cuisine, culture and community - Les Dames d'Escoffier International

Sharon van meter (Dallas) FIRST VICE PRESIDENT
A graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, France, Chef Sharon Van
Meter brings more than thirty-five years of award-winning, acclaimed
culinary experience to the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Sharon has served the culinary world as executive chef of The Ritz-
Carlton, International Professor of American Cuisine at Paris’ Le
Cordon Bleu and Executive Chef in the renowned kitchens of Neiman
Marcus, Dallas, Texas. Currently, Sharon is President of SVM
Production, LLC, a leader in television, radio and culinary productions
world.
Sharon has been inducted in the honorable culinary societies of
the American Culinary Federation, World Master Chefs Society, Les
Dames d’Escoffier International, and Euro-Toques International.
She has served as president of the Dallas Chapter of Les Dames
d’Escoffier. In 2009, Sharon became the first female president of the
American Culinary Federation-Texas Chefs Association.
Her numerous volunteer and humanitarian efforts range from the
fight against hunger by involvement with Share Our Strength’s “Taste
of the Nation” event to the National AIDS Foundation “Touring
Chefs” program to Habitat for Humanity’s “House Party.” In 2008,
she received the National Restaurant Association’s “Cornerstone Humanitarian
Award.”
...no one is born a great cook,
one learns by doing.
Julia Child
Lori willis (St. Louis)
SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
Lori Willis was raised in Jefferson City,
Missouri, but vacationed at her grandparents’
home in the farming town of
New London, Mo. Her appreciation for
local foods began there and was inspired
by her mother’s traditional recipes and
her father’s passion for gardening and
adventuresome culinary spirit.
Lori earned a degree in Mass Communications
from Lincoln University
of Missouri in 1982. Over the years,
she has been instrumental in developing
long-term communications strategies for
non-profit, public and private companies.
She joined St. Louis-based Schnuck
Markets, Inc. as director of communications
in 2001. The family-owned
grocery company includes 14,500 teammates
and 100 food and drug stores
across the Midwest. As chief spokesperson,
Lori is often at the forefront
of industry news including grocery
trends, new food and drug products
and services, food safety legislation and
initiatives that shape the way families
shop, prepare and serve food.
Lori coordinates Schnucks participation
in “Blessings in a Backpack,”
providing nutritious weekend snacks
for students in need. She is president
of the St. Louis Chapter of Les Dames
d’Escoffier; a member of the United
Way’s leadership circle; Chairperson
of Ballwin Board of Adjustments and
serves on the Executive Board of Habitat
for Humanity Saint Louis.
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget
what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
Maya Angelou
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