Meet the Catering Team

James Wexler joined Totally Local Company in 2008, bringing with him a strong background in Operational and Facilities Management.

Over the past 17 years, James has progressed through a variety of roles within the business, developing extensive expertise in both Greenspace and Facilities Management Services.

In 2025, he was appointed Divisional Head of Facilities, where he now leads operations across our Schools Catering Services and Commercial Cleaning Services.

In this role, James oversees all aspects of service delivery — managing teams, resources, projects, and budgets — to ensure our operations run safely, efficiently, and to the highest possible standards.

James holds an HND in Management and Leadership (ILM), along with IOSH and First Aid certifications. He is passionate about operational excellence and dedicated to creating sustainable, well-managed environments that support both our colleagues and the wider community.

Outside of work, James enjoys watching his son play football and spending quality time with family and friends, often exploring new places and experiences together.

Lisa ‘s career in the food industry began with a passion for baking, earning a Bakery Diploma during her college years. After working for a family bakery in Wilmslow, she became Head Confectioner at Sainsbury’s, where she honed her skills and leadership in the culinary field.

Lisa’s transition into training began when she accepted the role of Training Coach at Sainsbury’s, a pivotal move that sparked her career change. In this role, she was responsible for onboarding new employees and delivering department-specific training across various areas, including checkouts, produce, and deli and meat counters. Her expertise in training led to her working across multiple stores in the Northwest, supporting new store openings.

In response to the introduction of Nutritional Food Standards for school meals, following Jamie Oliver’s campaign, Lisa joined Totally Local Company as a ‘Food Champion.’ She worked closely with headteachers, schools, and cooks to implement changes to school menus, while also taking on responsibilities for menu development. This involved sourcing ingredients, creating recipes that appeal to children, and designing Theme Day menus for special events.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Lisa used the opportunity to expand her qualifications, earning the Level 3 Certificate in Assessing Vocational Achievement (CAVA), making her a fully qualified assessor. As schools reopened, Lisa played a key role in developing the training program at Totally Local Company, ensuring all Catering employees received the necessary training to maintain high standards.

Today, Lisa manages the comprehensive training program for all Catering employees, overseeing mandatory training and providing a three-week induction program for new Cooks. She also coordinates the Cluster Training Day, an annual event held before the new school term, designed to motivate and educate the team in an engaging and upbeat session. Recently, she has partnered with the charity Chefs in Schools to enhance the company’s commitment to delivering healthy, affordable, and delicious school meals.

Lisa is also the editor of a termly newsletter for catering colleagues, where she shares success stories, recipes, and updates on upcoming events.

With over 40 years of experience in the catering industry, Carol Tennant is a highly skilled and versatile Catering Team Leader.

Throughout her career, she has worked across various aspects of hospitality, specialising in front-of-house services, while also honing her skills as a fully qualified chef.

Carol’s expertise spans a wide range of culinary experiences, from creating high-end executive event menus to preparing wholesome, home-cooked meals.

In addition to her culinary skills, Carol brings valuable experience in menu planning, food and nutrition, budgeting, stock management, and overall kitchen operations. Her leadership in the education sector is particularly noteworthy, with over 30 years of experience as a multi-site manager.

Carol is passionate about driving her team and business forward. She strongly believes that a motivated and happy team is key to achieving outstanding results, and she is committed to fostering an environment where every team member feels valued and inspired to deliver their best.

Joanne Dale brings a wealth of experience and passion for catering to her role as Team Leader at Totally Local Company. Although she began her career in hairdressing and later care work, it was her move into the catering industry that truly sparked her professional journey.

Her transition into catering began when she joined Heaton School as a general assistant. During her time there, Joanne followed her passion for food, completing an NVQ Level 2 in Catering. This qualification opened new doors for her, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, she stepped up to serve as a cook across various schools. Her dedication and skill in these roles earned her a permanent position as a cook at St. Elisabeth’s School, where she excelled for two years.

In February 2023, Joanne’s hard work and leadership potential were recognised, leading to her promotion to Team Leader of the Catering Team. Her commitment to high standards and her ability to inspire her team have been instrumental in her success.

Beyond her work at Totally Local Company, Joanne further refined her culinary skills by taking on roles as a chef at Macclesfield Football Ground for Robbie Savage and later in a Manchester restaurant. However, following her promotion, she transitioned to full-time hours at TLC, allowing her to fully focus on leading the catering team.

Joanne is passionate about delivering quality meals and creating a positive dining experience for all those she serves. Her journey from assistant to Team Leader reflects her dedication, and she is excited to continue growing and contributing to the company.

We are delighted to welcome Emlyn to our Catering Management Team, who joined us on Monday 3rd November 2025 as Catering Team Lead.

Emlyn brings a wealth of experience in catering and hospitality management, having previously worked as Chef Manager at Greenbank Preparatory School, Catering Manager at Aspire for Intelligent Care and Support, and Chef Manager at Atalian Servest, a former facilities management company.

With extensive experience across care homes and busy hospital environments, Emlyn has developed a strong focus on delivering high-quality, safe, and nutritious food. He holds a Level 5 Award, achieving the highest Food Hygiene Rating from the Food Standards Agency.

Emlyn also served in the Royal Navy and was a Chef with the service for 10 years.

Throughout his career, Emlyn has demonstrated a commitment to maintaining the highest standards of food safety, HACCP compliance, and adherence to all relevant legislation and policies. His leadership and expertise will be invaluable in supporting our continued commitment to excellence in catering and service delivery.