Raising Cane's Todd Graves named LRA's "Restaurateur of the Year"

Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers Founder
Todd Graves is the 2012 LRA
Restaurateur of the Year.

The most prestigious Louisiana restaurant industry honor—Restaurateur of the Year—was awarded to Todd Graves, Founder, Chairman, CEO, Fry Cook and Cashier, of Raising Cane’s Restaurants, August 11 at the LRA’s Five Star Futures Gala. Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) Chairman Melvin Rodrigue began is introduction of Graves as the top honoree with, “our next honoree has earned a tremendous notoriety and success building a quick service restaurant concept for which he received the worst grade in his business class at Louisiana State University (LSU).”

Graves has built his business with little support in the early days. No bank would lend him money as they didn’t believe a simple chicken finger concept would work. Some bankers even told him he should give up the idea and “get a real job.” At that point, Graves knew he would need to raise his own capital to achieve his dream.

From the oil refineries in South Louisiana to his eventual move to Alaska to commercial salmon fish, he worked diligently until he had raised enough seed money to open his first Raising Cane’s right outside the gates of LSU. In a moment of inspiration, he named the restaurant after his yellow lab, Raising Cane.

“Todd is a great example of an individual who followed his dream, and against great odds, made his idea a reality,” said Stan Harris, President/CEO, LRA. “His story is one that shows the entrepreneurial spirit that makes the restaurant industry one that many individuals find their calling, career and life’s work within.”

In 15 years, Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers has grown from that first location to more than 130 restaurants in 16 states. Raising Cane’s now ranks as one of the fastest growing privately-owned companies in the U.S.

Philanthropy is a huge part of Graves’ commitment to the community. Graves and Raising Cane’s have given more than 25 percent of their profits back to the communities where Raising Cane’s restaurants operate. With an emphasis on education, food insecurity, active lifestyles, canine assistance and business and entrepreneurial organizations, the impact has been enormous.

“The generosity of restaurateurs ought to be well known,” said National Restaurant Association Chairwoman Roz Mallet. “Our industry donates $3 billion a year, and Todd is an example of the philanthropic nature of restaurateurs.”

Past Restaurateur of the Year honorees have included: Leah Chase, John Besh, Greg Reggio, John Folse and Paul Prudhomme.

$40k in scholarships given to 14, by LRA Education Foundation

It’s a wonderful thing to support young people as they pursue their dreams of higher education. Going to college for any student is an important milestone and a journey they will recall throughout their lives.

While there are scholarships given by many organizations and institutions, the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation created the Scholarship Fund to specifically support ProStart students and students who are currently enrolled or have been accepted in a hospitality or culinary degree seeking program.

“The LRAEF Scholarship Fund is designed to seed future leaders in the restaurant business in Louisiana,” said Stan Harris, President/CEO, LRA. “This is the second year we will award $40,000 to deserving students and we are looking for new and exciting ways to grow the Scholarship Fund.”

On Saturday night in New Orleans, the LRAEF will host its inaugural Five Stars Futures gala—a star-studded affair which also recognizes today’s restaurant industry leaders for their philanthropy to the industry and other important humanitarian causes.

Fourteen individuals will receive scholarhips to continue
their culinary or hospitality educations at the inaugural
Five Star Futures gala, Saturday, August 11 at the
Hilton New Orleans Riverside.

The scholarship recipients will be recognized during the evening and many of the students will have family members present.

“Having the scholarship recipients recognized in front of a room full of Louisiana’s most notable restaurateurs, service providers and hoteliers is certainly to their advantage,” said Alice Glenn, Executive Director, LRAEF. “Any of our member restaurants and associates would be doing themselves a favor to keep an eye on the progress of these students.”

The LRAEF and National Restaurant Association Education Foundation (NRAEF) ProStart Scholarship is a co-branded scholarship given to students who have, or will receive the ProStart Certificate of Achievement. This year’s recipients are: Sabrina Bodenheimer, Victoria Cart, Caitlin Hall, Melissa McGuire, Kaila Mogg-Stone, Thien Nguyen and Andre Rochon. Among the schools this scholarship class chose? The John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University; Louisiana Culinary Institute and the Art Institute of Houston will be the schools training this group for careers.

The General Hospitality Scholarship is a scholarship given to students who are currently enrolled in or have been accepted in a hospitality or culinary degree seeking program. This year’s recipients are: Rheham Algattan, Stephon Cook, Gregory Estevan, Scott Kohls, Christina Manriquez, Kayleigh Mehrtens and Hillary Scott—continuing their educations at John Folse Institute and Louisiana Culinary Institute.

