Fransmart CEO Dan Rowe has been appointed to the Board of Trustees of the The Culinary Institute of America (CIA), marking a significant milestone for both the restaurant franchising industry and the future of culinary education.
This appointment underscores Rowe’s influence as a leading voice in restaurant franchising, emerging brand development, and global foodservice innovation, while reinforcing Fransmart’s role at the forefront of scaling some of the world’s most successful fast-casual concepts.
The CIA—widely recognized as one of the world’s premier culinary schools—announced several new trustees as part of its ongoing effort to align education with the rapidly evolving food industry.
Dan Rowe joins a distinguished group of newly appointed board members, including:
- Courtney della Cava (Senior Managing Director at Blackstone)
- Allison Page (co-founder of SevenRooms)
- Amber Pfau (President of Amplify)
Together, this group brings expertise across hospitality, food policy, restaurant operations, and business innovation, helping guide the CIA’s long-term strategy and its Vision 2035 initiative. The CIA’s Board of Trustees consists of 25 highly respected leaders in the foodservice industry and business world. They provide expert governance and guidance for the not-for-profit college and are not compensated for their services
“I am delighted to welcome this new group of leaders to the CIA’s board of trustees,” said Michiel Bakker, CIA’s president. “Each brings a unique and varied skill set and will be instrumental in driving our mission forward both as we embark on our 80th year and in crafting our vision for the future of the Institute.”
As the CIA enters its 80th year, the need for innovation, adaptability, and industry alignment has never been greater. Dan’s appointment signals a continued shift toward integrating real-world expertise into the foundation of culinary education.
And for Fransmart, it’s another step in our mission to help build the next generation of great brands—from the ground up.