Lynne Breaux is Executive Director of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington, the restaurant and food service industry trade association in the District of Columbia, the City of Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties. She is a native of New Orleans with over 30 years experience in the hospitality industry. A graduate of Louisiana State University with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology, she has spent her career primarily in hotels and restaurants.
Prior to her position as Executive Director of RAMW, Ms. Breaux was owner and operator of a Capitol Hill restaurant for 13 years and is featured in Sociologist Ray Oldenburg's book, The Great Good Place*-"It is where politicians, poets and people of all ages converse and celebrate." During her tenure from 1988 to 2001, her restaurant garnered many awards and generated beaucoup publicity, receiving numerous commendations including official status from the New Orleans City Council as "A home away from home for New Orleanians (and all others) in Washington, DC."
Ms. Breaux has represented the hospitality community on a variety of legislative issues on Capitol Hill, before the District of Columbia City Council, through Congressional member/staff access and with the national and local media. She has written extensively on hospitality issues and is a contributor to, Celebrating the Third Place, Inspiring Stories about the Great Good Places at the Heart of Our Communities*, compiled by Professor Oldenburg. USA TODAY described her essay as "descriptive and playful." A longtime proponent of responsible hospitality, Ms. Breaux was instrumental in initiating the formation of the DC Hospitality Resource Panel, an affiliate of the Responsible Hospitality Institute, which continues to promote responsible hospitality practices in the District.
Her previous positions have included Director of Catering for The Madison and Ritz-Carlton Hotels in Washington, DC and the Royal Orleans Hotel in New Orleans, where she was also Assistant Manager on Duty. Additionally, Ms. Breaux was Restaurant Manager of the Parlor Car Restaurant in Aspen and is a former model.
Ms. Breaux is a Board Member of the Washington Convention and Tourism Corporation, the Marriott Hospitality Public Charter High School, the DC Lottery and Charitable Games Advisory Council and she serves on the Alcohol Beverage Control Restaurant Advisory Committee, as well as on the District of Columbia Environmental Planning Commission. Prior to accepting the position of Executive Director, she had been a Board Member of the Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington since 1992. She is a former Board Member of the National License Beverage Association and the Capitol Hill Association of Merchants and Professionals. A resident of Washington, DC since 1984, Ms. Breaux resides on Capitol Hill.