Marvin Green, director of dietary services at Riverside Sanders Retirement Community in Gloucester, could step into the kitchen on a moment’s notice and become executive chef. 

Marvin, born and raised in Newport News, which he still calls home, began his career in food service in 1984 as a cook at Chi-Chi’s Restaurant. He has spent his career in restaurants, interspersed with years of service in the Army Reserve, and has long experience not only with Chi-Chi’s but also Seasons in Williamsburg and Olive Garden Italian Restaurant.

In 2013, Riverside Warwick Forest Retirement Community recognized his abilities and Melvin was hired as Dining Operations Manager. Now at Sanders on Walker Avenue, Melvin says he is doing what he much prefers in the food service business, “Fully working with operations. We set up menus for five weeks at a time, always trying to accommodate the wishes of our 95 residents. We have 20 cooks working in our four kitchens adapting to wh...