Longtime Lubbock restaurateur David Cea, co-owner of Orlando’s Italian Restaurant and CapRock Café recently took office as chairman of the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation (TRAEF) at the Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) annual board meeting held in conjunction with TRA Marketplace in Dallas.
David has been an active member of the Texas Restaurant Association board for more than 30 years. He has served as both a state director and three-time president of the Lubbock Chapter (as well as holding all other offices at one point) and remains on the Lubbock Restaurant Association Board of Directors. He has also served on the TRA/EF Executive Committee and Chairman of the TRA/EF Workforce Committee, as well as numerous gala, fundraising and scholarship committees. In 2015, he received the TRA’s Hall of Honor award, the highest honor that the Association can bestow.
His involvement with the TRAEF began five years ago, and he has since been a vocal and enthusiastic advocate of TRAEF and Texas ProStart, a school-based program of TRAEF that prepares students for careers in the culinary and hospitality industries. Since his involvement in TRAEF, he personally met with all of Lubbock ISD teachers and administrators, ultimately resulting in many of the Lubbock high schools becoming Texas ProStart schools.
“It is my honor to serve as Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation chairman for the next twelve months,” said Cea. “The TRAEF and Texas ProStart are close to my heart, and I plan to continue the incredible work of my predecessors, and build upon their achievements. We want to educate not only our current students, but those who are already working in the industry about various career and educational opportunities.”
Serving as officers with Cea are chairman-elect Jessica Delgado, house. wine. & bistro, McAllen; vice-chairman Sharon Van Meter, SVM Productions/3015 at Trinity Groves, Dallas; past chairman Roger Kaplan, RK INNOVATION, Dallas; and treasurer Russell Woodward, Texas Beef Council, Austin.
“We are very excited to have David Cea at the helm of TRAEF,” said Richie Jackson, TRA CEO. “He has served as a tireless advocate on behalf of TRA, TRAEF and Texas ProStart, getting many of the Lubbock high schools involved, and even going so far as to help secure equipment and supplies for the students. He’s a true champion of the program and we are grateful for his involvement and tremendous industry expertise.”
One of the primary programs of TRAEF is Texas ProStart, which provides a vital connection between schools and the restaurant/hospitality industry. The program is now in 248 schools and the Texas ProStart Invitational (competition) is in its ninth year. One of the largest of the state ProStart competitions in the country, more than 340 students compete in two regional competitions for a chance to represent Texas at the National ProStart Competition each year. For more information, visit www.txrestaurant.org/education-foundation.
About the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation (TRAEF)
Established in 1994 by the Texas Restaurant Association, the TRA Education Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization focused on providing the necessary resources to help restaurateurs confront educational and labor challenges with the latest innovations in education, technology, and training. As the philanthropic foundation of the Texas Restaurant Association, it is the mission of the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation to provide educational opportunities for restaurant careers in Texas. For more information visit www.txrestaurant.org/education-foundation.
About the Texas Restaurant Association
The Texas Restaurant Association was formed in 1937 to serve as the advocate in Texas and the indispensable resource for the foodservice industry. Today, as a leading business association, TRA represents the state’s $52.4 billion restaurant industry, which is comprised of 42,500 plus locations and a workforce of 1.2 million employees. Along with the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation, the Association represents, educates and promotes the growing industry.
(News release from the Texas Restaurant Association)