Jared Downing

Jared Downing leverages a wealth of knowledge from nearly two decades in culinary services across the senior living, health care and hospitality sectors, which speaks to his extensive culinary leadership and management experience. His culinary career began with hands-on experience in family-owned restaurants, providing him with a foundation in diverse culinary operations. As an Executive Chef, he successfully rebranded menus and achieved significant sales growth and regional acclaim. During his six-year tenure with ISL and SSL, Jared has served as Senior Culinary Services Director and Elevate® Culinary Specialist; he now holds the position of Divisional Director of Culinary Services.

Jared currently oversees a portfolio of over 100 communities, where he mentors and guides Culinary Service Directors in budget adherence, menu development and training initiatives. Jared leads a team of traveling Culinary Directors and oversees culinary strategy and operations for multiple portfolios. He has been instrumental in implementing and maximizing GPO savings, maximizing rebate returns and optimizing ordering efficiencies across all communities. Dedicated to supporting culinary teams, Jared developed specialized training materials, including the CSD playbook, led quality assurance reviews and introduced skill development initiatives for traveling CSDs. With a focus on customer satisfaction, culture, operational excellence and team building, Jared continues to drive culinary innovation and uphold high standards across the senior living industry.