Allie Blimline, Marketing & Communications Manager, Aramark — Lewisville Independent School District; Lewisville, Texas
Allie Blimline is the first marketing & communications manager to be featured as a Trayblazer. It was tremendously insightful to learn everything she’s been doing to ensure the students, parents, faculty, and staff of the Lewisville Independent School District (LISD) are treated to the best food experience possible.
Covering 15 municipalities, LISD is a bustling hub of educational activity with 67 schools, various technical centers, trade schools, and a catering department. Managing a district of this scale comes with its challenges, but Allie credits organization and teamwork as key elements to everyone’s success. Despite technically being a department of one, Allie says she never feels alone thanks to the support of the entire Aramark team, her district counterparts, and other cafeteria staff. Allie notes how, “Everyone is here for the same reason: we want to feed the kids and make the LISD Child Nutrition Department the best program possible.”
Her main responsibilities include regular visits to all schools, checking that their serving lines appear fresh and appealing, while also ensuring all program marketing is being followed. Allie is uniquely focused on how food appearance is crucial to kids — much like in traditional restaurants. She says, “For the kids to have an enjoyable experience at lunch, they need to be able to clearly see what’s on the menu for the day and have it be pretty and appetizing since, of course, we eat with our eyes.”
Staying on top of food trends is essential, especially when dealing with the ever-evolving tastes of kids. From spicy flavors to made-to-order items and sweet breakfast options, Allie ensures the school menus are not only nutritious but also appealing to the discerning young audience with fun limited time menus, and food promotions every month. She also gets help from General Mills Foodservice products such as Fruit Rolls Ups™, Mott’s® Fruit Snacks, Chex Mix™, and plenty of cereal bars to help keep their snack options fresh and appealing.
Her role extends to PR and communications, requiring Allie to wear many hats outside of the cafeterias as well. Allie has fully embraced the power of social media in communicating with her school district. In fact, she says some of the most enjoyable aspects of her job include delving into photo and video content, especially on platforms like Instagram and Facebook, aiming to enhance the experience and capture the attention of both parents and kids.
When it comes to the district’s meals, Allie works closely with district dieticians and the district’s very own executive chef to come up with ways to promote their offerings in fun, exciting ways. To her, it’s not so much about the numbers, but about making a meaningful impact on the community. Allie says, “Our mission statement is ‘Fueling the success of future generations’ because no one can learn when they’re hungry. We want to get as many kids as possible into the serving lines, not just for participation and sales, but because we truly want to be feeding, and nurturing everyone we can.”
In a district so large, reaching extended groups of the community sometimes requires partnerships with outside organizations. As the president of the North Texas Hunger Council, Allie collaborates with local associations, including churches, food pantries, and other nonprofits to provide assistance to the high number of families within LISD who may be facing food insecurity. Through Aramark, Allie and her team have been able to get these community partners numerous grants to help support their efforts in feeding the district’s families that are in need. As of December 2023, LISD’s Child Nutrition Department has been successful in securing over $25,000 in grants for the community!
With her wide range of duties and expertise, Allie is able to offer valuable advice for aspiring professionals in the field: “Stay organized and consistent, but don't lose sight of innovation and motivation to make things better.” Her key to success lies in balancing the daily duties with a passion for making a positive impact on the lives of students and the community.
After meeting with this highly skilled, dedicated professional, it's evident that to Allie, it’s not just about meals; it's about nourishing minds and hearts for a brighter future.