Meet Tony: Associate Spotlight Vol. XIV

Welcome to Associate Spotlights, a blog series from Compass Group’s Talent Management team, showcasing various associates across our family of companies.

Tony Ceccarelli

Tony is a District Manager with Chartwells K12. He began his Compass Group career in 1997 with Morrison Healthcare as an Assistant Director/Cafeteria Manager and progressed to the role of Regional Director Operations. He transferred to Chartwells K12 in December 2017.

When asked why he decided to switch industries within Compass Group, Tony stated, “I felt drawn to education. I am really passionate about developing a new team to deliver a solid program to schools along with nutritious meals for kids. This was an opportunity to expand upon my knowledge in Food Service Management and to keep learning. We are on the front end of a rapidly developing industry that will change the way we do business in K12. It’s an exciting time to be in education.”

Describe your proudest moment at Compass so far.
Three of my direct reports in my prior role are currently Regional Directors, with countless others in various management roles. I really enjoyed helping shape their careers and provide results for my organization.

What do you enjoy most about your job?
It is so much larger than ourselves. I love learning about the individuals who work at our schools and what is needed to guide a group of people to meet a desired goal. It has been fascinating to provide meals for children of all ages and teachers, while interacting with my teams.

What is the best career advice that you have ever received?
Work hard, deliver results, and hold your teams accountable. Additionally, hold yourself accountable and don’t expect anything less.

Who has been the most influential person in your career?
I worked for a Regional Vice President in my Morrison Healthcare days who really helped me change my perspective on how I do my job. He provided me the tools to develop my skillset, adapt in situations, and focus on goals with a consistent delivery. This allowed me to have the structure and mindset of managing myself as well as others.

What would people be surprised to know about you?
I love to ride my Harley Davidson.