Post-COVID, in the world of corporate dining and catering, the ability to adapt and evolve has been critical. At the heart of our ability to thrive amid change is our dedicated team of leaders, exemplified by Sarah Trachym, who is tapping into both psychology and business management to transform how we support and grow our teams.
Sarah has been a cornerstone of Corporate Chefs for a decade, marking 10 years with the company this past January. Her journey began in 2014 as a receptionist, where she quickly embraced new responsibilities, supporting in-house procurement and accounts payable. Her weekends and nights were spent as part-time waitstaff in the catering department, called “A Day To Remember,” where she fell in love with the world of hospitality and became an instant foodie.
Her passion and dedication propelled her into a front-of-house Manager position, and soon after, she transitioned to a full-time role as Assistant Manager of Catering, leaving the Corporate Chefs office. After a year, she became the General Manager at A Day To Remember, consulting with brides, writing menus, hosting tastings, developing proposals, and coordinating special events.
When COVID-19 abruptly led to the halt of catering operations for our clients, Sarah returned to the Corporate Chefs office, taking on accounts receivable and supporting the move of the Corporate Chefs Headquarters from Haverhill to Woburn, Massachusetts. Today, Sarah supports operations, business processes, and change management, ensuring the success of new café and barista bar openings with her strategic planning and organizational skills. 
One of the core aspects of Sarah’s role involves facilitating effective change management. Managing transitions and shifts in operational procedures is crucial to maintaining efficiency, but many leaders can struggle with implementing new processes or systems. Sarah’s approach is hands-on and empathetic, involving weekly strategy calls and direct support for Managers who face challenges, ensuring they receive the support they need to understand the change.
Sarah helps oversee the inventory reporting for Corporate Chefs, assisting leaders with end-of-the-month inventory closeouts and guiding Managers through processes that might otherwise seem daunting. This not only streamlines operations but also builds confidence and capability within our teams. Her understanding of unique learning styles and operational challenges at the unit level shines through, tailoring her approach to meet the diverse needs of our multi-generational staff. With many leaders having been with Corporate Chefs for over 20 years, supporting them through change is essential.
Sarah’s passion for problem-solving and organization sets her apart. She relishes the opportunity to ‘fix’ and streamline processes, making them more logical and efficient. This is most visible during new café and barista bar openings, where her strategic planning and organizational skills ensure every launch is a success.
Her future goals with Elior North America include building relationships across different segments, learning the dynamics of each, and providing wider support. Sarah’s dedication is summed up in a quote from her Pepere, “Well done is better than well said,” a principle she lives by. She loves seeing the team’s ability to overcome massive operational changes, showcasing their adaptability and resilience. Sarah demonstrates this in her personal life too; she takes pride in showing her daughter that with a little encouragement, you can rely on each other’s strengths, embrace new challenges, and celebrate each other’s successes.
Leaders like Sarah are crafting environments where culinary art meets operational excellence, and where every team member is empowered to be curious, learn, grow, and succeed. This epitomizes our commitment to nurturing talent and ensuring that every member of our team is equipped to meet the challenges of today and tomorrow.
Thank you, Sarah, for your unwavering dedication and inspiring leadership.
