Sodexo is under new management this semester as Jim Butler assumes the general manager position.

Butler took over after former general manager Kevin Dicey left Pitt-Johnstown to take a job as Pitt-Oakland’s residential dining manager.

Butler is experienced in dining services; his experience started with his family’s restaurant that was built when he was 3 years old.  Since then, he’s worked in restaurants, managed two restaurants and was a food and beverage director at a Wisconsin ski resort.

Butler has said that he tries to talk to three to five students every day to see what they think of their meals.

We believe that Butler is doing a great job so far serving the Pitt-Johnstown community, and we hope he continues to do so.

Staff involvement in the Pitt-Johnstown community is a useful method in learning community members’ opinions.

It is advantageous that Butler is engaging with students and getting their opinions on what food they would like to be served.

Although decisions in menu changes are mostly by Sodexo, Butler has said he has some influence on what Sodexo employees offer at Pitt-Johnstown, and that a change in their entire menu is coming soon. 

Butler also said he isn’t sure how long he will be at Pitt-Johnstown.

Butler seems to have the school community’s best interests at heart, even getting together with other Sodexo members after students were being relocated after mold was found in the Living/Learning Center to make snack bags for those students because he wanted to do something kind for them.

Butler is the kind of staff member Pitt-Johnstown needs, and regardless of how long he is to be here, we hope he continues to be active in the community and try to improve Pitt-Johnstown’s dining experience in the best way possible.

This campus needs responsible and accountible staff and administrators.  We’re happy to have one that seems to be both.