With a commitment to create differentiated, customer-focused resident dining experiences across the continuum of care, Vega’s expanding responsibilities center on serving elder communities with innovative culinary programming and exceptional hospitality. She is well-known as an inclusionary operations leader, strategic architect of high performing teams, and passionate speaker.
In 2020, she was awarded with the highest hospitality industry honor as recipient of the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association (IFMA) Silver Plate for Business & Industry Foodservice Management for her outstanding contributions to the advancement of the foodservice industry.
A past president of the Society for Hospitality & Foodservice Management, she launched the SHFM Diversity & Inclusion Council and currently co-chairs this critical initiative. Victoria was honored with the Richard Ysmael Distinguished Service Award for her dedication to workplace hospitality, the SHFM President’s Award and received an honorary Doctorate of Foodservice from North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM). She has also been named as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in Hospitality annually since 2015 by Total Foodservice Magazine and is a founding member of CHIEF Boston, a private network designed to elevate women in executive leadership and keep them there.
In the past few years, Victoria has brought her expertise to senior living and looks forward to making impactful change in this fastest growing contract dining market.
A frequent guest on industry webinars, she actively speaks about enhancing resident engagement for Leading Age, Plante Moran Retirement Dynamics and the United Methodist Association of Aging.
In 2020 she became a Commissioner for the LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies to expedite the development and adoption of emerging technologies to help older adults maximize the aging experience.
A graduate of the Isenberg Business School at UMass Amherst, she currently supports the Hospitality Tourism Management Department on the Leadership Board and sits on the Executive Committee.
She has addressed hundreds of undergraduates and faculty as the Keynote Speaker for Women of Isenberg Conference and was involved with the Women for UMass Steering Committee. Receiving the Stephen Elmont Lifetime Achievement Award is the highlight of her academic legacy.
Hospitality News recognizes the many individuals who contribute innovation and expertise to the hospitality industry. If you know anyone deserving to be featured, please let us know.
