Francois Dionot, founder and director of L’Academie de Cuisine based in Gaithersburg, Md., was chosen one of the 25 CEOs You Need to Know for 2010 in The Montgomery County Gazette of Politics and Business. Dionot received his award at a luncheon held on May 13 at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, Md. As stated by the Gazette’s publisher, “In a tough economy, a good CEO helps a company survive and a great CEO helps a company thrive.”

Dionot established the school in 1976 when gourmet cooking was becoming popular and people were teaching cooking classes out of their homes. The school has grown to include two campuses, full-time professional culinary and pastry-arts programs and more than 1,000 recreational cooking classes each year. In an industry with a reputation for chasing the latest trends, LAC has remained relevant for more than 30 years by focusing on classic French techniques. “It’s like learning to walk before you can run,” says Dionot. “Even the most progressive and innovative chefs first master the basics.”

Dionot teaches students in each phase of the professional program and counsels the students on their final project and on their externships. As a school that places each of its students in area fine-dining restaurants, pastry shops and hotels, Dionot is a major influence within the Washington, D.C., culinary community. For more info, visit www.lacademie.com.