Paco Rodriguez is President and Co-Founder of SAGE Dining Services®.

As someone who rarely bought school lunches as a child, Paco never imagined he’d be doing what he does today.

Born in Brooklyn and raised in the Bronx, Paco learned the value of hard work at an early age. His mother was a teacher and his father, a Spanish immigrant, worked in restaurant and hotel kitchens — the food service industry has been a part of Paco’s life since childhood.

Paco’s own career in food service began after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a bachelor’s degree in political science. While studying in Harvard’s joint JD/MBA program, he managed the law school’s campus pub (and met Tina in a tax class).

After graduating from Harvard, Paco worked for McKinsey & Company in New York, and later became the chief operating officer for a regional ice cream chain. Ice cream paved the way for a position as a Vice President in the school and college division of a major food service company.

Paco and Tina founded SAGE Dining Services® in 1990. SAGE stands for “Setting A Good Example®,” which describes the corporate philosophy they wanted the new company to exhibit. Today, SAGE serves independent schools and small colleges in 37 states, the District of Columbia, and Canada.

A frequent speaker on management strategy, Paco enjoys presenting leadership lessons based on the Battle of Gettysburg. He’s also a wine collector and connoisseur, and regularly hosts wine tastings for SAGE Managers and clients.

In 2022, Paco and Tina received the 2022 Silver Plate Award from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association, one of the highest honors in the hospitality industry, recognizing standout contributions from the nation’s restaurant and food service operators. They also received a 2023 Baltimore Business Journal Family-Owned Business Award, which honors family-owned businesses in the Baltimore area for overall excellence, innovation, ethics, philanthropy, and contribution to the strength of the region.

They were also named two of The Daily Record’s Influential Marylanders in 2020 and were awarded the 2021 Sarah Daignault Outstanding Support of Independent Schools Award by the National Business Officers Association.