Meet Jim Merhar: Leading Change for a Greener Future

For the past five years, Director of Dining Services Jim Merhar has been a driving force behind meaningful environment change. With a passion for sustainability and keen eye for opportunity, Jim transformed how his team approached managing day-to-day operations for a national financial services client to reduce emissions and achieve measurable results.

When an energy efficiency pilot program, sponsored by Compass USA and Eurest Wellness & Sustainability, came his way, Jim saw the perfect chance to amplify his efforts. Using Carbon Foodprint—Compass USA’s proprietary sustainability management tool—Jim delved into the data, uncovering energy hotspots in kitchen operations and identifying actionable steps to reduce carbon emissions.

Jim’s strategy was comprehensive: optimizing equipment usage, crafting energy-saving protocols, and engaging his team with clear communication and innovative tools like signage and scheduling. The results have been nothing short of extraordinary—unit emissions dropped by an impressive 26% per guest from January to September 2024.

But Jim didn’t stop at energy efficiency. His team embraced climate-friendly menu engineering, swapping traditional proteins with sustainable alternatives and featuring more plant-forward dishes. These thoughtful choices not only delight guests but also reduce their environmental footprint.

“Jim’s participation, expertise, and dedication have been invaluable to the success of this pilot,” says Kelsey Massis, Director of Nutrition and Wellness. “By sharing his strategies and key learnings, we’re equipping other locations to replicate these successes and continue our journey toward reducing overall carbon emissions.”

Jim’s work stands as a powerful example of how foodservice professionals can champion change. His ability to turn data into action, inspiring his team and achieving measurable outcomes, has earned him recognition as our November 2024 Food with Purpose Change Maker.