L'Academie's Dionet recognized as top CEO

Francois Dionot, founder and director of L'Academie de Cuisine in Gaithersburg, Md., was chosen as one of the 25 CEOs You Need to Know for 2010 in The Montgomery County Gazette of Politics and Business. Dionot received his award at a luncheon held May 13 at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, Md.


Dionot (pictured, above) established the school in 1976 when gourmet cooking was becoming popular and people were teaching cooking classes out of their homes. The school has since grown to include two campuses, full-time professional culinary and pastry arts programs and more than 1,000 recreational cooking classes each year. Dionot teaches students in each phase of the professional program and counsels the students on their final project and on their externships. For more information, visit www.lacademie.com.