Get To Know Seminole Dining

Meet Chris, our Resident District Manager and unofficial dining hall hype man... he loves them for their variety! He’s been part of the campus community for over five years and is a massive soccer enthusiast (especially when Manchester United is playing).

Lauren has been part of the Seminole Dining family since 2025, and when she’s on campus, you’ll most likely find her at Vato Tacos... her undisputed favorite spot. Outside of work, she’s happiest on a hiking trail, exploring the great outdoors one adventure at a time.

Shaun joined Seminole Dining in 2024 and brought four years of experience with Aramark to the team. His favorite campus spot is Suwannee Room, where he can always count on great variety, and a fresh salad on the side. A fun fact: Shaun has lived in six different states as an adult, with Florida being the latest addition. Even better? The first five all bordered each other!

Shaun has been keeping Seminole Dining connected and running since 2004. His go‑to campus spot is Seminole Café, and when he’s on the job, you’ll often find him with a cup of unsweetened hot green tea in hand—his favorite way to stay focused.

Chef Gilbert has been with Seminole Dining since 2020 and is an undeniable love for Joe Mama’s, particularly the wings. Outside the kitchen, he’s a dedicated culinary traveler, always seeking new foods and flavors wherever he goes.

Chef Matt has been bringing creativity and flavor to Seminole Dining since 2021. His favorite place to grab a bite on campus is Pollo, and his go‑to comfort dish will always be beans and rice with all the toppings. When he’s not in the Suwannee Room kitchen, he’s inspired by gardening and the journey ingredients take from the ground to the plate. Because for him, when food and creativity come together, the possibilities are endless.

Since joining the team in 2025, Chef Ken has been elevating every catering event with standout dishes, especially his legendary smoked prime rib and crab cakes. When he’s not in the kitchen, he’s likely tending to his garden of fresh herbs and vegetables or smoking meat at home. Bonus fun fact: he grows some of the hottest peppers in the world!

Chef Kris has been cooking up freshness at Seminole Café since 2025, and it also happens to be her favorite place to eat. Her go‑to meal is the Chicken Avocado Grain Bowl with Baked Pita Chips. Fun fact: she’s spontaneous, travel‑obsessed, and always ready to try anything once.

Trent has been with Aramark since 2022 and moved to Tallahassee in September of 2025 to join the culinary team at Suwannee Room. He loves creating hearty, flavor‑packed dishes, especially anything with pulled pork. His go‑to places to eat are the Suwannee Room and Pollo. Outside of work, Trent is an avid sneaker collector, with a particular love for Jordan and Nike SB styles.

Meet John! He’s been keeping Seminole Dining running smoothly for 5+ years. When he’s grabbing a bite on campus, you’ll most likely find him in the Suwannee Room enjoying a mixed grill from the Homestyle Station. Fun fact: if there’s ever an ’80s music trivia challenge, John is your go-to expert.

With over 20 years at Aramark, Montoya brings experience, energy, and a genuine love for great food to campus life. She enjoys eating at all campus dining locations and takes pride in overseeing the operations of both residential dining halls. A fun fact? Montoya is a huge sports fan, especially when it comes to the NFL. She’ll never miss a chance to cheer for her team. She’s a proud Pittsburgh Steelers fan through and through.

Meet Harold, our Food Service Manager at Suwannee! He’s been part of the Seminole Dining family since November 2025, and you can usually find him enjoying his favorite spot, Suwannee Room, especially on Fried Chicken Fridays. A fun fact? Harold still plays full‑court basketball with his son and keeps up with him, too! Gotta stay quick on your feet!

Kenny has been part of the Seminole Dining team since 2019 and is known for bringing energy, leadership, and plenty of smiles to Chick-fil-A. He doesn’t play favorites when it comes to campus eats, but he does bring some serious passion to the table as a die‑hard Miami Hurricanes fan.

Nick Grampa has been with Seminole Dining since 2024. His go‑to campus spot? The Suwannee Room, specifically Fried Chicken Fridays. And yes… his last name really is Grampa.

Eddy is the newest face on our team, joining Seminole Dining during the Spring 2026 semester, and he’s already bringing great energy to both The Den and Einstein’s. A proud girl dad, he’s never afraid to throw on a tutu for playtime with his little one. When he’s off the clock, you’ll probably find him at Panda, happily digging into his go‑to favorite: Orange Chicken.

Since 2021, Joe has kept our facilities running smoothly with skill and a smile. A regular at Bento, he never turns down Beef Ramen or a sushi combo. Fun fact: Joe spent almost half his life playing soccer and even dreamed of going pro!

Natasha Oquendo has served as Seminole Dining’s Catering Director since 2018, leading the Legacy Catering team with dedication and expertise. Her favorite meals on campus are found at the events themselves, where she takes pride in sampling the exceptional dishes her team creates, each one a reflection of their hard work and craftsmanship. Beyond her role, Natasha enjoys caring for her home fish tank and is enthusiastically nurturing hopes of expanding her growing underwater community.

Since joining Seminole Dining in 2014, Kurt brings experience, creativity, and leadership to the catering team. His campus favorite is the burgers at The Den; simple, classic, and always good. A true music lover, Kurt plays multiple instruments and has a standing goal to learn a new one every year.

Since 2019, Wev has been a key part of Seminole Dining’s catering team. Her favorite place to eat on campus is, naturally, Catering itself. Her top recommendation? The crowd‑favorite Cajun Style Shrimp and Grits. A true multilingual pro, Wev speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese… and sarcasm!

Katelynn has been with Seminole Dining since 2017, starting as a student intern and working her way up to Marketing Director in 2022. Her campus go‑to is Pollo Tropical’s cilantro garlic chicken sandwich with a side of maduros. She thrives on creativity and loves any chance to problem‑solve and bring fresh ideas to life.

Grace joined Seminole Dining in March of 2024. Her favorite foods on campus are the Philly cheesesteak at Proof and the jerk chicken at Seminole Café. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her black lab, Blue, AKA Blue Bird AKA Chicken Nugget.

Megan joined the Seminole Dining team as a marketing intern in 2022. She now works as the communications coordinator and is the mind behind Seminole Dining's social media! Her favorite food on campus is the flank steak sandwich from Joe Mama's. A proud FSU Alum, she graduated from the FSU College of Music where she trained as an opera singer!

Since joining Seminole Dining in 2024, Gina has worked as the Meal Plan and Customer Service Coordinator, helping students, parents, and faculty/staff find answers and navigate campus dining. Her go-to order is the empanadas from Proof, unless her favorite sandwich of the week, the meatball sub, happens to be on the menu. Gina loves the outdoors and once kayaked 8 miles with her kids!

Les joined the Seminole Dining team in 2025 and is always scouting creative ways to elevate campus events. His go‑to bite on campus is the black bean burger at Proof, and when he's off the clock, you’ll find him collecting records or exploring a new hiking trail.

Meet Thel, our Sustainability Coordinator! Since joining Seminole Dining in 2023, Thel has been championing greener choices and campus-wide eco‑initiatives. When not thinking sustainably, you can probably find her at Suwannee Room enjoying the creamy mashed potatoes. Fun fact: Thel is a proud cat parent to two feline icons: Billy and Sprite.