Oct. 8, 2026

LIVE from ⁠ACCAC 2026 - with Aimee Novak, Executive Director of Culinary Experience, Yavapai College

Key Takeaways

Aimee Novak shares insights on Yavapai College bringing dining operations completely in-house after parting ways with third-party vendors.
The culinary team successfully built a restaurant model serving 10,000 meals per month with only five months to launch.
Cooking within the seasons enhances student nutrition, promotes sustainability, and positively impacts the institution's bottom line.
This special live episode was recorded in person at the 2026 Arizona Community College Administrators Conference hosted on the Yavapai College campus.
Dr. Joe Sallustio leads an engaging discussion highlighting innovative approaches to auxiliary services and culinary experiences in higher education.

It's YOUR time to #EdUp with Aimee Novak, Executive Director of Culinary Experience, Yavapai College

In this episode, recorded LIVE & in person from the ⁠2026 Arizona Community College Administrators Conference⁠ on the campus of Yavapai College,

YOUR host is ⁠⁠Dr. Joe Sallustio

What happens when a community college ditches the third-party vendor & brings dining completely in-house?
How do you build a restaurant model serving 10,000 meals per month with just 5 months to launch?
Why does cooking within the seasons actually improve nutrition, sustainability & your bottom line?

Listen in to #EdUp

Thank YOU so much for tuning in. Join us on the next episode for YOUR time to EdUp!

Connect with YOUR EdUp Team - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠Elvin Freytes⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Dr. Joe Sallustio⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Aimee Novak?

Aimee Novak is the Executive Director of Culinary Experience at Yavapai College, where she oversees innovative dining operations and culinary programs.

What is discussed in this episode with Aimee Novak?

Aimee Novak discusses the process and benefits of bringing campus dining completely in-house, building a high-volume restaurant model in just five months, and the advantages of seasonal cooking.