Eric Blackledge is the Executive Director of Campus Dining and Shops, which is comprised of residential and retail dining, Three Pillars Catering, concessions, convenient stores, Campus Tees and UB Snackin’ (vending). As the university’s auxiliary services provider, CDS provides core services that support both the academic and extra-curricular goals of the university. Eric consistently looks for ways to enhance the guest experience here at UB. In his free time, Eric enjoys sailing, spending time with family and playing with his dog, Trixie.
John has over 30 years’ experience in the food industry with 13 years of those at the University at Buffalo. Recently, John has been tasked with institutionalizing UB's food recovery efforts, partnering not only with the universities Sustainability departments, but with local community outreach programs. John is passionate about the community and building teams within the UB family. He is actively involved with the safety committee and the employee engagement committee. Johns has a wife of 20 years, 2 children, a senior and a freshman in high school and a goldendoodle named Ginger. He enjoys all types of music and art. If John is not serving the guest at UB, you can find him grilling at home or enjoying time with his family.
Lauren is a proud UB Alumni with over 15 years of experience working within Campus Dining and Shops. After graduating from UB, she started in food service management and was able to advance into the role of the General Manager of the Ellicott Food Court and then had the opportunity to open the C3 Dining Center. UB and Buffalo holds a special place in her heart, as it is where she met her husband and started to grow her family. Her career path took a change, and she went back to school to become a Human Resource professional and received her SHRM-SCP certification. Lauren is now the Director of the Human Resource department where she is responsible for providing strategic guidance and leadership for all aspects of the human resource functions within the organization including recruitment and retention initiatives, training and development, employee relations, policy and compliance, compensation and benefits, performance management, and more.
Martha is True Blue through and through having been a CDS full time employee since 1987. She began as a student employee and then a student manager for three and a half years prior. She holds both a bachelor’s and master’s degree from UB. In her many years here, she has worked in various departments and has a solid grasp on all things UB. Martha’s current position, for the past 23 years, is the general manager for the UB Card Office. In addition to her UB Card Office role, she also assists with door access control for various units and UB departments. Martha has three adult children and is very proud of all their accomplishments.
Chef Meghan has been with UB Dining since 2012, serving as an assistant executive chef and recently transitioning to a culinary administrative assistant. In this role she tests recipes that will be used in different units on campus along with maintain the recipe database and assisting the executive chef with other culinary functions. A member of the ACF, Meghan has completed in several culinary competitions, winning 3 silver medals. An animal lover at heart, she has 2 cats and a puppy and loves participating in fundraisers for rescue groups. Meghan enjoys gardening and growing several vegetable varieties at home along with taking in music festivals and playing softball and basketball.
Chef Brendan joined UB Dining in 2022 and has overseen culinary operations for Goodyear Dining Center and Crossroads Culinary Center. He is proud to be part of the UB community, managing large-scale dining operations and implementing sustainable practices. Brendan is active member of the American Culinary Federation (ACF), where he engages with fellow culinary professionals and stays updated on industry trends and best practices. He will be representing UB at the 2024 NACUFS Culinary Challenge, showcasing his culinary talents on a broader stage. Outside of work, his greatest joy comes from his family. Married since 2019, he and his wife welcomed their daughter into the world in October 2022. In his leisure time, he enjoys playing hockey and maintaining an active lifestyle at the gym, which helps him stay energized and focused on all aspects of his life.
Tracey is currently the assistant general manager of The Elli, UB’s largest residential convenience store. Her background is extensive as she worked for both CVS Pharmacy and Rite Aid Pharmacy. A graduate of SUNY Cobleskill, Tracey has been awarded District Manager of the Year with Rite Aid along with earning the highest sales increase per store for 4 consecutive years. In her spare time, she enjoys machine embroidery for her Etsy shop and helping with various animal rescue groups.