LRA-Greater New Orleans Chapter Names 2011 Chapter Award Winners

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Erica R. Papillion
Director of Communications
ericap@lra.org

LRA-GREATER NEW ORLEANS CHAPTER NAMES 2011 CHAPTER AWARD WINNERS

METAIRIE, La. - The Louisiana Restaurant Association's (LRA) Greater New Orleans Chapter is pleased to announce its 2011 Chapter Awards recipients. The presentation was made during the Greater New Orleans Chapter's annual awards banquet at the Foundry in New Orleans, January 18, 2012.

The awards are as follows:

• Octavio Mantilla of Besh Restaurant Group in New Orleans, Active Member of the Year
• Donald Link of Link Restaurant Group in New Orleans, Restaurateur of the Year
• Scott Lynch of Coca-Cola in Harahan, Associate Member of the Year
• Tommy Cvitanovich of Drago's Seafood Restaurant in Metairie and New Orleans, Hall of Fame Inductee
• Ewell Smith, Distinguished Service Award, Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board
• Randy Stein of Mr. B's Bistro in New Orleans, Presidential Award

Restaurateur of the Year Donald Link expressed these sentiments upon winning his award: "People may wonder why I continue to open new restaurants. I watch my managers, line cooks and dishwashers around me with so much talent and I want to give them a place to grow and have respectable careers."

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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 182,200 residents.