RATIONAL USA Chef Receives Champions of Change Honor

Chef Daniel Lessem, RATIONAL USA's director of education and 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, the company said in a news release. 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 sectors. At this year’s event in New Orleans, Lessem partnered with the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute and Café Reconcile to provide 20 culinary interns with 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 and the North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers conferences, the company noted.

“Daniel is a world-class trainer and instructor with a true passion for sharing his knowledge and expertise with the next generation of culinarians,” Billy Buck, vice president of culinary at RATIONAL USA, said.