Called to Serve: Stories from Aramark’s Military Community
With Aubla C., Food and Nutrition Services General Manager, Aramark Healthcare+
Aramark welcomes service members, veterans, military spouses, their families, and allies to cultivate a workforce of capable leaders, foster a diverse and inclusive workspace, and drive value in the marketplace. We are proud to celebrate the experiences, stories, and transferable skills of our military-connected employees.
Aubla C. (she/her) hopes to leave a legacy of service – not only in her career, but also in her personal life. From her time with the Arkansas National Guard as part of the 189th Services Flight, to working in food service and healthcare, service and hospitality have always been a passion for Aubla, whether she was serving her country or her community.
“Once I started my career [with Aramark], I quickly realized service is a calling for me. It’s so important. I recently gave a legacy talk at my church, and I spoke about my gift of service as a legacy I hope to leave.”
Aubla credits her grandmother for instilling a gift of service within her. Her grandmother always had an open seat at the table for whoever needed to be cared for or fed. Aubla has taken the lessons her grandmother taught her and now pairs that in her career with healing others through food.
Prior to her role with Aramark, supporting our Healthcare+ line of business, Aubla worked in the food service and nutrition fields, but a lunch date with a friend presented her with a new opportunity in life, on a path where service was at the forefront. Aubla’s friend saw potential in her and suggested pursuing a career with Aramark.
“When my friend invited me to lunch, it was divine intervention. It was meant to happen. I wasn’t coming to lunch for a job, I was just coming to lunch to catch up with a friend. She told me to think about, pray about it, and see if it was something I was interested in, and I did those things. Here I am, ten years later. My position with Aramark is really where I’m supposed to be. When I started with Aramark, I was a Patient Service Director for eight years, and then I was promoted to General Manager.”
With Aramark’s Healthcare+ team, Aubla enjoys making an impact on the health and wellbeing of her patients and their families. She sees it as a continuation of her legacy of service, first instilled by her grandmother, which she brought with her to the military and now into the healthcare space.
“In the military, it’s important to have that gift of compassion and kindness – lifting people up at a time that may not be the best of times. I was meant to serve, and I’m inspired by service. It’s what I can give back, and I definitely make sure that my legacy is for others to know how important it is to serve.”
While working as a Food and Nutrition Services General Manager, Aubla also pursued her M.S. in Human Resources Training and Development. Not only did she want to become a more effective and capable leader, but she wanted to learn how to better train the next generation.
“Pursuing my Master’s in HR was the best decision I ever made. I deal with people every day, and I thought that if I learned how to enhance my leadership skills and understand rules and regulations, I could become a better leader. My coursework gave me a newfound respect for HR and forced me to look at it from a different lens, because I don’t think people realize all of the work that goes on behind the scenes.”
Outside of work, Aubla dedicates herself to service as well. She has served as a mentor for the Werthing Foundation – Light Up the World (LUTW) Mentoring Program and Scholarship Fund for the last two years. LUTW trains and coaches young women of color currently in college or college bound by providing mentoring, academic support, professional development, and scholarships.
Aubla has also been active in volunteering for the Dallas Independent School District for over seven years. She has participated in its annual Principal for a Day Initiative, which is sponsored by the Dallas Regional Chamber and brings community leaders into schools across the district. In addition, Aubla has mobilized hospital and Aramark leaders in reading to elementary students in the Southern Sector of Dallas for Read Across America Day.
To learn more about how Aramark attracts, supports, and engages our military-connected community members, click here.
“When I think about service, my time in the military, and where I was located, it was all about food. It was about taking care of soldiers who were out in the field, who were traveling to different areas to fight in the war. When I look at what I do today, I’m still healing others through food. It’s still service, and that’s what I’m passionate about.”
— Aubla C., Food and Nutrition Services General Manager, Aramark Healthcare+
Courtesy of the Arkansas Guard, 1992: Aubla pictured icing a cake while on duty in Honduras
Called to Serve: Stories from Aramark’s Military Community
With Aubla C., Food and Nutrition Services General Manager, Aramark Healthcare+
Aramark welcomes service members, veterans, military spouses, their families, and allies to cultivate a workforce of capable leaders, foster a diverse and inclusive workspace, and drive value in the marketplace. We are proud to celebrate the experiences, stories, and transferable skills of our military-connected employees.
