Hyde Park, NY 鈥 Highly regarded food industry executive Richard L. Mazer has been elected the 19th chairman of the board of The Culinary Institute of America.
He succeeds former Dunkin' Brands CEO Jon Luther in this important and distinguished
position.
鈥淩ichard Mazer has long been a
trusted consultant and leader in the food business, and played a key role in
Ventura Foods鈥 rise to prominence,鈥 CIA President Dr. Tim Ryan said. 鈥淩ichard brings valuable experience and industry insight to his role as board
chair, and I look forward to working with him as we move the CIA into the
future.鈥
Before his retirement as CEO of Ventura Foods in 2010, Mr. Mazer had been a key player in the foodservice industry for
more than 25 years. At Ventura鈥攁 company that makes cooking oils, shortenings,
cooking sprays, and other edible oil products鈥攈is leadership positions included
chief operating officer, president, and CEO. During his tenure, the company
grew from $500 million to more than $2 billion in annual sales.
Prior to joining Ventura Foods, Mr. Mazer was a consultant to producers, manufacturers, retailers, and grocery and convenience
store wholesalers. He previously held management positions in the business
world at Deloitte and Touche; Kidder, Peabody &
Co.; and Boston Consulting Group before specializing in the business of food. Mr. Mazer holds degrees in both economics and management
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In addition to serving on the Board of Trustees of the CIA, Mr. Mazer has been a member of the boards of Food for
All, Gardenburger, Thrifty Foods of Burlington,
Hospital Cost Consultants, and Accountants, Inc.
鈥淚 am deeply honored to become chairman of The Culinary
Institute of America,鈥 said Mr. Mazer, who joined the
Board of Trustees of the college in 2007 and served as vice chairman for the
past two years. 鈥淪ince its founding in 1946, the college has trained thousands
of chefs for work in a vibrant hospitality industry and has distinguished
itself as the premier culinary school in the world. I am proud of the work the
CIA does and proud to be associated with such a well-run institution.鈥
New members of the board for 2018 are Stanley Cheng, CEO of
the Meyer Corporation; Noah Glass, founder and CEO of Olo;
Cheryl Henry, president and COO of Ruth鈥檚 Hospitality Group, Inc.; and Robert Unanue, president of Goya Foods, Inc.
The CIA Board of Trustees consists of 25 highly respected
leaders in the foodservice industry and business world. They provide expert governance
and guidance for the not-for-profit college, and are not compensated for their
services.
Photo Caption and Hi-Res Image:
Richard Mazer is the 19th chairman
of the board of The Culinary Institute of America. (Photo credit: CIA/Phil Mansfield)
Media Contact:
Jeff Levine
Communications Manager
845-451-1372
Jeff.Levine@culinary.edu
Founded in 1946, The Culinary Institute of America is the world鈥檚 premier
culinary college. Dedicated to developing leaders in foodservice and
hospitality, the independent, not-for-profit CIA offers bachelor鈥檚 degrees in
management, culinary arts, culinary science, and applied food studies, and
associate degrees in either culinary arts or baking and pastry arts. The
college also offers executive education through its Food Business School along
with certificate programs and courses for professionals and enthusiasts. Its
conferences, leadership initiatives, and consulting services have made the CIA
the think tank of the food industry and its worldwide network of nearly 50,000
alumni includes innovators in every area of the food business. The CIA has
locations in New York, California, Texas, and Singapore.
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