Steve Dietz

Food Waste Summit 2026

Steve Dietz

Vice-President of Development at Food Donation Connection (FDC)

Steve Dietz

Steve is entering his 20th year at Food Donation Connection (FDC) as Vice-President of Development.

Steve is a SERV Safe certified Food Safety Instructor and has worked closely with Corporate Food Safety teams at Whole Foods, PCC Markets, Chick-Fil-A, McDonalds, Starbucks, Darden Restaurants, Wawa, Bloomin Brands, HMSHost, YUM Brands and many others to develop SOPs and guidelines to ensure all donations are safely provided to the end users.

Steve has worked with local Health Departments across the US to educate these critical governmental agencies on how surplus prepared foods can be safely donated within their communities.

Steve has years of experience preparing surplus food valuations to enable donors to receive the enhanced tax benefit on their federal tax returns. He also understands the strict agency vetting and documentation requirements to ensure IRS compliance FDC has 30 years of blemish free audits by the IRS with their donors.

Biography

As Executive Chef Director of Nutrition Services for Cheney Public Schools since 2015, LJ has revolutionized K-12 dining by creating scratch-made, nutritious meals while championing sustainable practices to minimize food waste. His innovative approaches inspire students to embrace healthy, eco-conscious food choices. Beyond schools, LJ consults nationwide, collaborating with early childhood programs, the Washington Fire Chiefs Association to integrate sustainable menus into fire stations, and the Department of Defense to educate military families. As the founder of Richland Community College’s Culinary Arts Institute, he empowered future chefs to prioritize sustainability.
On the panel, LJ will share practical strategies to combat food waste, drawing on his servant leadership philosophy and culinary expertise. Using food as a universal language, he’ll challenge attendees to rethink waste through purpose-driven solutions, from community kitchens to institutional reforms, inspiring actionable change for a more sustainable future.

Sessions

2/24/26
9am-Rising Collection Costs- Celebrity Ballroom

2/25/26
11am- Food Waste in Education- Celebrity E