LRAEF Board of Directors
Greg Reggio, Chair, Taste Buds Management
Garret LeBlanc, Vice Chair, B&G Food Enterprises
Tony Rodrigue, Secretary/Treasurer, Acme Oyster House
Michael Eastman, Immediate Past Chair, Auto-Chlor System
Alan Guilbeau, Bengal Products
Caroline Rodrigue, Galatoire's
Derrick Dunne, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers
Emery Whalen, QED Hospitality
Justin Kennedy, Parkway Bakery & Tavern
Karen Coaxum, Coaxum Enterprises
Megan Klock, Ruffino's
Octavio Mantilla, BRG Hospitalty
Stephen Hightower, Baton Rouge Epicurean Society
Academic Advisor
Dr. Yvette Green, UNO Kabacoff School of HRT
Industry Representatives
Felton Jones, PJ's Coffee
Ex-Officio
Stan Harris, CEO, Louisiana Restaurant Association
Jonathan Baynham, Vice President & Executive Director
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.
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Annual Reports
Education Foundation News
Latest News The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) is investing in the future of the hospitality industry by awarding $60,000 in scholarships to its 2026 LRAEF Scholars Class. These scholarships provide vital support to Louisiana students pursuing careers in the restaurant, foodservice, tourism, and hospitality sectors. Honorees were recognized at Serving the Future: Celebrating…
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Latest News The LRA Education Foundation presented the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational on March 18-19 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum in nearly 71 Louisiana high schools, with 2,200 juniors and seniors participating. The Invitational consisted of the Zea Rotisserie Culinary Competition on Day…
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Latest News The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) proudly celebrates its 80th Anniversary in 2026, marking eight decades of advocacy, education, and leadership on behalf of Louisiana’s vibrant hospitality industry. As the Association looks ahead to the next chapter of service, the LRA announced its 2026 Volunteer Leadership, led by Octavio Mantilla, Co-Founder and Owner of…
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