River Parishes Hospital recently announced Suzanne Schexnayder, director of food And nutrition services, was the May Employee of the Month. She received an award certificate, $100, will have her picture displayed on the Employees of Excellence wall in the main front entrance of the hospital, and will be a candidate for the hospital’s employee of the year.
Schexnayder has been employed at River Parishes Hospital for a total of 16 years. She served as the FANS director for approximately 10 years from 1989 to 1999, then left the hospital for a short while but was happy to be welcomed back in May 2007. Schexnayder wears many hats in her role as FANS director. She develops and implements nutrition plans for hospital patients based on physicians’ orders. She provides nutrition counseling to patients and supervises the hospital’s food services. In addition, she manages the hospital cafeteria, which is open to employees, visitors and the community every weekday at breakfast and lunch and provides meals for administrative meetings and numerous community events.
“Suzanne is a hard-working and caring manager,” said a coworker who nominated her for the award. “She goes above and beyond on a daily basis to ensure food service and quality is of the highest standards.”
When asked how she feels being named the employee of the month, Schexnayder replied, “I am honored to be recognized by other caregivers at the hospital. We are known in south Louisiana for having delicious food, and I continuously look for ways to offer the most appetizing meals possible to our patients – within physicians’ orders of course.”  
Earlier this year, Schexnayder volunteered to chair the hospital’s Employee Appreciation Committee, which is comprised of employees from all areas of the hospital who plan activities for employees and medical staff and assist in communicating hospital news to the community. She holds monthly committee meetings to develop activities and oversees each activity to ensure it is successful. With assistance from her family, Schexnayder led a hospital team in the Frisco Fest Cook-off Contest this past March. The team won second place in the seafood category. Schexnayder credits the award to her father, Terry Louque, who she describes as a fantastic cook in St. James Parish.
“Although her days are already filled, she happily volunteered to lead the ‘A Team’ because she feels so strongly in what it represents and has been giving 100 percent to see this project get up and running with full momentum,” said Kat Trepagnier, human resources director and “A Team” coordinator. “She takes pleasure in making others happy and strives every day to make River Parishes Hospital a place where employees want to work and patients want to come to for their care.”
“I enjoy being a part of the ‘A Team’ and having the opportunity to provide some fun, relaxing activities to our employees,” said Schexnayder. “I like being able to make our employees feel appreciated for their hard work every day in making sure our patients and visitors are always very satisfied with their service.”
Schexnayder is a lifelong resident of the River Parishes. She was born in Grand Point and currently lives in LaPlace with her husband, Jerry, an accountant and coach at St. Charles Catholic High School. They have two children, Kimberly and Neil, both graduates of St. Charles Catholic High School. She is a member of Ascension of Our Lord Church. She says her biggest hobby is assisting her father in his “5-Star” fresh vegetable garden in Grand Point. Together, the family grows creole tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, squash, cucumbers, watermelon, cantaloupe, eggplant, Chinese cabbage, parsley, green beans and more.