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Meet Earl Holt: the Backbone of Kitchen Operations on Campus
- Time with Sodexo: 33 years
- Location: University of New Brunswick
- Segment: Campus
- Role: Porter
We are used to seeing profiles of chefs and unit managers. Given their positions, they tend to be the face of the company. But their work would be impossible without the dedicated team members who keep the operations running smoothly.
Today, we want to highlight the work ethic and dedication of one such employee.
Earl Holt has been working for Sodexo Canada at the University of New Brunswick (UNB) for 33 years. After graduating high school in 1988, Earl was hired in November of that same year and never left — he has seen the evolution of Sodexo as a company and has remained dedicated to his teams since.
Earl’s official role is porter, but really, he’s a jack of all trades.
“I start my day at six in the morning, Monday to Friday,” says Earl. ”I’m here from 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.”
His duties include receiving all the orders from the kitchen and managing the movement of inventory on campus, from one location to the next. But he also supports the kitchen crew with all their needs. “Once my orders are put away, I check in with the chef and cooks to see what they need,” says Earl. “They make me a list and I make sure they have everything they need for the day.”
Like everywhere, the shortage of personnel since the pandemic has given Earl an opportunity to contribute and continue to show up for his team. “I’ve been doing the cashier position. I even help in the kitchen, with food prep and cleaning,” Earl says. He emulates Sodexo’s values — Service Spirit, Team Spirit, and Spirit of Progress. “When folks need me, I jump in and help them out.”
Leanne English, Executive Chef, University of New Brunswick, Sodexo Campus Canada says:
“As an Executive Chef, I couldn’t do my job without him.”
“Earl is critical to our operations,” she continues. “If we need something, it’s Earl. And it’s not just me. The whole team relies on him for support. He’s always there, and always has a smile on his face.” “He’s a happy-go-lucky guy and liked by everyone," says Leanne. “Including the students, the faculty, and the staff of the University.”
Earl is an avid bowler part of a club who takes part in competitions and meets twice a week for 10 weeks in the fall.
When asked what he looks forward to the most every morning, his answer is simple: “It’s everything.”
“I look forward to my day and the challenges that come my way,” he continues. “I love starting my day by saying hi to everyone during my rounds.” He goes on to say, “I just really like what I do. I know what I'm doing and I’m doing it right. People call on me and I do my work with great pride.”