Rising Stars: Meet Savanna Ronco

Today we’d like to introduce you to Savanna Ronco.

Hi Savanna, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Originally from New Orleans, I moved to Denver in 2016 after graduating from Louisiana State University. I began working with Chef Lon Symensma and the ChoLon Restaurant Concepts group, eventually earning the position of Marketing & Events Manager. In June 2021, I started working in the marketing department for Seattle Fish Company, where I am now the Marketing & Brand Specialist for both Seattle Fish Co. & Lombardi Brothers Meats.

One of my favorite things about Seattle Fish is our commitment to sustainability and industry engagement. I currently serve on the Communications & Education committee for the National Fisheries Institute and graduated from NFI’s Future Leaders program in January 2024. My passions in life are food, traveling, and spending time with my friends, family, and 11-year-old dog Sawyer. I also enjoy reading, writing, live music, and cooking.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I’ve been very fortunate throughout my life to have a strong support system in my family and friends. However, it has not always been a smooth road. One challenge that particularly comes to mind is working in the restaurant industry during the pandemic. I distinctly remember how quickly we went from having conversations about how to make our restaurant a safe dining experience for our guests to being completely shut down. When that happened, I was laid off, along with many of my coworkers, which was scary.

When we returned to work a few months later, we quickly found ourselves being forced to close again come the holiday season, and I was, once again, laid off. I eased my anxiety and feelings of lack of professional “purpose” by diving into some of my personal passions, like reading, cooking, and cuddling with my dog – but I was very grateful to get back to work once we were able to safely open.

I have an enormous amount of respect for the hospitality industry and everyone who dedicates their lives to it. It was a tough time for not only our Denver restaurant community but everyone across the world. I feel grateful to have landed with Seattle Fish Co., which allows me to still work within the industry but also learn a ton about where our food comes from, and how important it is to make sure we’re sourcing our food in a sustainable way for the future.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In my role as Marketing & Brand Specialist, my responsibility is to share our brand story for Seattle Fish Co. & Lombardi Brothers Meats. It’s a fun role because both of these brands have such strong histories in the Denver area, and both companies have a ton of experience sourcing high-quality, sustainable products for our local Rocky Mountain restaurants and retail stores.

Working with Seattle Fish & Lombardi has allowed me to develop relationships with the people at the source – the hardworking farmers and fisherman – and share their stories with the chefs & business owners who are ultimately taking those products and feeding our community, whether it be a delicious dish at a restaurant or in a beautiful display case at the grocery store.

People now more than ever are interested in where their food comes from, especially in a landlocked state like Colorado. With so much misinformation out there, I feel privileged to be able to share the stories of the suppliers we partner with who are doing things the right way – fishing & farming in a way that is healthy and sustainable for the future. We do this through many avenues, such as social media, blog posts, email newsletters, a digital brand catalog, and customer visits.

If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I’ve always been what I call a “practical dreamer”. I can remember being 10 years old, watching the Travel channel when most kids were watching Disney (not that I didn’t watch Disney… I still do). I was either outside playing (pretending I was on an adventure) or lost in a book.

I took school very seriously and loved to learn. I was also a swimmer, starting at the age of 3, and spent most summers at our small-town pool, swimming laps in the morning and pretending to be a mermaid for the rest of the day.

I’ve loved stories, and play, and giving in to my imagination for as long as I remember. My mom spent a ton of time reading to me when I was small, and she credits that to my love of stories that still exist to this day. I’m grateful that I’ve found myself in a career where I can continue to tell stories and express my creativity.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @savannaronco, @seattlefishco, and @lombardibrothers_meats
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/savannaronco/