Leadership

National Vision.
Personal Commitment.

Great dining programs begin with people who understand the importance of student well-being, the trust of school partners and the daily responsibility of delivering meals that make a difference. Cenavera’s leadership team brings together culinary expertise, operational experience and entrepreneurial thinking to help our people and partners succeed.

Our leadership team connects the strengths of SFE, SLA and OrganicLife with the resources and expertise of a national organization. Each brand retains the identity, relationships and local knowledge that make it distinctive, supported by leaders who strengthen capabilities, invest in people and guide growth. It’s an approach that keeps us close to the communities we serve while expanding what we can accomplish together.

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Jonas Falk

Chief Executive Officer

Jonas serves as Chief Executive Officer, combining culinary expertise with more than two decades of entrepreneurial and business leadership. As co-founder of OrganicLife, he helped build a business around the belief that school meals should deliver the quality, flavor and care associated with restaurant dining. Today, he leads Cenavera’s family of brands — OrganicLife, Southwest Foodservice Excellence and SLA Management — with a focus on growth, operational excellence and dining programs that reflect the needs of each school community.

Jonas’s experience spans culinary operations, business development, strategic planning and organizational leadership. His early career in fine dining shaped his expectations for food quality, hospitality and service, principles he carried into building and expanding OrganicLife. He brings an operator’s understanding of day-to-day challenges and an entrepreneur’s perspective on identifying opportunities, developing teams and turning ideas into sustainable businesses.

At Cenavera, Jonas focuses on combining the resources and capabilities of a national organization with the personal attention, flexibility and local relationships that distinguish its brands. His leadership centers on helping teams deliver nutritious, great-tasting meals, build lasting school partnerships and create programs that students are excited to participate in.

Jonas’s accomplishments have earned recognition from Forbes’ 30 Under 30 in Food & Wine, Crain’s Chicago Business’ 40 Under 40 and Zagat’s 30 Under 30. Outside of work, he enjoys golf and spending time with his wife and three sons.

Chris Odom

President, SFE

Chris Odom serves as President of Southwest Foodservice Excellence (SFE), bringing more than 15 years of experience with the company and a broad background in foodservice operations, strategic partnerships and team leadership. He leads SFE’s efforts to deliver fresh, customized dining programs for K–12 schools, higher education, business and industry, senior living and military communities. His focus is on creating dining experiences that reflect the needs of each organization while strengthening partnerships and achieving sustainable financial performance.

Chris’s career at SFE has spanned district and regional operations, strategic partnerships and executive leadership, including service as Chief Operating Officer. This progression has given him a practical understanding of the challenges facing school nutrition teams and the support they need to succeed. His experience encompasses financial oversight, team development, inventory and distribution, and relationships with school administrators and community partners.

Chris brings a collaborative approach to leadership, emphasizing accountability, continuous improvement and opportunities for employees to grow. He works to connect SFE’s culinary expertise and operational resources with the priorities of each partner, helping teams deliver nutritious meals and dependable service. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Texas Tech University.

Justin Rolls

President & Co-Founder, OrganicLife

Justin serves as President and Co-Founder of OrganicLife, bringing more than two decades of experience in foodservice operations, hospitality management and business development. He oversees the company’s operations, combining a practical understanding of frontline service with the management expertise needed to support growth. Since co-founding OrganicLife with Jonas Falk, Justin has helped build the company around a clear commitment to bringing fresh, restaurant-quality food and responsive, personalized service to school dining.

Before establishing OrganicLife, Justin worked in restaurant management and foodservice consulting, helping operators address complex challenges, improve efficiency and strengthen management practices. His expertise spans operational turnarounds, concept development, feasibility studies, purchasing and financial controls, employee training, quality assurance and speed of service. This broad experience informs his approach to building dining programs that balance food quality, student satisfaction and financial performance.

At OrganicLife, Justin focuses on equipping teams with the systems, training and support they need to deliver consistent results while responding to each school community’s needs. His leadership emphasizes attention to detail, accountability and lasting client relationships, helping preserve the personal service that has defined OrganicLife as the company has grown.

Jake Clifton

President, SLA

Jake has built his career around culinary excellence, operational leadership and a commitment to delivering exceptional food service experiences. With 27 years of experience in the food service industry, Jake began his career working in restaurants before becoming a chef, serving at resorts, country clubs, and wedding venues. This hands-on culinary background provided the foundation for his approach to leadership, combining a passion for food with a deep understanding of the operational demands of successful food service programs.