Aubla C. (she/her) hopes to leave a legacy of service – not only in her career, but also in her personal life. From her time with the Arkansas National Guard as part of the 189th Services Flight, to working in food service and healthcare, service and hospitality have always been a passion for Aubla, whether she was serving her country or her community.
“Once I started my career [with Aramark], I quickly realized service is a calling for me. It’s so important. I recently gave a legacy talk at my church, and I spoke about my gift of service as a legacy I hope to leave.”
Aubla credits her grandmother for instilling a gift of service within her. Her grandmother always had an open seat at the table for whoever needed to be cared for or fed. Aubla has taken the lessons her grandmother taught her and now pairs that in her career with healing others through food.
Prior to her role with Aramark, supporting our Healthcare+ line of business, Aubla worked in the food service and nutrition fields, but a lunch date with a friend presented her with a new opportunity in life, on a path where service was at the forefront. Aubla’s friend saw potential in her and suggested pursuing a career with Aramark.
“When my friend invited me to lunch, it was divine intervention. It was meant to happen. I wasn’t coming to lunch for a job, I was just coming to lunch to catch up with a friend. She told me to think about, pray about it, and see if it was something I was interested in, and I did those things. Here I am, ten years later. My position with Aramark is really where I’m supposed to be. When I started with Aramark, I was a Patient Service Director for eight years, and then I was promoted to General Manager.”
With Aramark’s Healthcare+ team, Aubla enjoys making an impact on the health and wellbeing of her patients and their families. She sees it as a continuation of her legacy of service, first instilled by her grandmother, which she brought with her to the military and now into the healthcare space.
“In the military, it’s important to have that gift of compassion and kindness – lifting people up at a time that may not be the best of times. I was meant to serve, and I’m inspired by service. It’s what I can give back, and I definitely make sure that my legacy is for others to know how important it is to serve.”
While working as a Food and Nutrition Services General Manager, Aubla also pursued her M.S. in Human Resources Training and Development. Not only did she want to become a more effective and capable leader, but she wanted to learn how to better train the next generation.
“Pursuing my Master’s in HR was the best decision I ever made. I deal with people every day, and I thought that if I learned how to enhance my leadership skills and understand rules and regulations, I could become a better leader. My coursework gave me a newfound respect for HR and forced me to look at it from a different lens, because I don’t think people realize all of the work that goes on behind the scenes.”
Outside of work, Aubla dedicates herself to service as well. She has served as a mentor for the Werthing Foundation – Light Up the World (LUTW) Mentoring Program and Scholarship Fund for the last two years. LUTW trains and coaches young women of color currently in college or college bound by providing mentoring, academic support, professional development, and scholarships.
Aubla has also been active in volunteering for the Dallas Independent School District for over seven years. She has participated in its annual Principal for a Day Initiative, which is sponsored by the Dallas Regional Chamber and brings community leaders into schools across the district. In addition, Aubla has mobilized hospital and Aramark leaders in reading to elementary students in the Southern Sector of Dallas for Read Across America Day.
To learn more about how Aramark attracts, supports, and engages our military-connected community members, click here.
“When I think about service, my time in the military, and where I was located, it was all about food. It was about taking care of soldiers who were out in the field, who were traveling to different areas to fight in the war. When I look at what I do today, I’m still healing others through food. It’s still service, and that’s what I’m passionate about.”
— Aubla C., Food and Nutrition Services General Manager, Aramark Healthcare+
Courtesy of the Arkansas Guard, 1992: Aubla pictured icing a cake while on duty in Honduras
Yulianto “Lincoln” Liu joined Aramark after serving in the California Army National Guard for eight years. While in the Guard, he was assigned to the 340th Alpha Company Brigade Support Battalion and worked as an Automated Logistical Specialist. He credits his prior connection to the military with leading him to his current role with Aramark.
With a commitment to growth and focus on employee engagement, Aramark is proud to celebrate the experiences and transferrable skills of veterans, military-connected talent, their families, and allies.
Account Executive Steve Conroy holds the concept of service close to his heart – much like other employees at Aramark. Having served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the Marine Corps, he now is pursuing a career in the sales field, continuing to serve with the values of honor, courage, and commitment while looking towards a future of greater work-life balance.