Special gala guest, NRA
Chairwoman Roz Mallet

“We are thrilled to reward the hard work of these 14 students,” said John Eastman, LRAEF Chair. “We are very proud of them and know that their commitment to the foodservice industry will make it that much stronger in the years to come.”

The Five Star Futures Gala is Saturday, August 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. In addition to recognizing today’s industry leaders and supporting the next generation, the event will feature a live auction with guest auctioneer Mark Romig and the special guest, Roz Mallet, the first African American Chairwoman of the National Restaurant Association.

Special thanks to our Gala Sponsors: Reinhart Food Service, Acme Oyster House, Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group, Mr. Mudbug's and Crescent Crown Distributing.

Five Star Futures Gala to recognize scholarship recipients, industry leaders

The Five Star Futures Gala, formerly known as the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) Awards Banquet, has been rebranded to bring new excitement and a greater awareness of the restaurant industry’s philanthropy, and for the past two years, has benefited the LRA Education Foundation (LRAEF) Scholarship Fund.

The stars will shine bright on August 11, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, beginning with a cocktail hour at 6:30 p.m. Dinner, a live auction with guest auctioneer Mark Romig, Executive Director of the New Orleans Tourism and Marketing Corp., and awards will begin at 7:30 p.m.



Notable New Orleanian
Mark Romig will serve as the
auctioneer for the live auction
during the Five Star Futures Gala,
August 11 at the Hilton Riverside.

The event’s menu is inspired by the restaurant concept, Petit Manger, which was developed and presented by the Rayne High School team at the National ProStart Invitational in Baltimore, earlier this year. The Rayne team placed third in the nation and received rave reviews from judges and spectators.

“The Rayne team’s concept was so impressive,” said NRA Board Member Dickie Brennan. “The judges and my fellow NRA Board Members were looking at me, giving me the thumbs up when Rayne completed their presentation. I was so proud.”

For the second consecutive year, the LRAEF will distribute $40,000 in scholarships to deserving students wishing to further their college culinary or hospitality management education.

“The success of the LRAEF’s scholarship program is a testament to the leadership and dedication of our members who support it through various chapter activities year round,” said Stan Harris, LRA President/CEO.

NRA Chairwoman Roz Mallet
is the special guest for the
Five Star Futures Gala and
understands the value of
investing in the future of
Louisiana's restaurant workforce.

Special guest for the evening is the National Restaurant Association Chairwoman and NRA Education Foundation Trustee Roz Mallet. An avid supporter of ProStart and a mentor to many, Mallet is an exemplary individual who has built a 35 year career in the restaurant industry, beginning as a student in college.

“One of our challenges as an industry is to promote the wide range of opportunities we offer to young people on the verge of starting their own careers,” said Mallet. “That is why ProStart and the LRAEF’s scholarship program were created—to develop the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice industry leaders.”

Join us as we celebrate today’s leaders and tomorrow’s future stars on August 11. Tickets are available online and proceeds benefit the LRA Education Foundation Scholarship Program.

Your keys to VIP Status during the Louisiana Foodservice & Hospitality EXPO

Enjoy the good things in life by taking a trip on the National Restaurant Association Political Action Committee (NRA PAC) Bus, during the Louisiana Foodservice & Hospitality EXPO, August 11-13 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center.

NRA Board Member
Dickie Brennan wants your
support to PAC the Bus!

PAC the Bus, a hospitality suite with a twist, is a luxury tour vehicle to be located right on the EXPO show floor between the Louisiana Restaurant Association’s booth and the Great American Seafood Cook-Off. Complete with cuisine, courtesy of Centerplate, and libations, courtesy of Champagne Beverage, a trip on the Bus will include relaxing chair massages for those who make an NRA PAC contribution.

“We wanted to do something other than a dinner this year to meet Louisiana’s fundraising goal for the NRA PAC,” said NRA Board Member Dickie Brennan. “PAC the Bus was developed to be a benefit for those attending the EXPO who may want to support the advocacy of our industry in Washington and take a reprieve from the bustling activities of the EXPO Show Floor.”

On Saturday, 2012 NRA Chairwoman Roz Mallet will board the Bus to meet PAC donors and thank them for their contributions to support the ever growing need for political advocacy for the nation’s restaurant industry.

Want to be a VIP?

