LRA Education Foundation announces new Program Manager

June 28, 2017

LRA EDUCATION FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES NEW PROGRAM MANAGER

Metairie, LA-The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) is pleased to welcome Rachel Bolotte as its new Program Manager. Bolotte will administer the LRAEF Scholarship Fund and Louisiana's 65 ProStart® programs, which provide culinary and restaurant management education to more than 2,000 students.

For the past eight years, Bolotte has cultivated a nuanced career in education and the culinary field. She has taught culinary education and the foundations of the ProStart program to students at both Academy of Our Lady and John Ehret High School in Marrero. Previously, she was line cook at Restaurant R'evolution and Commander's Palace in New Orleans and Old Faithful Inn and Lodge at Yellowstone National Park.

"Rachel's experience as a ProStart program instructor, as well as her diverse culinary background, makes her uniquely qualified to lead the ProStart Program to new levels of success," said LRAEF Executive Director Alison Greffenius. "She is well equipped to oversee our ProStart programs, strengthen the quality and stature of the program with regard to education structure, and strategically develop new programs and partnerships."

"I am excited to start this new career pathway with the LRA Education Foundation," said Bolotte. "Food has always been my passion in life and now I am able to combine my educational background with my knowledge in culinary arts to inspire and share with other passionate ProStart educators."

ProStart is a nationwide, two-year culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school students that develops the best and brightest talent into tomorrow's restaurant industry leaders. By uniting the classroom and the industry, ProStart gives students a platform to discover new interests and talents and opens doors for fulfilling careers. Students are required to complete a 400-hour work internship, thus providing hands-on training. Many LRA members serve as mentors to ProStart students and also hire them.

"One of the most important missions of the LRA Education Foundation is educating our industry's future leaders about the opportunities we offer," said LRA President & CEO Stan Harris. "Having a person with Rachel's academic and culinary experience will allow us to continue to expand this mission."

A New Orleans-area native, Bolotte received her culinary arts degree from the John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University.

2017 LRAEF Annual Partners: Five Diamond- Acme Oyster House, Auto-Chlor Services, Emeril Lagasse Foundation, Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, Louisiana Restaurant Association, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers; Four Diamond- Performance Foodservice- Caro; Three Diamond- Atmos Energy, Baton Rouge Epicurean Society, Ben E. Keith, Delaware North, Ecolab and Louisiana Culinary Institute; Two Diamond- Besh Restaurant Group and Louisiana Gas Association and One Diamond-Capitol City Produce. The LRAEF would also like to thank the nine chapters of the LRA for their support throughout the year.

ProStart is a registered trademark of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation.

ProStart is a two-year, culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school juniors and seniors with a curriculum designed to teach students culinary techniques as well as restaurant management skills. ProStart is in more than 60 Louisiana high schools statewide with nearly 2,000 students participating in the program. ProStart in Louisiana is administered by the LRA Education Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the LRA. For more information about LRA Education Foundation, visit www.lraef.org.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association is one of the largest business organizations in the state, representing restaurant operations and related businesses. The restaurant industry in Louisiana is one the state's largest private employer, providing jobs to 207,700 residents. Restaurants in Louisiana are expected to generate sales of $8.9 billion in 2017. Get up-to-date news about the LRA and the restaurant industry from www.lra.org.