Cody Williams ‘02, ‘04, is the director of food and nutrition services for Novato Unified School District where they have a progressive department focused on cooking foods students enjoy with an emphasis on fruit and vegetable consumption. Cody began running plates in the vineyards of Napa Valley at age 15 ½ for renowned caterer and Culinary Institute of America (CIA) graduate Elaine Bell. He attended the CIA in Hyde Park, New York and received an associate degree in culinary arts and a bachelor’s degree in hospitality management. Cody has worked in Michelin-starred restaurants, for James Beard award- winning restaurateurs, and was the chef of a popular restaurant in the Napa Valley.  He transitioned from the hospitality industry to serve five times more meals a day, on one fifth of the budget as the first chef to head up the Sonoma Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) Food Service Program. He was intrigued that each of the eight school sites in the district had its own kitchen, curriculum garden, and fresh fruit and vegetable bar. Now, in Novato he focuses on clean ingredient lists, sourcing local products, and working with his staff on preparing meals in-house. He has graced the cover of the San Francisco Chronicle, been on the Who’s Cooking School Lunch blog, and was interviewed by “Inside School Food” on the Heritage Radio Network. He taught a class on food concepts at the California School Nutrition Association annual conference and participates on a Child Nutrition Advisory Council for the California State Board of Education. He enjoys cooking for the youth of his community. He has two daughters and is married to an elementary principal. (Sonoma, CA)