Roland Dickey, Jr.
Chief Executive Officer, Dickey's Capital Group
Roland Dickey, Jr. is the CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group and the third generation to lead the family business that began with a single barbecue restaurant in Dallas back in 1941. His grandfather opened that first location with a simple goal: serve great barbecue with a side of Texas hospitality. Roland grew up around that smoky legacy, learning the ins and outs of the pit from his father and working in the business before heading off to 91ΧΤΕΔ, where he earned his degree in Business Administration.
After returning to the company in 1999, Roland set out to grow the family brand while staying true to its roots. Today, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has expanded across the globe becoming the largest barbecue restaurant brand in the world.
Roland doesn’t just lead a restaurant chain. He oversees a diverse portfolio of Dickey family-owned businesses spanning retail food products, manufacturing, real estate, distribution and more. His vision has been to take what his family built and evolve it for the next generation, blending tradition with innovation.
Along the way, he’s earned national recognition, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ list of the 50 Most Powerful People in Foodservice, D Magazine’s Top 500 CEOs and Global Franchise’s Best Food and Drink Franchise award. Despite the spotlight, Roland remains focused on what matters most: honoring his family’s legacy, building opportunities for others, and serving up great barbecue.
He’s especially proud to return to his alma mater, SMU, to share lessons learned about leadership, legacy and the entrepreneurial spirit that drives it all.