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Welcome to the

LRA Education Foundation

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 you learn program.

LRAEF Board of Directors

Tammy SmithermanHeartland Payment SystemsChair 
Michael Eastman, Auto-Chlor System, Vice Chair 
Greg Reggio, Taste Buds ManagementSecretary/Treasurer
Garret LeBlanc, B&G Food Enterprises
Tony Rodrigue, Acme Oyster House
Bobby Hufft, Ecolab
Octavio Mantilla, BRG Hospitality
Derrick Dunne, Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers

Stephen Hightower, Baton Rouge Epicurean Society
Emery Whalen, QED Hospitality, Jack Rose Restaurant,
New Orleans
Glen Armantrout, Mahony's Po-boys & Seafood, New Orleans
Jason Jones, Sysco, Immediate Past Chair 

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, Executive Director
Alan Guilbeau, PJ's Coffee

​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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Annual Reports

Education Foundation News

LRA Education Foundation Announces 2024 Scholars

February 26, 2024

Latest News The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) Board of Directors, through its Scholarship Fund, will award $60,000 in scholarships to 17 students. The LRAEF Scholars will be honored on March 6 during the annual “Serving the Future-Celebrating Careers in Hospitality” presented by Ecolab event in New Orleans. The LRAEF Scholarship Fund was created…

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LRA Education Foundation Presents the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational March 6-7, 2024

February 14, 2024

Latest News Chef Patron E.J. Lagasse Keynote Speaker at ProStart Awards The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation proudly presents the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational March 6-7, 2024, at the Morial Convention Center, Hall J. ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum offered to juniors and seniors in nearly 60 high schools in Louisiana.…

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Seasoned Success: Louisiana ProStart Educators Spice Up Skills at Winter Training

December 11, 2023

Latest News ​Louisiana ProStart Program’s recent Educator Training held at The University of New Orleans Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Program (UNO HRT) was a dynamic and enriching event. The day commenced with an opening session led by Jonathan Baynham, LRAEEF Executive Director, and Mistica Maples-Adams, LRAEF Program Manager, setting the tone for an engaging program.…

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