To Board the Bus—First Class, you are invited to make a $500 NRA PAC contribution. You and a guest will experience the amenities of the Bus for the entire three-day EXPO. At this level, you will be recognized as an NRA PAC the Bus Sponsor in all remaining materials. Sponsorships are non-transferrable.

Five hundred bucks a little too rich for your blood? You’re in luck. Become a Prestigious Passenger and you will enjoy the exclusivity of the NRA PAC Bus for a $150 contribution during the three-day EXPO. At this level, you will partake in the amenities of the Bus to benefit the advocacy of our industry in the U.S. Congress.

Only in town for a day? Take a Day Trip on the NRA PAC Bus! For only $75 per person, you will delight in the camaraderie, cuisine, libations and amenities. Rest in luxury and know that your time is well spent and for an excellent cause.

Your hosts for this exciting adventure are Past NRA Chairman Ralph Brennan, NRA Emertis Board Member Greg Hamer, Brennan, and NRA Board Member Tommy Cvitanovich and 2012 LRA Chairman Melvin Rodrigue.

A special thank you to the NRA PAC Sponsors (as of July 31): Tony Abadie, Rob Antoon, Bruce Attinger, Jim Besselman, Katy Casbarian, Phil Faul, Stan Harris, Octavio Mantilla, Greg Reggio, Paul Rotner and Jim Urdiales.

Payments to the NRA PAC must be in the form of a credit card or a check from individual and non-corporate business members of the National Restaurant Association or affiliated state restaurant associations. This can include, for example, businesses operating as sole proprietorships, businesses operating as partnerships, businesses operating as LLCs that are treated as partnerships under tax law.

To reserve your seat on the NRA PAC Bus, please call Wendy Waren at (504) 454-2277 or via e-mail at wendyw@lra.org. Please have your credit card ready or your check made out ready to mail!

Help us the PAC the Bus!

NRA Chairwoman to open Louisiana Foodservice & Hospitality EXPO

As the first African American female to lead the NationalRestaurant Association in 2012 as chairwoman, Roz Mallet will join the Louisiana Restaurant Association for the Louisiana Foodservice & Hospitality EXPO Opening Ceremony, Saturday, August 11 at 10:45 a.m., New Orleans Morial Convention Center.
 

Roz Mallet, 2012 National Restaurant Assoc.
chairwoman, will open the Louisiana
Foodservice & Hospitality EXPO, August 11.

For 35 years, Mallet has made her career in the restaurant industry and began that career as many have-- as a college student. Her brother encouraged her to apply for a position where he worked—at El Chico—and within a few months she was promoted to a supervisor position. Mallet continued with the company through college and moved into an assistant manager role before moving into the corporate training department. Several years later, the company’s president, Thomas Doolin, moved on to W.R. Grace & Co., and Mallet was tapped as a training supervisor at a newly acquired two-unit chain, Applebee’s.

As the company’s headquarters relocated to Kansas City from Dallas, Mallet chose to stay in Dallas and consult with Doolin’s wife. After years of consulting, she returned to Applebee’s as the Vice President of Human Resources, where she was a valuable and trusted advisor.

She’s served as the Senior Vice President of Human Resources at Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, the parent company of TGI Friday’s and as the COO at La Madeleine, and the director of Caribou Coffee Co. After a year, she was hired as Caribou’s President and COO and also served as the company’s interim President and CEO. 

 

“We are excited to have an industry professional of Roz’s caliber join us in New Orleans to kick off our 59^th Annual EXPO,” said Stan Harris, LRA President and CEO. “Her determination, leadership and passion for the restaurant industry is truly remarkable and we look forward to showing her the Southern hospitality Louisiana is world-famous for during her stay.”

In recent years, Mallet has changed her career track to move to the entrepreneurial side of business as President and CEO of PhaseNext Hospitality—a franchise operating company. PNH’s mission is to deliver fresh, high quality quick casual restaurant brands that meet the public’s ever-increasing demand for higher quality food, service, hospitality and convenience to airport concessions programs and other non-traditional venues.

 
“She is a wonderful example of how, with motivation and determination, the opportunities in the restaurant industry are there for those who want them, and most importantly, want to work for them,” Harris added.
 
Not only does she put her all into her work, but she serves as a mentor to many. In 2008, she was recognized with the Women’s Foodservice Forum’s Trailblazer Award for supporting gender diversity and creating new paths for women in the industry.

She began serving on the NRA Board of Directors in 2004, and is also a member of the NRA EducationalFoundation Board of Trustees.