Triumph Higher Education

Triumph Higher Education President Paul Ryan and Chef Educator Mark Dowling Become Members of Prestigious Culinary Society

CHICAGO (March 7, 2011)—Paul R. Ryan, President of Triumph Higher Education Group, and Chef Mark X. Dowling, Vice President of Academics for the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, were recently inducted into Les Amis d’Escoffier Society Chicago, a highly selective non-profit fraternity of true epicures and connoisseurs, who are dedicated to the propagation of high standards and ethics in the culinary profession. As a respected hotelier and culinary executive, Paul Ryan was also welcomed into the Comite’ de Bonne Bouche for Les Amis Chicago. Limited to 100 members, Ryan and Dowling were the 99th and 100th inductees of the Chicago Chapter.

“Paul and Mark have spent their careers in service to and in promoting the highest culinary standards,” said Chef John Kaufman, President of Les Amis Chicago. “Their innovation and commitment to excellence are reflected yet again in the development of the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts.”

Founded in 1936 in New York, Les Amis d’Escoffier honors and perpetuates the vision of Auguste Escoffier, perhaps the most distinguished and respected name in the culinary world. Known as “The Chef of Kings and the King of Chefs,” no other figure in history has done more for the development and modernization of culinary arts.

Les Amis chapters are in several other major cities across the United States, including Miami and New Orleans. Honorary members of Les Amis also include Chefs Paul Bocuse, Charlie Trotter, and Michel Escoffier, the great- grandson of Auguste Escoffier and president of the Foundation Auguste Escoffier and Musée in Villenueve-Loubet, France.

Ryan has over 30 years of successful leadership in the hospitality and lodging industry. He has held various, single unit, regional, and corporate management leadership positions with such companies as Harley Hotels, Marriott Hotels and Resorts, Red Lion Hotels, and Promus Hotels (now Hilton Hotels). Ryan headed up the Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America for eight years, growing locations to 19 schools throughout the United States before developing Triumph Higher Education Group with John Larson, founder and Executive Chairman of Triumph and former President, CEO and Chairman of Career Education Corporation.

With decades of experience in the foodservice industry and in post-secondary culinary education, Chef Educator Mark Dowling has led culinary teams for Marriott, Amfac and Movenpick Hotels, in California, New York and Europe.  He is certified by the American Culinary Federation as an executive chef and culinary educator, and served as Chief Academic Officer for Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America.

Through an affiliation with The Auguste Escoffier Foundation and Museum in France, along with Michel Escoffier, Triumph Higher Education Group is launching the Auguste Escoffier Schools of Culinary Arts in the United States and internationally. Offering programs for the culinary and pastry arts professionals as well as the home cook and culinary enthusiast, the Auguste Escoffier Schools of Culinary Arts will offer classical training from expert chefs, a unique farm-to-table curriculum and affordable tuition.

Ryan and Dowling were inducted into Les Amis D’Escoffier at black tie gala event held at the Mid-America Club in Chicago, and presented with the Society’s Cordon Rouge by Chef Michel Bouit, president of Les Disciples d’Escoffier U.S.A. Presiding over the eight course dinner of gastronomes was Chairman and Chef John Kaufman, and Secretary Chef Joe Aiello, as well as American Culinary Federation Chefs de Cuisine of Chicago President, Chef Chas Boydston.

About Triumph Higher Education Group

A subsidiary of Triumph Capital, LLC, Triumph Higher Education is a Chicago-based group dedicated to developing global post‐secondary education that is innovative, high quality and affordable. The company is managed by a team of professionals who have decades of experience in launching and cultivating highly successful career‐focused schools, both on‐ground and online.

In April 2010, The Auguste Escoffier Foundation and Museum in France, along with Michel Escoffier, its president and the great grandson of Auguste Escoffier, joined forces with Triumph Higher Ed to create an exciting affiliation through which Triumph will launch the Auguste Escoffier Schools of Culinary Arts in the United States and internationally. Triumph acquired The Culinary Academy of Austin in Texas, and the Culinary School of the Rockies in Boulder, CO in June and July 2010. Building on the success of these boutique culinary schools and pending necessary regulatory approvals, Triumph plans to transition them to the Auguste Escoffier Schools of Culinary Arts.

For more information, see http://www.triumpheducation.com

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