Mike Raborn, CPCE

For Director of Membership Recruitment

As catering and event professionals, I love that NACE brings us together. It's a place where we can share successes, challenges, best practices, trends and more. There are many professionals in our area that are not aware of our organization or the benefits of a membership. During this unique time in our industry, I believe now more than ever in the importance of a NACE membership.

I believe NACE New Orleans needs to be an invaluable resource and training for Covid (Safety, Event Production, Laws/Liability), employment resources, and catering/events training. CPCE certifications need to be a priority for our membership, resume workshops, headshots, so that when companies begin hiring, our membership will stand out from the crowd.

Biography

Mike Raborn was born in New Orleans and raised in the Baton Rouge area.  Mike was a foodie before it was cool.  From picking blackberries in the wild for his mom to make blackberry cobbler, to working in his dad's garden, summers working on his uncle's dairy farm and catching crabs by hand in Grand Isle.  Food was a strong influence for Raborn growing up.  After high school he joined the Navy to see the world.  He enjoyed learning about wine and food through his travels in Europe and the Caribbean.  After the Navy, Raborn worked for the Ritz Carlton Amelia Island, Florida where he learned about the finer points of service.  Upon his return to New Orleans, Raborn earned his Hospitality Degree from Delgado Community College and his career took off in restaurant management.  He was the GM at the Pelican Club Restaurant, Cafe Adelaide and Assistant GM at the Southern Yacht Club.  In those positions he was also in charge of banquet sales.  He loved working with clients, planning their events and found his passion in events and catering.  First working with a DMC, then as the Director of Catering at Loyola and Tulane University.  After working in the university sector for six years he moved on to a position as Director of Catering and Events with the Link Restaurant Group.

Raborn has been a member of the New Orleans Chapter of Nace since June of 2013.  He is a former board member, and earned his CPCE in 2020.  Raborn has attended multiple NACE and Catersource conferences over the years and values ongoing education in the Catering and Events industry.  Raborn won the NACE 2015 Best Catered Off-Premise Event of the Year.

Raborn has been an active member in the community volunteering as the Director of Events for the Mid-City Neighborhood Association and planning the annual Mid-City Porch Crawl.  He currently resides in Gretna with his Miniature Doberman Pinscher, Pinot.