Our Mission
The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) is a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization that was founded in 1995 and is governed by a board of directors made up of restaurants, industry experts and educators in the hospitality industry. The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation exists to enhance the industry's service to the public through education, community engagement and promotion of career opportunities.
The LRAEF offers: ProStart® - High School Culinary and Restaurant Management Program; Apprenticeships - an earn while you learn training model, and the LRA Scholars Fund. |
Current Leadership
LRAEF Board of Directors
Craig Dennison, Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, Chair
Jason Jones, Sysco, Vice Chair Tammy Smitherman, Heartland Payment Systems, Secretary/Treasurer Alan Guilbeau, PJ's Coffee, Immediate Past Chair Bruce Attinger, Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux & Bar Forrest Bethay III, Triple B's Cajun Corner Michael Carmouche, Ecolab Scot Craig, Katie’s Restaurant & Francesca by Katie's Octavio Mantilla, BRG Hospitality Greg Reggio, Taste Buds Management Michael Eastman, Auto-Chlor Services Emery Whalen, QED Hospitality |
Ex-Officers
Stan Harris, LRA President & CEO Michael Boudreaux, LRA Chair Academic Advisor Dr. Yvette Green, UNO Kabacoff School of HRT |
Click here to see past LRAEF Chairs.
LRAEF Articulation Agreements
The LRA Education Foundation is proud to partner with these educational institutions through articulation agreements, which provides a smooth transition of credits from the completion of ProStart I and II. We are grateful to these schools for their commitment to the foodservice and hospitality industry.