Wally Doolin

Wallace Blair Doolin is a widely recognized and respected leader within the global hospitality industry. Doolin’s breadth of operating experience working with multiple concepts on a global basis in a range of circumstances from turn around, start up, high growth, public ownership and private ownership. He has served as a President, CEO and board member of public and private companies. Doolin is unique by leveraging his operating experience into becoming a successful entrepreneur and expert in hospitality technology and business intelligence. Doolin’s commitment to being actively involved in the foodservice industry has established him as a trusted, competent and effective leader.

Currently, Doolin is Chairman and Founder of TDn2K (Transforming Data into Knowledge), the holding company of People Report, the leader in human capital workforce intelligence for the restaurant industry, White Box Social Intelligence, a leading social business intelligence tool and Black Box Intelligence. He is the founder of Black Box Intelligence, a state of the art business intelligence product for the restaurant industry. Additionally, he serves as a Trustee Emeriti of the National Restaurant Association and is a past chairman of the National Restaurant Association's Education Foundation. Other current responsibilities include serving as a board director for SplickIt, a mobile technology company, PhaseNext Hospitality, a nontraditional operator/franchisee, Fine Spice a multi brand restaurant startup company and Share Our Strength a leading non-profit committed to ending childhood hunger. Previously,

Doolin served as President of Applebee’s, CEO of Buca, Inc. and La Madeleine. Doolin served on public boards including Caribou Coffee, Famous Dave’s and Buca, Inc. as Chairman. Doolin’s most notable assignment was as CEO of Carlson Restaurants/ TGI Fridays growing it from 300 restaurants in 2 countries to over 750 restaurants in 55 countries and $2.4 billion in revenue.

Doolin and his wife Joni have established a scholarship for women and minorities with the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation and have been active in charitable work in Ethiopia, Honduras and domestically. Doolin lives and leads by his belief that “the reward of leadership is creating jobs and opportunities that improve lives.”