Popular Athens restaurant owner to lead non-profit’s board.
Wholesome Wave Georgia (WWG) is excited to announce that Athens-based chef and restaurateur Peter Dale will serve as our new Board Chair, and Lawton Bloom will serve as our Board Treasurer.
A WWG board member since 2021, Dale is a passionate advocate for sustainable and equitable food systems. He will play a critical role in advancing WWG’s mission to get fresh food, and more of it, from local farmers to families in need.
Dale is a University of Georgia alum and has been a fixture in the Athens culinary scene for decades. After beginning his career as an apprentice at Five & Ten, he honed his skills internationally before returning home to launch a series of successful restaurants, including Maepole, a health-focused eatery, and Condor Chocolates. In 2024, Dale came full circle by acquiring Five & Ten, the restaurant where his journey began.
“I believe access to healthy food is a human right, and when people eat nutritious, whole foods, they experience better health outcomes and rely less on prescription drugs,” said Dale. “Becoming Board Chair at this time is important to me because I want to build on WWG’s strong legacy, expanding its reach while ensuring long-term financial sustainability.”
With Dale leading the way, WWG aims to deepen its community impact, strengthening food accessibility programs across the state of Georgia.
“Peter’s deep-rooted passion for food, community, and accessibility aligns perfectly with Wholesome Wave Georgia’s mission to expand fresh, healthy food options for all Georgians,” said Will Sellers, WWG’s Executive Director. “His leadership and experience in the culinary world will be invaluable as we continue to grow and strengthen our impact. We look forward to the exciting journey ahead.”
A board member since 2023, Lawton Bloom is a Senior Managing Director and Principal of Argus Management Corporation. Since joining Argus in 1999, he has provided interim executive or financial advisory services to over 90 companies across a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, distribution, construction, e-commerce, media, food service, and telecom.
Lawton holds an A.B. from Princeton University and an MPA from Cornell University. He lives in Atlanta with his wife and two daughters.
