CWU Dining Services enjoys successful year of community involvement

Central Washington University Dining Services has continued to evolve over the past year, as evidenced by its increasing involvement in the local community.

Four local outreach efforts in 2023 provided the division with some solid momentum heading into the new year as it begins to live into the university’s new vision and mission.

“The community events we have been involved with over the past year are in direct support of the university’s mission to build authentic community partnerships and relationships,” said Dean Masuccio, Director of CWU Dining and Catering. “We have been thinking of new ways we can contribute to the campus-wide efforts to build relationships in the community, and last year showed our team what we are capable of.”

Starting in April, Masuccio and two of his colleagues — Assistant Director for Culinary Operations and Campus Executive Chef Joe Ritchie and Assistant Director of 1891 Catering and Student Union Dining Operations Dustin Atkinson — participated in an entrepreneurship event at Ellensburg High School.

The three-day marketing competition, hosted by CenterFuse and EHS Marketing teacher Jarod Rollins, gave students an opportunity to develop their own versions of a grilled cheese sandwich and serve it to 150 pre-selected peers.CWU Dining Services staff supported the effort and provided the university-owned food truck to help the class complete a successful project.

“Events like the one at Ellensburg High School give CWU a chance to connect directly with our community,” Masuccio said in an article that appeared in the Ellensburg Daily Record on April 26. “We have been looking to get involved in more community events, so when this idea was presented to us, we jumped at the opportunity.”

Later in the year, CWU Dining Services staff got involved in three more outreach efforts, including two in September and one in November.

The first took place right after Labor Day, when the Dining Services team came together to feed the firefighters working a wildfire in the Yakima Canyon.

With support from the Student Union Dining operations team, Dining Services employees prepared breakfast for more than 100 firefighters and support staff. The CWU crew redoubled its efforts later in the day, serving a gourmet chicken dinner to the firefighters. The Southeast Washington Interagency Incident Management Team shared its appreciation in a social media post on September 15.

“They spoiled us, and did it all with a smile!” the post said. “We know school is back in session, and these unsung heroes have their hands full. We are SO grateful for their support and the food they put in our bellies.”

Atkinson, the assistant director of 1891 Catering, said it was all in a day’s work for his dedicated team of professionals.

“Our staff works on campus, but we’re also community members,” he said. “We all live here and we care about our neighbors. Helping other people is important to us — it’s more than just work. We love this community, and we love to serve.”

About 10 days later, CWU Dining Services went all-in on the popular Bite of the ‘Burg event in downtown Ellensburg — an annual kickoff to the academic year, sponsored by the Kittitas County Chamber of Commerce, that brings the university and the local community together.

The Chamber and Executive Liaison for the President’s Office Dania Cochran invited Masuccio, Atkinson, and Ritchie to come downtown and interact with CWU students and community members. And, of course, the CWU team also served up some tasty treats.

 “We hope events like Bite of the ‘Burg will open up new opportunities for us to get out and support community efforts in different ways,” Masuccio said. “It’s just a reminder that CWU can be a great community partner, and we’re just going to continue building off of the relationship work Dania and others have been doing.”

Masuccio added that Bite of the ‘Burg, the Ellensburg High School event, and feeding the firefighters are “not just a one and done.”

“These events are just the beginning of what I foresee as long-term community partnerships through the services we provide,” he said.

CWU Dining Services put an exclamation point on a superb year of community involvement by participating in the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner at the Kittitas Valley Event Center. The event, co-sponsored by the City of Ellensburg, gave Masuccio, Atkinson, and Ritchie yet another new opportunity to share their bounty with the local community.

“We would love to see this become an annual event,” said Masuccio, who was also joined by General Manager for North Campus Dining Monique Gonzalez and General Manager of Cafes and Markets Joe Regelbrugge. “We just want to continue building partnerships and find new ways to help out in the community.”

Associate Vice President of Human Resources Staci Sleigh-Layman, Executive Director of Auxiliary Enterprises Joseph Pearson, and Cochran joined the Dining Services team at the fairgrounds as community volunteers.

Katelyn Clavette, the Adult Activity Center coordinator for the city, talked about the positive impact the Community Thanksgiving Dinner has on local residents. Having CWU involved only added momentum to an already successful event.

“This event allows for everyone to come and enjoy the company of one another while having a delicious and free Thanksgiving meal,” Clavette said. “It was a pleasure working with CWU Dining Services for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner. The food was excellent, and we hope to work with them in future years.”