RAMW Announces 2014 Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award Recipient

Former RAMW president, Lynne Breaux, to be honored at annual RAMMY Awards Gala

Washington, DC (April 22, 2014) - This year’s Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award will be presented to former RAMW president, Lynne Breaux. The award, named in honor of legendary Washington restaurateur Duke Zeibert, and presented annually at the RAMMY Awards Gala, recognizes an individual whose hard work and outstanding initiative has increased the profile and success of the Metropolitan Washington restaurant community. This year’s award recipient will be formally announced at The Carnegie Library at Mt. Vernon Square on Monday, April 28.

As an industry veteran, Lynne brought a wealth of experience in restaurants and hotels to the table. Owning and operating a Capitol Hill restaurant for thirteen years, Lynne arrived at RAMW as both a restaurateur and an experienced advocate for the industry. As President of RAMW from 2001 to 2012, Lynne, with the RAMW Board of Directors, spearheaded the expansion of RAMW membership and strengthened the role of restaurants and food service professionals in the Washington area business community. Through strategic, cross-industry partnerships and fearless engagement with local lawmakers and regulatory agencies, Lynne and the Board worked to create an environment that encourages free enterprise and rewards small business. In her position at RAMW, Lynne promoted the hugely popular Metropolitan Washington Restaurant Weeks and attracted international attention to The RAMMY Awards Gala. Lynne ended her tenure at RAMW in December 2012

“Lynne empowered restaurants, and other members of Washington’s foodservice community, to grow successful businesses,” said RAMW president and CEO, Kathy E. Hollinger. “Her considerable efforts shaped the voice of local restaurants, brought DC dining into the spotlight and redefined its place among other leading culinary cities.”

“It was an honor to serve as President of RAMW, and now I am doubly honored to receive the Duke Zeibert Award,” said Ms. Breaux. “My thanks to Kathy and RAMW – this is truly the icing on the cake of a long and exhilarating career in my beloved restaurant industry.”

Helping celebrate this year’s announcement at The Carnegie Library are special event sponsors Events DC, Centerplate/NBSE, Belair Produce and Watermark Foods, Pepco, Boxwood Estate Winery, Tarara Winery, American Summits, CitiOpen, DC Health Link, Last Exit, Premium Distributors and Magic Hat Brewing Company. For a full listing of official 2014 RAMMY Awards Gala sponsors, please visit www.therammys.org.

The Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award will be presented by RAMW at the 32nd Annual RAMMY Awards Gala on Sunday, June 22, 2014 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Past Duke Zeibert honorees include Robert Egger, founder of DC Central Kitchen; John Laytham, owner of Clyde’s Restaurant Group; Abe Pollin, developer, sports team owner and philanthropist; Paul Cohn, Senior Executive Officer and Co-Founder of Capital Restaurant Concepts; former Washington Post restaurant critic Phyllis Richman; Washington’s Man About Town, WTOP’s Bob Madigan; José Andrés, chef/owner of ThinkFoodGroup; and former DC Mayor, the Honorable Anthony A. Williams.

About the RAMMYS

Presented by the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW), The RAMMY Awards Gala honors the exceptional ability and accomplishments of the hard-working individuals and organizations of the region’s restaurants and foodservice community. Named the #1 Food & Restaurant event by BizBash Magazine for five consecutive years, The RAMMYS celebrate one of Metropolitan Washington’s greatest assets: its restaurants. 

About RAMW

The Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) is the regional trade association representing restaurants and the foodservice industry in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. Established in 1920, RAMW is an advocate, resource and community for its members.

The Association works to promote and sustain the growth and development of the industry while providing its members legislative and regulatory representation, marketing and small business support, programming and events. RAMW serves its members with professionalism and integrity, and provide them the training, education and support they need to grow a successful business.