Jennifer Needle

District Manager, Aramark Collegiate Hospitality

Jennifer Needle brings over 30 years of experience in the food and hospitality industry, offering a dynamic leadership style rooted in innovation, operational excellence, and a deep commitment to people development. Her career began in independent restaurants, followed by owning and operating a successful catering business and consulting for numerous startup ventures.

Jennifer joined Aramark in 2008 at the University of Hartford, where she quickly emerged as a leader. She was promoted to Director of Residential Dining in 2010 and consistently selected for district and regional leadership roles, including Food Cost and Sustainability Champion, District PRIMA Champion, and Northeast Food Production Trainer. In 2013, she became General Manager at Springfield College, where she successfully led the transition to a union account.

In 2018, Jennifer joined the Harvest Table Culinary Group as Director of Culinary Enablement. In this role, she combined her passion for food, people, and education—leading multiple account openings, onboarding new managers, and serving as a key liaison between Harvest Table and its client partners.

Since 2021, Jennifer has served as District Manager for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, overseeing six client partnerships across Connecticut, Western Massachusetts, and New York State. Her focus on developing talent has led to numerous internal promotions and a strong culture of growth within her teams.

Jennifer holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Hartford and remains passionate about creating meaningful experiences through food and leadership.