Press Enter to search or select a section to narrow results

MEET THE CEO OF OLIVE GARDEN AND RED LOBSTER

MEET THE CEO OF OLIVE GARDEN AND RED LOBSTER

Siebra Muhammad · Saturday, November 21st 2009 at 8:31PM · 2694 views
Each week tens of thousands of diners eat at an Olive Garden or Red Lobster restaurant. Few of these diners know that the CEO heading these large restaurant chains is a black man.

Clarence Otis Jr. Is the CEO of Darden Restaurants Inc., the largest casual dining operator in the nation. The firm operates nearly 1,400 company-owned restaurants coast to coast serving 300 million meals annually. Darden employs 150,000 workers and has annual revenues of $6 billion.

Born in Vicksburg , Mississippi , Otis moved to Los Angeles when he was 6 years old. His father was a high school dropout who worked as a janitor. The family lived in Watts at the time of the 1965 riots. In the post-Watts period, Otis recalls being stopped and questioned by police several times a year because of the color of his skin.

A high school guidance counselor recommended him for a scholarship at Williams College , The highly selective liberal arts institution in Massachusetts . Otis graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Williams and went on to earn a law degree at Stanford. Otis landed on Wall Street as a merger and acquisitions attorney for J.P. Morgan Securities. He joined Darden Restaurants in 1995 as corporate treasurer. He became CEO in 2004.

About the Author

Siebra Muhammad New Orleans, LA

Share This Article

Comments (7)

Siebra Muhammad Saturday, November 21st 2009 at 8:32PM

This is how I would like my people to comport themselves. Education will always open doors for those that aspire to expand their opportunities to live a better life!!!

How many of us—or anyone else—knew this?!

We know now.

Marquerite Burgess Sunday, November 22nd 2009 at 2:39AM

Hi Sister, I can't speak for the rest, but I did know this. I would recommend that more people read " Black Enterprise" Magazine, which is where I learned about this and so many other people of color both men and women in positions at companies and other places that many would truly be surprised. As always, keep the positive information flowing.

Harry Watley Sunday, November 22nd 2009 at 9:05AM

Hello Siebra and Marquerite,

Mr. Clarence Otis Jr. story is an individual success just to a certain point. On the other hand, it is neither a success story nor an encouraging one for the entire population of Black Americans who are descendents of slaves except to be subservient to White Americans as we make them wealthy.

In other words, Mr. Clarence story is no better or different from an individual Black person who on a regular basis picked more bales of cotton than the average Black cotton pickers on the plantation that made the old slave master wealthier by the year.

Siebra, I could see that you do not realize what you are encouraging when you said this, “ This is how I would like my people to comport themselves.”

I do not want Black Americans to comport to the success of White America, not that I have anything against White America’s success.

However, I am more concerned about the specific success, sovereignty and complete independence of Black Americans who are descendents of slaves on a portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders. We as Black Americans need to have our hands on the helm of our destiny and not on the destiny of Olive Garden or Red Lobster restaurants, if you could understand what I mean, Siebra.

Do not promote individual success above collective success of our people, please.

Siebra, our time has come that we are going to become a sovereign people on a portion of this continent. Our time did not come in Mr. Elijah or Mr. Farrakhan’s time. I am Black America’s first genuine prophet who will lead us into our Promise Land if you will.

Tell me what you think.

Steve Williams Sunday, November 22nd 2009 at 9:24AM

Hello Harry,

Individual success leads to collective success. It is a shame you find anything negative about this, or anyone utilizing education for advancement. You sound like a witch doctor.

Harry Watley Sunday, November 22nd 2009 at 10:25AM

Hello Steve,

Since you do not have the quality of intelligence that God has bestowed upon me, I would understand why you would think that individual success leads to collective success. On the other hand, the philosophy of individual success is the nonsense Whites feeds to Blacks, which inherently keeps Blacks divided, which is a benefit to Whites keeping Blacks subjugated people.

For instance, nothing that takes more than one person to do could ever be a success. There are only but a few things that individuals could do successfully and one of these things is cleaning their asses after taking a crap, am I right.

On the other hand, when it comes to embracing the concept of sovereignty, which is a highly noble thing or becoming an independent people it must be done collectively. Remember, the Declaration of Independence is a document done collectively, which for Whites was a highly noble and precious thing.

I do not fault you for your ignorance, Steve. However, you are no match for me.

What say you?

Siebra Muhammad Sunday, November 22nd 2009 at 8:31PM

Harry,

The Beautiful thing about blogging is that I can delete a persons comments without even reading them. It's a wonderful thing. It most certainly is.

Harry you are in error both in the subject matter and the handling of everyone on BIA. If you are living in a glass house don't throw no stones. Remember that song? I used to hear that song all the time growing up and the words never meant to me then what they mean to me now. You Harry are neither teaching us right from wrong nor striving to help us with our salvation, liberation, and freedom.

You and the other idiots who thinks your knowledge of the plight of Black America as it stand today far exceeds everyone else's on this forum should be dealt with just like an idiot. ALL OF THEM, even yourself Brother.

Again, what the hell are you talking about? What have you PRODUCED so far to bring this sovereignity issue into fruition? You have failed to mention this.

So do we lack intelligence? No Sir, we're just keeping it real and on the right path. Maybe you should try it and stop trying to twist the teachings to fit your own jackass agenda. It's makes a world of difference.





Harry Watley Sunday, November 22nd 2009 at 9:03PM

Hello Siebra,

You said this, “What have you PRODUCED so far to bring this sovereignity issue into fruition? You have failed to mention this.”

It is too early to make a judgment. It took Moses approximately 20 years before any positive results would be seen. It took Prophet Mohammed over 13 years before any positive; results would be seen as well. I have been anointed going on three years now and BIA knows me for almost 2 years now. So, what is it that you are looking for, Ms. Siebra? Do you want me to fail? Is not our sovereignty on a portion of this continent and extremely good thing?

Well anyway, what I am doing that is fruitful is talking to you and constantly bracing myself for your insults. I am the corner stone that the builders rejected and you, Ms. Siebra represent the builders.

Again, I promote and advocate the sovereignty of Black Americans on a portion of this continent that we could call our very own country with borders to pursue life, liberty, happiness and prosperity in our own way. Our sovereignty on the portion of this continent is going to happen. On the other hand, Mr. Farrakhan does not promote our complete independence as a people.

Mr. Farrakhan is an activist. He promotes that we clean up our communities. I am Black America’s first genuine prophet. Consequentially there is a big difference between Mr. Farrakhan and myself. Mr. Farrakhan made himself while God made me. Anyone could do what Mr. Farrakhan is doing, but only a chosen one could do what I do, am I right.

Tell me what you think.

Post a Comment

Please log in to post comments.