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Culver's operators named Wisconsin Restaurateurs of the Year

March 20, 2012

Craig and Lea Culver, of Culver's Restaurants, have been named Restaurateurs of the Year by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.

The Restaurateur of the Year is given to one restaurant operator (or couple) each year. The Culvers were announced as the winners at the WRA's annual awards dinner held in Milwaukee earlier this month, in conjunction with the Wisconsin Restaurant Expo.

The Restaurateur of the Year award is given to an operator who demonstrates participation and service to the restaurant association, success within their own restaurant and participation in community activities. Winners are selected at a private meeting of past Restaurateur of the Year recipients.

Craig and Lea Culver are co-founders of the restaurant chain with Craig's late parents, Ruth and George Culver. They opened the first Culver's restaurant in 1984 in a converted A&W stand in Sauk City, Wisc. They now own nine Culvers and oversee more than 440 Culvers restaurants in 19 states as part of the business's franchising arm, Culver Franchising System Inc.

The couple met during their college years while working at the Farm Kitchen Resort in Devil's Lake, Wisc., which was owned by Ruth and George.

The Culvers have been strong supporters of education and philanthropy and are active in a number of organizations. Craig serves as a board member for the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh Foundation, the Bank of Prairie du Sac and Kwik Trip. He is also chair for the Wisconsin Historical Society's Forward Campaign. He plays active roles in the Wisconsin Restaurant Association and the Wisconsin Professional Golfers' Association.

Lea is executive director of Culver's VIP Foundation Inc. and serves on the boards for the Wisconsin Restaurant Association Education Foundation, the Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital Foundation and the American Family Children's Hospital Advisory Board.

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