Lara Malatesta, Director of Quality and Management Systems; Aramark Corp.

As an environmental, health, safety, and quality leader, Lara Malatesta is passionate about using her talents and influence to create work environments and experiences that are meaningful and matter. Lara strives each day to help the people she serves to make better business decisions, create safer workplaces and positively impact communities. Her approach is simple – ask questions, listen, understand priorities and partner to find value-driving solutions. Deeply invested in the success of her team’s mission and personal development, Lara is also committed to coaching, mentoring and enabling others to reach their career aspirations.

In addition to deep subject matter expertise, Lara has been motivated by the opportunity to advance ESHQ within large, complex and dynamic corporations within the education, healthcare, sports, leisure and energy industries. This has afforded her the ability to understand the unique needs of each industry while building strategic insight and best practices that apply and can benefit all. Currently, Lara is the Director of Quality and Management Systems for Aramark, a Fortune 500 global provider of food, facilities and uniform services, within the Global Risk Management Department supporting more than 270,000 employees in nearly 20 countries.

Lara is inspired to do purposeful work, which has always influenced her career and life choices. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Environmental Resource Management and Masters of Science in Environmental Pollution Control from Pennsylvania State University where she found a love of teaching and mentorship. Lara gives back to her community through on-going volunteer and board commitments with professional, nonprofit and school organizations, as well as employee resource groups.

Lara lives outside Denver, Colorado, with her husband and three young sons. Their life is full spending time outdoors - camping, hiking, concert-going and cheering on their favorite (often rival) sports teams.