RATIONAL USA’s Lessem Named one of IDDBA’s Champions of Change for 2025
Chef Daniel Lessem, RATIONAL USA’s Director of Education & Strategic Initiatives, was recently named by the International Dairy Deli Bakery Association (IDDBA) and Supermarket News as one of their 2025 Champions of Change. Lessem received the honor at the association’s recent annual conference in New Orleans.
Lessem, who also serves as a Corporate Chef for RATIONAL’s Southeast region, was recognized for his work partnering with culinary training facilities to create internship opportunities for culinary students at food industry events. Through these programs, students gain real life work experience and explore career pathways while still in school.
For the past several years, Lessem’s work in the “What’s In Store Live” area of the IDDBA conference has provided exposure to career opportunities within the dairy, deli, and bakery spaces. At this year’s event in New Orleans, Lessem partnered with the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) and Café Reconcile to provide 20 culinary interns nearly 40 hours of practical, hands-on experience in the event’s grocery store and deli space.
In addition to IDDBA, Lessem has introduced similar opportunities in RATIONAL’s in-booth restaurant at the National Restaurant Association (NRA) and the North American Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) conferences.
“Daniel is a world class trainer and instructor with a true passion for sharing his knowledge and expertise with the next generation of culinarians,” says Billy Buck, Vice President of Culinary with RATIONAL USA.
A graduate of Johnson & Wales University, Lessem also received an MBA in Marketing from Florida International University. Lessem joined RATIONAL in 2016 as a Corporate Chef and was named RATIONAL USA Chef of the Year in 2017.
About RATIONAL
The RATIONAL Group is the world market and technology leader in the field of hot food preparation for professional kitchens. Founded in 1973, the company employs more than 2,600 people worldwide. RATIONAL is listed on the Prime Standard of the German Stock Exchange and is included in the SDAX.
To learn more about RATIONAL products and services, attend a RATIONAL Live event to see how we help commercial kitchen operators do more with less space, waste, energy, cost, and stress.
