Tips from Trestle: The Senior Living Food and Hospitality Podcast

How do you create a community that can differentiate itself from the others, and that organically offers easy ways to sell itself with culture and experience? It’s about knowing the market, and building opportunities to create the “love stories” that naturally develop inside those four walls. Many may know Josh Crisp as one of the hosts of the popular Bridge The Gap Senior Living Podcast , but he...

TFT host Aaron Fish visits with Erin Thompson from Aspire for More with Erin about her experiences at the recent Alabama Assisted Living Association Fall Conference. They talk about the big takeaways for leaders, and how the upcoming Culinary Leadership 360 workshop can help to better support and reenergize attendees. To learn more about the Culinary Leadership 360 Workshop click here: https://bit...

Finding a technology solution into your operation can be tricky. Especially when you need a robust solution that needs to be as cost effective as possible. To solve this, we get “SaaS-y” in this episode about why knowing your operation is critical to finding the right solution and create mealtime magic for residents  In this episode, Jessica Atkinson from Woodside Senior Communities joins Aaron an...

Are you constantly searching to figure out what it takes to win over job seekers in the senior living industry? Get ready for a rollicking ride through the world of recruitment and staffing in the latest episode of Tips from Trestle, where we are working overtime discussing everything from job postings to company culture. Kate Risa takes center stage in a lively discussion with Aaron about the cur...

Cleaning and sanitation are critical to success in the senior living industry. And we are here to unlock the secrets behind cleaner, safer spaces. So join us as we dive deep into how your jan-san program can become a game changer On this week’s sparkling journey, Aaron chats with Andy Gamma about the finer aspects of your chemical & sanitation program. Discover how streamlining & strategic...

Curious about the recipe for culinary success? Inspiring and motivating your frontline kitchen team is key to a great food & beverage programming in senior living! Prepare for a delectable journey into the heart of culinary excellence on this episode of Tips from Trestle. Aaron visits with Chris Hinton and Lisa Holthaus to learn how their work on Navigator Group Purchasing's Culinary Acade...

Have you ever been inspired to create a solution to a problem because you simply want to help a loved one? How would you even take that simple idea and turn it into a delectable reality? On this week's episode of Tips from Trestle, we dive into a conversation that's as nourishing as it is entertaining-food manufacturing. We sat down with Taylor Smith, the mastermind behind Broma, an altern...

Are you tired of the menu-building hamster wheel in senior living? Get ready to relish an episode that's all about infusing flavor into efficiency, as technology takes the lead in crafting an unforgettable dining experience. In this episode, Meagan Rohan joins Aaron to dive head first into how technology is reshaping the landscape of senior living menu development. Say goodbye to the daunting...

Environments are everything in a senior living community. So how can we shed some “light” on making them better? In this illuminating episode, Aaron visits with Nick Pedersen and they delve into the power of circadian lighting. By mimicking natural sunlight, circadian lighting systems can have a significant impact on the  bodies' physiological responses. They talk about how the remarkable bene...

Ready to help your residents bridge the technology gap in senior living? Join host Aaron Fish as he sits down with and Katie Griffith to tackle the challenge of getting residents to embrace technology. Discover the importance of meeting residents where they are and encouraging them to step out of their comfort zones. Explore the role of resident technology committees in selecting and adopting tech...

Dining is a sensory experience, and it all starts with our eyes. Knowing that, are you ready to create a visually stunning and inviting dining experience for your senior living community? Join us on Tips from Trestle this week as we sit down with Heidi Noe, a Boelter Superstore leader as we explore a critical piece of dining real estate - the tabletop. Discover how Heidi's background in retail...

Ever wondered how you can easily optimize your purchasing decisions and develop an amazing partnership at the same time? Join Aaron for this episode of "Tips from Trestle" as he delves into the world of Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) and the key role of trust in this realm. We speak with Brian Lopp of Navigator Group Purchasing, who shares his journey from the food industry to the...

