Robert Segundo

Title: School Lunch Services Supervisor (Kauaʻi District)
Job site: Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School
Years in the HIDOE: 2.5
Years in the position: 2.5

Before joining HIDOE, Robert built a career in culinary and hospitality, starting with the Marriott Corp. on Kaua‘i and later holding leadership roles in Seattle, San Diego and Palo Alto with organizations like Bon Appétit, Wolfgang Puck and Compass Group. His work took him to high-profile accounts including Google HQ, LinkedIn HQ, and the MET museum in New York. After decades in catering and events, he pivoted to school food services, bringing his expertise back home to serve Hawai‘i’s students.

Q: Briefly describe your career path.
A: I attended Kapiʻolani Community College and was involved in their culinary program. There, I met my mentor, Milton Arellano, who was the executive chef at First Hawaiian Bank and graciously took me under his wing. He’d invite me to do special events at the bank and at other locations. He showed me more than cooking and introduced me to the world of special events and front-of-the-house service. This became my niche and career path.

Q: What are your primary duties?
A: My primary duty is to ensure that schools are implementing their meal program and are in compliance with federal, state and local child nutrition programs.

Q: How did you get into this role?
A: I wanted to pivot back into school and education.

Q: Favorite part about the job?
A: Going to the different schools and interacting with the staff and students

Q: Most challenging part about your position?
A: One of the most challenging parts of this role is being on a neighbor island, where everything is shipped. Delays can happen and that causes a lot of things to happen on the operation side of things. I’m very fortunate that the school food services managers on Kaua‘i are experienced enough to make changes to ensure proper meals are still being provided to the students.

Q: How does your role support student success?
A: Ensuring students have a balanced and nutritional meal and don’t miss a meal.

Q: What advice do you have for people considering this position?
A: In this position, you need multiple things aside from a food services background. You will need a little bit of management, nutrition regulations, budgeting, being a flexible problem-solver and a team leader.

Q: Fun fact?
A: I have worked in 27 different states!