Les Dames d’Escoffier Nashville Elects Andrea Lindsley, Partner at FINN Partners, as Board President and Announces Board for 2022

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Feb. 9, 2022) — Les Dames d’Escoffier (LDEI) Nashville elected its 2022 board, including Andrea Lindsley, partner at FINN Partners, as new board president. Additional newly elected officers include Claire Crowell, founder and CEO of Hattie Jane’s Creamery, as vice president; Erin Kette, director of food and beverage for QED Hospitality, as treasurer; Karen Vanarsdel, culinary instructor at Williamson County Parks and Recreation and at The Curious Kitchen in Murfreesboro, as secretary; and Dee Patel, managing director of the Hermitage Hotel, as past president. 2022 Board members for LDEI Nashville include Lokelani Alabanza, Kathleen Cotter, Kitty Fawaz, Laura Hagen, Mary B. Hammet, Charlotte Miller, Natasha Powell, Jenn Sheets and Tabitha Tune. Past President Nancy Vienneau is board advisor.

Les Dames d’Escoffier is a philanthropic organization of women leaders in the fields of food, beverage, hospitality and farming. The membership, composed of more than 2,400 members in 43 chapters in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Mexico, reflects the multifaceted fields of contemporary gastronomy and hospitality. LDEI Nashville welcomed 14 new dames for its 2022 membership for a total of 91 members.

“It is truly an honor to lead this strong group of women who are passionate about championing other women in our industries and women in our community,” said Lindsley. “Last year, we worked hard to support women through educational events, scholarships and grants. This year, we plan to provide even more educational opportunities for the community, including our first Diversity, Equity and Inclusion symposium for the hospitality industry. I’m proud of our chapter for their commitment to our mission, despite the challenges of the last two years.”

LDEI Nashville donated $10,000 to benefit the Nashville community in 2021, with more than half going directly to supporting women through grants and scholarships. Six women who were recipients of this targeted support used the scholarships and grants toward business development for their local small businesses that will benefit the culinary, hospitality and food security areas of Nashville. 

Also in 2021, LDEI Nashville hosted a year-long virtual series, “Sustain & Flourish in Adversity,” that attracted hundreds of attendees from across the country for free educational webinars led by LDEI Nashville members. Made possible through a grant from The Women’s Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee the series included five one-hour topical discussions, including “The Future of Farming,” “Redefining and Refining Hospitality,” “Restaurant Invention and Reinvention,’ “Launching Your Food Business” and “Social Media Best Practices for Hospitality.”

In 2022, LDEI Nashville will continue its work in the Nashville community through targeted events, workshops, and their ongoing grant and scholarship programs. 

*Photo of President Andrea Lindsley available for download here

About Les Dames Nashville:

Les Dames Nashville is a local chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI), a network of professional women in food, beverage, hospitality and farming who are passionate about supporting women in those fields. Through our events, we raise money to fund our career advancement grants and scholarships, while furthering education and appreciation of our industry. Established in 2014, the chapter now includes 91 members. For more information, visit www.lesdamesnashville.org.