An interview with Dustin Bennett, branch manager/estimator/designer, NOLA Restaurant Supply & Design, LLC.
For a complete list of FE&S's Future Foodservice Leaders see The Future Is Now.
Name: Dustin Bennett
Company: NOLA Restaurant Supply & Design, LLC
Title: Branch Manager/ Estimator/ Designer
Age: 27
Industry involvement: Installation, Consulting & Design
Years in foodservice: 6
Educational background: Bachelor's in Information Technology
What's the most important lesson you have learned?
Always follow up (on orders, customers, field dimensions, etc.). If you don't then it's guaranteed to come back and bite you.
What's the best career advice you have been given?
Always do what you say you're going to do.
What makes you want to stay in the industry?
The constant challenges and the people I meet.
What attracted you to the industry?
It's a family business and I enjoy sales.
What has been your proudest accomplishment?
Starting up a brand new store all on my own just two years ago. From laying out the showroom to painting the walls and hiring the employees, it has been a journey, but it feels great knowing that it was once only an idea. Now this location has already done over $2 million in just 2012.
Describe the biggest challenge you have overcome.
I would say putting Restaurant Revolution together was a huge challenge. Coming in after the initial kitchen designer and not seeing all of the flaws until they hit me in the face. Also, a big challenge has been overcoming existing building conditions and the common contractor issues on a larger scale.
What excites you most about the foodservice industry?
That there are always new opportunities...
If you could improve one thing about the industry, what would it be?
I would improve communication from equipment manufacturers.
