Laughter and Conversations…Sept 09
- Submitted by Deanna Willis, Decatur, IL (photographer unknown)
CONVERSATIONS
DID YOU KNOW…?
Clarence Otis, Jr.
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.
- Submitted by Shirley Beasley, Decatur, IL (Author unknown)
BLACK OWNED SYRUP IN STORES
First African American Syrup Vendor
Although you can purchase this brand at Wal-Mart and most grocers, please understand the importance of picking it up at Sam’s or Costco (if you have a membership). It was a monumental task (short of God ordaining it) to get shelf space at the warehouse stores.
If you see this syrup in your Costco, BJ’s, or Sam’s Club, please support this label.
This is the first African American Vendor at one of these stores. Let’s buy some pancake syrup!!! Michele Hoskins, CEO/founder of Michele Foods recently became the FIRST African American vendor with Costco! She was on the Oprah Show and told her story, rising from welfare to faring well.
She is asking ALL people, regardless of color, to support her by going to Costco and purchasing a bottle of her pancake syrup @ the cost of $3.25. If your local Costco doesn’t have the product, PLEASE ask for it as she is trying to open the doors for ALL MINORITY vendors to gain entry on the shelves of Costco.
The website is: http://www.michelefoods.com/ and the company is out of Chicago, IL.
Submitted by Dennis Cooper, Decatur, IL (Author unknown)
I must admit, I have been a bit slow on reading your e-newletters lately. Something made me slow down enough to say ” Let’s see how Velma’s e-newsletters are coming alone”. I was simply blown out of the water with this one. It is so encouraging and inspiring. I pray that God’s favor will continue to be on your life and that you will continue allow Him to guide you in all you do.
Thelma A - Collierville,TN.
September 18, 2009