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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Education Foundation News
Latest News The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) is proud to partner with New Orleans & Company to welcome two of the world’s most prestigious culinary competitions-the Bocuse d’Or Americas and the Pastry World Cup Americas-to New Orleans as part of the 2026 LRA Showcase. On Saturday, July 25, attendees can experience the Pastry World Cup…
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Latest News The restaurant industry has never stood still. From online ordering and mobile payments to kitchen automation and digital marketing, operators have continually adapted to meet changing consumer expectations. Today, artificial intelligence is driving the next evolution-and it’s happening faster than many realize. That’s why the Louisiana Restaurant Association is excited to welcome internationally…
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Latest News The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) will welcome thousands of restaurant and hospitality professionals from across Louisiana and the Gulf South to the 73rd Annual LRA Showcase, July 25-26, 2026, in Hall I of the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. Designed exclusively for industry professionals, the LRA Showcase features hundreds of exhibiting companies showcasing…
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