Terry Endreshak works quickly and efficiently.

Grabbing to-go cups for Starbucks coffee and plastic-wrapping banana bread, the Main Library Food for Thought Café manager keeps the line flowing while also keeping his clients happy.

“It’s fun actually being in control of your own little area that’s your own responsibility,” the 27-year-old said.

Endreshak has worked full-time at the café since 2007, after crossing the street from a former job running the coffee cart in the Lindquist Center. He takes his job seriously.

Endreshak, an Iowa State University graduate, has a methodical system for getting customers on their way, so they never have to wait more than six minutes. It’s usually one employee at the register, one fetching items, he said.

Endreshak’s customer knowledge also speeds up the process. The regulars tend to get the same thing every time, and it helps to know that in advance, he said, laughing as he recalled one customer’s habitual order of two diet cokes and a blueberry Danish.

“It’s pretty busy straight through,” he said, wearing his official campus café black polo and matching baseball cap.

And by 9:45, the college grub hub livens up. Food for Thought customers appear more chipper standing in line. Throughout the day, those passing through the library seem to stay in a good mood, Endreshak said, although by the evening, they appear more stressed.

But regardless of the time, he remains enthusiastic as he handles the orders and business operations behind the Food for Thought Café counter. It is for this reason that his boss at IMU Food Services, Richard Geer, believes Endreshak is perfect for the job.

“[He offers] 110 percent commitment 100 percent of the time,” Geer said.

But the 5-6 manager believes anything less would be a disservice to his customers. Working in the food industry has everything to do with public relations, Endreshak said.

“Its my own personal belief that if you run a location that sells food, the food should be of the quality that you yourself enjoy eating it,” he said, and he usually indulges in a café sandwich for lunch.

His devotion motivates café employees to work hard on the job as well.

“He strives to ensure he operates a café using leadership to set the example,” Geer said.

And Food for Thought employee Erika Zhang agrees.

“I think [Endreshak] is always very motivated and passionate and he encourages the students to work hard,” she said.

Endreshak’s understanding comes from his own experience as a working student when he was an employee in ISU’s food services.

And while Endreshak studied fine arts and psychology at Iowa State, he still believes his career at Food for Thought Café has a direct correlation to his degree.

“It’s rather artistic,” the former Cyclone said. “It’s like a continuing project.”