Jake joined SLA in 2012 as a Kitchen Manager and steadily advanced through leadership roles, including Area Manager, Director of Operations, and Chief Operating Officer, before becoming President in 2023. Throughout his tenure, he has played a pivotal role in leading SLA’s charter school division and expanding its National School Lunch Program (NSLP) operations from two states to 22. His extensive experience partnering with charter schools has given him an in-depth understanding of the charter school community and the unique operational, financial, and nutritional needs of the schools and students they serve.

Committed to continuous learning and professional development, Jake returned to school later in his career, earning his business degree from the University of Florida in 2018. He subsequently earned his School Nutrition Specialist certification, further strengthening his expertise in the intersection of business operations, nutrition, and school food service.

For the past 14 years, Jake has dedicated his career to school nutrition, driven by the belief that providing children with nutritious, high-quality meals is essential to their success. As President of SLA, he remains focused on building strong school partnerships, developing effective and sustainable food service programs, and ensuring that students receive the quality meals and service they deserve.

Allison Purmort

General Counsel

Allison serves as General Counsel, leading the company’s legal department and providing strategic legal and business counsel to its leadership team. Her responsibilities span corporate governance, labor and employment matters, litigation, and corporate and regulatory compliance. She also serves as Corporate Secretary to Cenavera’s Board of Directors.

Allison helps management evaluate complex decisions by considering legal requirements, business objectives and potential operational impacts. She establishes internal governance policies, assesses changes in the external legal and regulatory environment, and guides practical approaches to managing risk. Her work supports informed decision-making and responsible growth across Cenavera and its family of brands.

Before joining Cenavera, Allison served as Assistant General Counsel in the foodservice and sports and entertainment industries. A California native, she holds a Bachelor of Science from American University and a Juris Doctor from Charlotte School of Law.

Bryan McMahon

Chief Financial Officer

Bryan McMahon serves as Chief Financial Officer, bringing 30 years of experience in financial leadership, accounting and business strategy. He oversees the company’s financial operations and helps guide strategic planning and growth across its family of school foodservice brands. His work connects financial discipline with the resources and investment needed to support dependable service and long-term success.

Bryan’s experience includes mergers and acquisitions, operational improvement and value creation. He has held CFO roles across business services, franchising, consumer products, manufacturing and distribution, bringing a broad perspective to evaluating opportunities and improving business performance. He began his career in investment and corporate banking, developing a strong foundation in financial analysis, capital strategy and corporate relationships.

Bryan holds a degree in Accounting from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and is a Certified Public Accountant. Outside of work, he is active in ministry and charitable initiatives and enjoys spending time with family and pursuing fitness.

Chef Marta Hernandez

Vice President, Culinary Operations

Chef Marta brings more than 25 years of leadership experience in culinary innovation, foodservice operations and brand growth. Her expertise spans menu development, large-scale dining operations and team leadership, combining a chef’s commitment to food quality with an executive’s focus on service and business performance.

At Cenavera Nutrition, Marta helps teams translate culinary ideas into dining programs that meet the needs of school partners and the students they serve. Her work encompasses menu innovation, food safety and compliance, procurement strategies and operational improvement. She focuses on delivering consistently high-quality meals while supporting client satisfaction and financially sustainable programs. Marta’s leadership connects culinary creativity with practical execution, helping teams build the skills and processes needed to deliver exceptional dining experiences every day. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Johnson & Wales University.

Jason Schwartz

Senior Director Safety and Risk Management

Jason brings more than 20 years of experience in the foodservice industry, specializing in enterprise risk management, occupational safety, food safety, and regulatory compliance. Prior to joining the organization, Jason held safety leadership roles with Whole Foods Market, Compass Group North America, and Steritech.

As Senior Director of Safety and Risk Management for Cenavera Nutrition, Jason leads enterprise-wide safety and risk management initiatives across the organization’s three brands. His responsibilities include workers’ compensation and claims management, commercial insurance programs, emergency preparedness and response, and food safety and OSHA compliance.

