Gail Hierholzer - Director of Dining Services

I am a Registered Dietitian and Licensed in the state of Texas. I have many years of food experience starting with my first “Easy Bake Oven” at the age of 5. I have been cooking as long as I can remember. My first job as a waitress quickly turned to cooking at the restaurant and I got my first institutional experience cooking for a long term care facility.

Throughout my many years of service as a dietitian, I have done in- and outpatient diet counseling, taught a nutrition class and weight management class, and worked as a clinical dietitian in acute and long term care. I have had the opportunity to talk to several different groups about healthy eating and maintaining a healthy weight.

My institutional food management experience started in long term care, then acute care hospitals and eventually I was led to college foodservice.

I have been at Navarro College for over 6 years. We have evolved from a 2 selection cafeteria line in the old Waller Student Union building to the beautiful Kenneth Walker Dining Hall. We now have several food areas to choose from and are known to have the best salad bar in town. Our vast variety of foods can compete with the best of restaurants in town.

I love the freedom that the college foodservice environment provides in trying out new products and implementing foods that students request.

Marla Jackson - Asst. Director of Dining Service

I have had longevity in foodservice; my first remembrances were at an early age during the summer months volunteering with my mother at her job. And in high school cooking in home economics. My first paid working experience was at the Steak house and doing catering for parties also, with my mother.

I've since worked at Sack's Fifth Avenue of New York as Asst. Director in their staff dining room.

And 20 years for Head Start and Daycare which had four sites. I started as a cook then as Foodservice Coordinator I managed the food budget, supervise staff, train foodservice staff, menu planning, organize workshop for staff and parents also, reimbursement.

After moving back to Texas I worker as Asst. manager at Whataburger where I train and supervise staff, created descriptive work responsibility and responsible for sanitation.

I was blessed to hear of a position at Navarro College where I was given the honor to work as the Asst. Director of Dining Service for six years plus. Here at Navarro College Dining Service I supervise staff and student worker, responsible for food safety and sanitation, presentation of meals, creating and revising job description and filling in when Director is off site. I attended Royal Business School and Bronx Community College. We here at Navarro College offer a vast variety and quality home cooked meals to our student and staff. We even have a suggestion box for those who desire their favorite dish to be served. Navarro College Dining Service Goal is to promote a clean and sanitary establishment and serve meals that are pleasant to eat in a relax atmosphere.

My first job at 15 years old was a car hop at a drive in restaurant named Dog & Suds! During school I worked for several different restaurants including fast food and fine dining. My family eventually owned a restaurant and convenience store here in Texas where I also worked for several years.

Once foodservice gets into you, it is hard to shake. I left food service for many years only to find myself back in Texas taking over the family restaurant for eight years. Our restaurant served breakfast, lunch and dinner. I came to work at Navarro College as the Deli Manager in March of 2005 just as the College was finishing construction of our beautiful new Walker Dining Hall.

My goal at Rick & Rosie's Deli is to offer a great selection of grab and go items and also daily hot specials to meet the needs of our busy students. I love trying new recipes and finding simple ways to encourage good nutrition to the students even in a fast food atmosphere. Our staff enjoys interaction with the students and we try to make each one feel at home.