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 three main programs that LRAEF offers are ProStart, a high school culinary and restaurant management program; the LRAEF Scholars, which provides scholarships to students pursuing a degree in culinary arts or hospitality; and the Restaurant Youth Registered Apprenticeship, which is an earn as your learn program. |
Current Leadership
LRAEF Board of Directors
Jason Jones, Sysco, Chair
Tammy Smitherman, Heartland Payment Systems, Vice Chair Michael Eastman, Auto-Chlor System, Secretary/Treasurer Alan Guilbeau, PJ's Coffee Glen Armantrout, JMH Hospitality Bruce Attinger Michael Carmouche, Ecolab Scot Craig, Katie’s Restaurant & Francesca by Katie's Octavio Mantilla, BRG Hospitality Greg Reggio, Taste Buds Management Emery Whalen, QED Hospitality Derrick Dunne, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Craig Dennison, Immediate Past Chair |
Academic Advisor
Dr. Yvette Green, UNO Kabacoff School of HRT Ex-Officio Stan Harris, LRA President & CEO Michael Maenza, LRA Chair |
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.