Dave began his career as a line cook at Red Lobster at the age of 17. At the time he had no college degree, but soon began to climb the ranks of the company, becoming a General Manager, then a Regional Manager. His deep understanding and commitment to the Olive Garden brand and his abiding respect for the team helped propel him to even greater management opportunities. After 30 years with the company, Dave was appointed President of Olive Garden. In 2011, he returned to his roots at Darden to become President of Red Lobster, where he leads a company with nearly 700 restaurants, 60,000 employees and $2.5 billion in annual sales.