Jason has been instrumental in building and advancing a culture of safety across the organization, establishing foundational programs, strengthening injury reporting processes, and driving continuous improvement in safety performance. His leadership approach emphasizes proactive risk mitigation, operational accountability, and empowering teams to make safety a shared responsibility.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management from Arizona State University and a degree in Culinary Arts from Scottsdale Culinary Institute, a Le Cordon Bleu Academy. His professional credentials include Associate Safety Professional (ASP), Certified Professional–Food Safety (CP-FS), Safety and Health Specialist (SSH), Preventive Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI), and ServSafe Instructor and Proctor certifications.

Jamie Hilt

Chief People Officer

Jamie serves as Chief People Officer, bringing more than 20 years of leadership experience in human resources, business and retail. Her expertise spans talent acquisition, leadership development, succession planning, employee relations, compensation and benefits. She focuses on building engaged teams and strengthening the people, processes and culture that support organizational growth.

Before assuming her Cenavera role, Jamie served as Chief People Officer at Southwest Foodservice Excellence, where she strengthened leadership development, introduced succession planning and improved recruiting processes to support the company’s expanding school foodservice operations. She also helped develop competitive compensation and benefits programs and HR resources to support employees and school district transitions. Earlier in her career, she served as Director of Corporate Human Resources at Payless ShoeSource, aligning HR initiatives with business objectives.

Jamie brings a collaborative, action-oriented approach to leadership, emphasizing emotional intelligence, discretion and responsive employee support. She holds a Master of Science in Management from Baker University and a Bachelor of Science in Business/Communication from Emporia State University.

Elmer McInnis

Chief Procurement Officer

Elmer serves as Chief Procurement Officer, bringing more than 25 years of experience in contract foodservice management. His expertise spans purchasing, supplier relationships and the negotiation and management of distributor and manufacturer agreements, including national milk and bread contracts. He focuses on securing quality products at competitive costs to support effective, financially sustainable dining programs.

Elmer joined Southwest Foodservice Excellence in 2023 as Senior Vice President of Procurement, leading efforts to strengthen distributor agreements and deliver value to school district partners. Previously, he held progressively senior roles at Valley Services, Inc., advancing from Product Manager to Executive Vice President of Procurement. Following Valley Services’ acquisition by Elior North America, he continued as Vice President of Procurement.

Throughout his career, Elmer has combined strong vendor relationships with expertise in financial performance measurement and contract execution. He connects purchasing strategy with operational needs, helping foodservice teams manage costs while maintaining the quality and service their school partners expect.

Dave Smolensky

Chief Marketing Officer

Dave serves as Chief Marketing Officer, bringing more than 35 years of experience in strategic communications, marketing and reputation management. As a member of Cenavera’s leadership team, he guides marketing and communications across the organization and its family of brands. His focus is on strengthening brand recognition, supporting growth and communicating the expertise and personal attention that distinguish Cenavera’s approach to foodservice.

Throughout his career, Dave has advised executives and organizations across education, healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, professional services and the public sector. His experience spans brand positioning, media relations, executive communications, employee and client engagement, acquisition communications and crisis management. He brings particular expertise in helping leaders navigate complex issues, build stakeholder trust and translate business priorities into clear, effective communications. At Cenavera, Dave connects marketing strategy with the work of the teams serving schools and students every day. He works closely with corporate and brand leadership to strengthen the company’s market presence, support new business and client retention and build consistent communications that preserve each brand’s distinct identity. His approach combines strategic counsel with practical execution, helping Cenavera tell its story through the people, partnerships and dining experiences that bring its mission to life.

Matthew Martinez

Vice President Information Technology

Matthew Martinez serves as Vice President of Information Technology, bringing more than 20 years of experience in technology, business systems and operational improvement. His background includes leadership roles in healthcare, aviation and manufacturing, with expertise in technology strategy, business intelligence, cybersecurity and acquisition integration.

Matthew leads a business-focused approach to technology across Cenavera’s family of brands. He works to simplify complex processes, strengthen systems and equip teams with the tools and information they need to serve school partners effectively. By translating operational challenges into practical technology solutions, he supports dependable service, informed decisions and continued growth.

His leadership emphasizes collaboration, accountability and technology investments that produce meaningful results. For Matthew, that work ultimately supports the people preparing and serving meals each day, helping them devote more time and attention to nourishing students. He holds a Master of Business Administration and the Project Management Professional (PMP) and Certified Healthcare Chief Information Officer (CHCIO) credentials.