Pacific Index

Pacific University’s new dining manager brings a positive presence 

   There’s a new face at Pacific: Scott Holt, the university’s general dining manager. He works for Compass Group’s Bon Appétit Management Company to oversee dining here at Pacific. Holt has described his role as a “Jack of all trades,” and in addition to managing dining operations, he also spends “a significant amount of time coaching, mentoring, training, and developing both salaried leaders and hourly team members.” 

   Holt expands on this by explaining, “My responsibilities also include safety oversight, HR and recruiting, financial reporting, internal audits, client relations, marketing initiatives, and ensuring both back-of-house and front-of-house compliance and execution.” His many duties keep him busy, but Holt doesn’t seem to mind. “The days are busy, but they’re also fun and dynamic. One of the best parts of being in operations is that no two days are the same; you have to be adaptable and resourceful.”

   Born and raised in southern California, Holt has a background in management which helps to make him the right man for the job. Holt has an education in project management from UC Berkeley, which he adds, “has been incredibly helpful in leading large teams and complex operations.” Prior to his current career with Compass Group, Holt worked for eight years in grocery retail, which he says taught him skills in “operations and customer service” that are still important today. 

   In 2014, he began working for Compass Group in corporate dining and had the responsibility of supporting accounts for large technology companies in California. When asked “why Pacific?” Holt gave two answers. “Professionally, transitioning from a large corporate account… where I served as a General Manager, to higher education felt like a natural next step. While Pacific has a more manageable customer headcount, higher education brings its own unique challenges and opportunities.” 

   Second, Holt is also a father outside of his career. “On a personal level, my wife and I have two children under the age of two, and our family support system is here in the Portland area. Being close to family was very important to us.” 

   Dedicated and experienced, Holt says he hopes to foster “consistency and sustainability” in the dining operations at Pacific. Other goals include building up teamwork in dining, leading with integrity, and cultivating “an environment that values openness, honesty, and transparency.” Holt’s skills, experience, and motivation give him a lot to offer as the new dining general manager, and it seems students and faculty can look forward to Holt’s impact at the university.