LRA Announces 2019 Officers & Directors

The Louisiana Restaurant Association is pleased to announce its 2019 volunteer leadership with Paul Rotner* as its Chair. Rotner is the CEO of Acme Management Group, which operates all locations of Acme Oyster House. Rotner has been a member of the LRA for 24 years, and he has served as the LRA Greater New Orleans Chapter President. Most recently, he served as the Chair of the LRA Education Foundation in 2018. The LRAEF is the charitable arm of the association with two programs—ProStart, a two-year, culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum offered at 56 high schools in Louisiana, and its Scholarship Fund. Since its inception in 2009, the LRAEF has awarded nearly $500,000 to individuals wishing to continue or pursue a post-secondary degree in culinary or restaurant management.
 
“It is a privilege to serve Louisiana’s restaurant industry in this capacity,” said Rotner. “I look forward to working with the association staff to deliver educational opportunities in 2019 to help members improve their bottom line, retain their employees and gain more customers.”  
 
Listed as follows are the 2019 officers of the LRA:
 

• Peter Sclafani, Vice Chair
• Keith Bond, Treasurer—Bond is the co-owner of Mel’s Diner Part II in Lafayette and Broussard
• Michael Boudreaux, Secretary—Boudreaux is the co-owner of Juban’s, Christina’s, Adrian’s and Beausoleil Restaurants in Baton Rouge
• Michael Maenza, At-Large—Maenza is the owner of MMI Culinary, Mr. Mudbug’s Catering and SWEGS Kitchen in the Greater New Orleans and Northshore areas.

 
The following members were elected to serve as an LRA Director for a one-year term in 2019:
 
Acadiana

• Keith Bond, Mel’s Diner Part II, Lafayette & Broussard
• John O’Meara, Petroleum Club
• Dwight Prudhomme, Republic National Distributing Company

 
Baton Rouge

• Bruce Attinger, Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar
• Mickey Freiberg, Capitol City Produce
• Matt Massey, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers
• Peter Sclafani, TJ Ribs
• Tammy Smitherman, Heartland Payment Systems

 
Bayou

• Randy Barrios, Flanagan’s Restaurant & Fremin’s Restaurant
• Gregory Hamer, Taco Bell—B&G Food Enterprises

 
Cenla

• David Merchant, BJ’s Pizza of Alexandria

 
Greater New Orleans

• Tony Abadie, Jack Rose Restaurant
• Ralph Brennan, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group
• Katy Casbarian, Arnaud’s & French 75 Bar, Remoulade Restaurant
• Tommy Cvitanovich, Drago’s Seafood Restaurant
• John Eastman, Auto-Chlor Services
• Nick Hazard, Crescent Crown Distributing
• John Lalla, Natco Food Service
• Mark Latter, Tujague’s Restaurant
• Helen LeBourgeois, TLC Linen Services
• Mike Maenza, MMI Culinary, Mr. Mudbug Catering & SWEGS Kitchen
• Greg Reggio, Taste Buds-Zea/Semolina
• Melvin Rodrigue, Galatoire’s Restaurant
• Randy Stein, Mr. B’s Bistro

 
Northeast

• Darrell Whaley, Taco Bell

 
Northshore

• Brian Girardot, Community Coffee
• Alan Guilbeau, PJ’s Coffee

 
Southwest

• Chauncey Davis, Ben E. Keith
• Rob King, Pitt Grills & Southern Kitchens

 
“Having an engaged group of volunteer leaders makes a positive impact on the association and its work,” said Stan Harris, LRA President and CEO. “These individuals are committed to improving the business climate for restaurants in Louisiana and preserve jobs for more than 216,000 Louisianans.”
 
*Headshot attached.

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