AREAS
AREA G
meet your area g director
BY ERIN PHELAN Food Service Director Port Jervis CSD
Hello, Area G! I am the Food Service Director for the Port Jervis City School District, bringing with me a diverse career path and a lifelong passion for food, service, and community. My background has never been traditional—I've been everything from a dispatcher for a refuse company to a vacuum repair “man”—but kitchens, creativity, and people have always anchored my work. I began my culinary career as the chef for Greystone, a home for adults with autism and other different abilities. After moving to Sullivan County, I became the chef for the Office for the Aging’s dining facility in Walden. Working within strict sodium restrictions taught me how powerful spices and thoughtful seasoning can be, and it permanently shaped the way I cook. A brief break from full-time work led me to the Catskill Fly Fishing Museum, where I started as a “gal Friday” and eventually served as Acting Director over a ten-year span. Even there, I never stopped cooking—I catered events, supported Healing Waters and fly-fishing clubs, and created unique culinary experiences for the museum’s annual auction. Some of my favorite memories come from preparing dinners streamside, at breweries, or even aboard an Elco electric launch on the Hudson River. I later returned to daily cooking as the House Chef for Dynamite Youth Center, a residential program for young adults in recovery. I loved my time there. I led the kitchen team and taught skills ranging from sanitation and cold prep to knife work and cooking fundamentals. It was meaningful, hands-on work that shaped my approach to mentorship and leadership. When my family’s financial needs changed, I applied for the long-vacant Director position at Port Jervis City School District. I stepped into a world I knew nothing about, and the first few months were overwhelming—I often went home wondering what I had done. But I reminded myself that management is management anywhere, and I committed to learning everything I could. I stayed late, asked questions, and pushed myself to grow. Over time, I fell in love with the work. Today, I lead our program with creativity, compassion, and a dedication to excellence. I’m grateful for the support of the School Nutrition Association and our Hudson Valley Directors group, both of which have helped me develop into the leader I am now. My journey has taught me that no career path is too unconventional—and that every meal is an opportunity to make a difference. ~ Erin ~
WINTER 2026 AREA G DIRECTOR Erin transitioned from the private sector—where she worked as a chef for the Dynamite Youth Center and later as assistant executive director of the Catskill Fly Fishing Center—to become Food Service Director for Port Jervis City School District, blending her passions for cooking and fishing into a new career path. Taking a leap of faith, she embraced the steep learning curve of federal regulations and procurement while introducing salad bars, scratch-plus cooking, and soon a middle school garden to provide fresher, healthier options for students. Erin believes that nutritious, enjoyable meals not only fuel learning in the classroom but also help shape lifelong eating habits. FreshBites 36 Erin Phelan
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