Ready for an extraordinary virtual adventure? Join Aaron on this well-traveled podcast episode as he talks to Susan Black, Founder and Chief "Wow" Executive Officer of Wowzitude. Aaron & Susan unveil the magic of Wowzitude, a game-changing live stream virtual tour service designed with an eye on supporting You'll learn how residents can be immersed in captivating destinations, en...

Have you ever wondered...what exactly is Speech Therapy is and what is the crucial role it plays in senior living? On this week's TFT, Aaron sits with Adria Thompson. Adria shares her journey into the senior care space and discusses her work with individuals facing communication, swallowing, and cognition disorders. Adria unlocks the secrets of how speech therapists can impact the success of y...

Have you ever wondered how food can truly build community among residents in senior living? It starts with a fundamental question: What is the purpose and expected outcome of the dining experience? In this engaging episode of Tips from Trestle, we dive deep into the transformative power of food in senior living communities. Join Aaron & Matt Perez as they explore the insights and experiences t...

"The past is over; the present is fleeting; we live in the future." - Ray Kurzweil When we're talking about technology trends in senior living and dining, we often discuss robots and point-of-sale systems. But what would it look and sound like if we push the envelope and embraced the most cutting edge of technology and futuristic endeavors in our operations? That's the focus for...

Are you interested in elevating your senior living dining experience using the power of your strategic partnerships with your vendors? Join us on Tips from Trestle as we dive into the transformative power of partnerships in the food service and senior living industries. In this episode, we speak with Brit Gala-Ploeckelmann, who shares her expertise in creating exceptional dining experiences for se...

Are you curious about the world of digital auditing and its transformative potential? How do you audit the complex operations of your senior living operation and ensure trust? In this episode of Tips from Trestle, we delve into the fascinating realm of digital auditing with George Collado, the CEO of My Field Audits. Aaron & George explore the answers to thought-provoking questions surrounding...

What impact does the food experience have on the real estate and investor aspects of the senior living industry? Do investors even consider it when they look at their portfolio? It's a question that TFT host Aaron Fish wanted to get more answers to, so he connected with Shane Connor to talk senior living investing, real estate, and yes, how the F&B operation impacts all of this. It's a...

When you are working on a project, how do you ensure that it is a success? It's not rocket science, it's simple - listen to your customer. On this episode of Tips from Trestle, we talked with Becky Clark and Mary Warrell of Clark Food Service Equipment. We dive into their approach on creating support for specialized projects and how they have developed their process to be able to make any...

Have you ever stopped for a second to look around and realize that somehow you got "boxed" in to your career? It can happen to the best hospitality professional - we get into our daily routines and work processes and feel that we get into a mental block and our growth stalls. What we need is to dig deep and realize that all the tools needed to break through is already within ourselves. A...

What would happen in your organization if you allowed new employees to do a capstone project about their role in the operation as a part of their onboarding process? What if they had THIRTEEN weeks to complete it? In this episode of Tips from Trestle, Aaron chats with James Lee, Founder & CEO of Bella Groves They discuss how he has built a thriving culture of learning within his company, and w...

How does a cupcake explain a great resident engagement program? In this episode of TFT, we're diving into the state of resident engagement in senior living communities. We talk to Nikki Jo Olsen, who shares insights and trends from the front lines of the industry, exploring what's working and what's not when it comes to keeping residents happy, active, and engaged. From virtual reality...

Purpose is not a goal or role. Who you are, what you notice, and how you’re built - that’s your purpose and it informs how you show up for your roles and goals. In this episode of Tips from Trestle, we explore the concept of purpose and how to find it using "The Purpose Equation®" as developed by industry veteran & entrepreneur Anna Hall. Aaron talks with Anna about her journey to cr...

"It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen." - George Orwell, 1984 Stories are how we share our knowledge, history, and how we teach future generations about the times we lived in. They are also how we can connect with our prospective audience - intellectually, emotionally, and even spiritually. Storytelling is how we can harness the power of imagination to...