabled many Sun West employees to grow professionally beyond their expectations."
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