Keith Rada is associate dean of Academic Affairs at CIA at Greystone in St. Helena, CA. An experienced instructor and hospitality professional, he brings decades of front-of-house leadership and restaurant management experience spanning the east and west coasts of the United States.
Rada joined CIA’s faculty in 2018 as an assistant professor, teaching courses in restaurant operations, wine, business management, financial management, and hospitality. In 2023, he was appointed associate dean, overseeing education and curriculum at Greystone. He continues to teach classes in hospitality and wine and beverage.
Before joining CIA, Rada built a distinguished career in fine-dining and restaurant management. He served as captain with the Altamarea Group in New York City, home to acclaimed restaurants such as Marea, Ai Fiori, and Osteria Morini. Before that, he was general manager at Waterbar and manager at Farallon, both in San Francisco. During his tenure at Waterbar, he guided a six‑person management team, supervised a staff of over 60, and championed collaborative innovations that improved both dining‑room operations and employee performance.
Rada holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Columbia University, where he graduated summa cum laude and was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He is also a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas. In addition, he holds a Human Resources Management Certificate from San Francisco State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Professional Studies in Food Business at CIA.