A supporter of his local community, Mr. LeClair is active with his local Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce.
ELIZABETH CITY, NC, January 10, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — Andrew J. LeClair, C.A.S., has been inducted into Marquis Who’s Who. As in all Marquis Who’s Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process.
With seven years of expertise as a restaurateur, Mr. LeClair has achieved professional success as the owner of Paradiso Roma Ristorante, a farm-to-table restaurant specializing in pizza and other Italian fare. Drawing on his extensive culinary skills, he leads all aspects of the business, including collaborating with his employees to craft innovative dishes and continually refining menu offerings based on valuable customer feedback. A self-described “pizza alchemist,” he is known for his unique approach to dough, incorporating liquids such as coffee, tomato juice and spinach. Adjacent to his role with the restaurant, Mr. LeClair is a longtime educator and currently works as a Technology Integration Specialist, where he is dedicated to instructing teachers on the optimal use of technology for their classrooms.
Mr. LeClair’s entrance into the hospitality field was foreshadowed during his childhood; as a boy growing up in Virginia Beach, he was exposed to the industry through his mother’s ownership of a restaurant. He continued his foray into the field in college, when he climbed the ranks at a local pizza chain to become one of the youngest general managers, overseeing the company’s second-ranked Florida restaurant at just 18 years of age. Managing the pizza shop not only honed Mr. LeClair’s pizza-making skills, but also taught him valuable leadership and financial skills that would later serve him when he opened his restaurant at the age of 25.
After earning a bachelor’s degree in English and pre-law from Florida Atlantic University, Mr. LeClair entered the teaching profession, spending 12 years teaching high school English and college composition. He continued his education, earning a master’s degree in English in 2022, also from Florida Atlantic University, and he is currently pursuing a Doctor of Education in administration and supervision, with an emphasis on technology integration, at Johns Hopkins University.
Among Mr. LeClair’s career accomplishments, he is particularly proud that Paradiso Roma Ristorante is the first restaurant in its community to receive a nomination for the James Beard Foundation, as well as the fact that the restaurant has maintained a perfect health score since its establishment. Other notable awards have included two OpenTable Diner’s Choice Awards and recognitions by Tripadvisor and Restaurant Guru. The restaurant has also garnered the acclaim of publications such as The Daily Advance and VoyageRaleigh Magazine.
A supporter of his local community, Mr. LeClair is active with his local Elizabeth City Area Chamber of Commerce. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his three children, whom he considers his greatest achievement in life.
About Marquis Who’s Who®:
Since 1899, when A. N. Marquis printed the First Edition of Who’s Who in America®, Marquis Who’s Who® has chronicled the lives of the most accomplished individuals and innovators from every significant field of endeavor, including politics, business, medicine, law, education, art, religion and entertainment. Marquis celebrates its 125th anniversary in 2023, and Who’s Who in America® remains an essential biographical source for thousands of researchers, journalists, librarians and executive search firms around the world. Marquis® publications may be visited at the official Marquis Who’s Who® website at www.marquiswhoswho.com.
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