LBA Named Winner of the Wine & Gastronomy Award
Last Friday evening, members of the French-American business community and francophiles in the Seattle area gathered for the first annual French-American Business Awards hosted by the French-American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest (FACC PNW) at the illustrious Rainier Club in Seattle, WA. The evenings festivities included what the best French-powered parties always do--good wine, buzzing conversation, and a decadent five-course meal. New to this event was the addition of the FACC PNW'S French-American Business Awards (FABA), intended to showcase "the formidable successes of French and American businesses and individuals from throughout our region" (FACC PNW).
Owner Margie Robert (right) pictured with daughter and Director of Marketing, Chantal Robert at the FACC French-American Business Awards at the Rainier Club, Seattle, WA.
Among five nominees in its category, LBA was announced as the winner for the evening's first award, the Wine & Gastronomy Award, designed to recognize a company for the sustainable quality of its products, its unique approach and success in its industry. Accepting the award on behalf of owner and CEO, Michel Robert, was Chantal Robert--his daughter and LBA's Director of Marketing.
Created in 1986, the French American Chamber of Commerce of the Pacific Northwest is a non-profit, independent, member-driven organization dedicated to promoting the French-American business community in the region, and supporting the French and American companies with their trade needs. The FACC PNW has more than 165 French and American members that represent 66 corporations, including Amazon.com, Microsoft, Port of Seattle, the University of Washington and most major firms in Aerospace (faccpnw.org).
Wine & Gastronomy nominees pictured with the presenter, L to R: Anamarleny Alvarez Villa (Lullaby), Jacques Boiroux, Chantal Robert (Les Boulangers Associes, Inc.),
Bryan Maletis (Fat Cork) and Jean-Claude Beck (The Woodhouse Wine Estates).
LBA Owner and CEO, Michel Robert, was a founding member of the FACC PNW and served as its second President. In the years since, Michel, and through him LBA, has remained active in the Chamber, promoting French culture in the PNW through its Bastille Day celebrations, continuing corporate sponsorship for the Seattle FACC and the Alliance Française, donating product and time to many of these organizations’ celebrations and events.
In the 1990s, Michel received La Marianne for community service, and after over thirty years promoting French culinary arts and food in the PNW with LBA, he received the honor of Chevalier d’Ordre du Mérite Agricole from the French government in 2004—the second highest honor a civilian can receive. Friday's award from such a long-time partner in promoting French-American business, trade, and culture means just as much.
