Mark This! explores the history and advice of two Aramark leaders who happen to be women. Barbara Flanagan is the President of Student Nutrition, our line of business that serves K-12 institutions across the United States, and Brisbane Vaillancourt is a regional vice president in our collegiate hospitality business. We asked the two of them to share their leadership paths, vision, and motivation with all of you today as we embark on this month that celebrates trailblazing women.
Barbara Flanagan
Since June of 2018, Barbara Flanagan has been serving as President & CEO of Aramark Student Nutrition.
She has a long history of working in the Education Sector. In 1991, she began working for Aramark. In Barbara’s thirty-two years at Aramark, she has steadily progressed through roles of increasing responsibility. She began her career as an Assistant Director to Food Service Director, District Manager, and Vice-President of Operations for the South Central Region of Education K-12. In September 2008, Barbara was named Regional Vice-President for the South Region of K-12.
In June of 2014, Barbara moved to the Collegiate Hospitality Division of Aramark as the Regional Vice-President of the South and Southwest Regions overseeing Food and Facilities accounts.
Barbara has served on numerous regional and divisional task forces where her leadership, insight, and experience have contributed greatly to the success of initiatives within the organization.
She is a graduate of Texas Tech University with a bachelor’s degree in Restaurant, Hotel, and Institution Management.
Brisbane Vaillancourt
Brisbane Vaillancourt is the Regional Vice President for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality in the Northeast Region. A highly accomplished, entrepreneurial senior executive with a history of leading multiple teams to meet and exceed expectations. She has proven herself to be a forward-thinking innovator who implements structures and processes to secure long-term prosperity. In this role Brisbane serves as the liaison between Aramark and clients, driving cooperation and collaboration across the region. She is responsible for client relationships in dining accounts throughout New England, New Jersey and New York.
Brisbane has almost two decades of industry experience, which includes six+ years within the broader Aramark enterprise. Brisbane began her hospitality career with Margaritas Management Group (MMG), a privately owned restaurant chain for twelve years. During her tenure with MMG, she rose from her role as an hourly server to Vice President of Operations.
In 2016, Brisbane transitioned to begin her Aramark career as a District Manager in the Workplace Experience Group and was quickly promoted to Vice President of Operations with LifeWorks in 2019, overseeing one of our largest global client accounts. In early 2021, Brisbane was appointed the role of Regional Vice President for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality in the Northeast Region.
Brisbane holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Central Connecticut State University. Brisbane continues to display her commitment to DE&I, through her involvement with Aramark employee resource groups, which includes being the executive sponsor for the EMPOWER New England Hub and a senior sponsor for Aramark Pride. She was the recipient of the Aramark Star of Excellence Award in 2018 and the EMPOWER Workforce Ally award in 2022.
Brisbane, her wife Kelly and three daughters, Nicolette, Hallie and Savannah reside in Connecticut.
About Aramark
Aramark (NYSE: ARMK) proudly serves the world’s leading educational institutions, Fortune 500 companies, world champion sports teams, prominent healthcare providers, iconic destinations and cultural attractions, and numerous municipalities in 19 countries around the world with food, facilities, and uniform services. Because our culture is rooted in service, our employees strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. Aramark has been recognized on FORTUNE’s list of “World’s Most Admired Companies,” DiversityInc’s “Top 50 Companies for Diversity” and “Top Companies for Employee Resource Groups,” Newsweek’s list of “America’s Most Responsible Companies 2023,” the HRC’s “Best Places to Work for LGBTQ Equality,” and scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index. Learn more at www.aramark.com and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
