Meet the Fleet: Two Leaders Steering Food Fleet Toward Success
Pam Hubbard fosters a company culture at Food Fleet defined by collaboration, compassion, and a can-do spirit. Born and raised in Baltimore, she was among the first dozen hires, starting as the company’s first administrator in 2021. Pam is married to Operations Manager James and has a long-standing connection with East Director Willy that predates their time at Food Fleet. As the company has grown, so has her role, evolving into her current position as Training Manager.
Pam Hubbard, Food Fleet Training Manager
““I think the people that I’ve seen have the most success in their roles are those that really focus on the relationships that they build with their vendors.” ”
Pam inspires new hires to draw on their own experiences and see empathy as a tool for success. “Starting a new job, there are policies and platforms you must learn, but remember at the end of the day that you're someone who also has worked in a restaurant before, or you've been a vendor, or you've worked events. You've been on their side... allow yourself to feel that empathy and really thrive on it.” She adds, “I think the people that I've seen have the most success in their roles are those that really focus on the relationships that they build with their vendors.”
Asked where she’d go with a ticket to anywhere in the world, she landed on Japan. “I just love fresh seafood. I think I would be really excited to go to Japan and just eat like 8000 lbs. of fish!”
Michele Mehler, Food Fleet Finance Manager
Meeting partners in person, Michele Mehler is often welcomed so warmly that she says it “makes me feel like a celebrity of sorts.” That’s because if you’ve ever been paid by Food Fleet, Michele is the motor behind that.
Originally from Alaska, she spent years moving around the country with her husband during his Air Force service. After his retirement, they chose to settle in Tennessee. There, Michele crossed paths with Food Fleet’s CFO, Deborah Powers. A connection with Deborah led to Michele becoming the dedicated Food Fleet accountant at a private accounting firm until moving over full-time in 2022 as our Finance Manager.
““I think being around Jeff introduced me to a lot of different things...and being next to Chef Helmut and Mark and all of them ... I’m here for it. I love food.””
Since working at Food Fleet, Michele has become more of a foodie. “I think being around Jeff introduced me to a lot of different things...and being next to Chef Helmut and Mark and all of them ... I'm here for it. I love food.”
Asked where she’d go with a ticket to anywhere in the world, she didn’t hesitate: a sensory journey through Europe: London, Paris, Germany, Spain. “I want to do it in like 1 fell swoop. Like, I don't want to spend too long in one place. I just want to get a little sample.”