Rodney Morris

Chief People Officer

Romano’s Macaroni Grill®

Rodney Morris is a visionary executive leader with extensive expertise in all facets of human resources for high-growth corporations. With over twenty years of experience recruiting, motivating and leading highly effective teams in the hospitality industry, Morris was named Chief People Officer at Romano’s Macaroni Grill in July 2010. In his role, Morris manages the recruitment, human resources, compensation, benefits, training, and development teams.

Prior to joining Macaroni Grill, Morris was the Chief People Officer for Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers® based in Dallas, TX. Before Raising Cane’s, Morris served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources for Fired Up, Inc., operating as Carino’s Italian restaurants. In that role, he was responsible for strategic oversight of human resources, recruiting and performance development functions for the Company that was recognized by Nation’s Restaurant News and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation as the 2008 SPIRIT Award winner in the category of Full Service. This prestigious accomplishment honors organizations with exemplary recruiting, training and retention programs who truly understand that enhancing employee satisfaction ultimately leads to improved guest satisfaction.

Prior to joining Fired Up, Inc., Morris served as Vice President of Human Resources – Emerging Concepts at Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc. His extensive career has also included senior human resources positions at Pasta Pomodoro, Inc., World Wrapps, Inc., Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp. and Wyatt Cafeteria’s, Inc. During his tenure at Pasta Pomodoro, Inc. the Company was recognized by The People Reportâ„¢ as a Catalyst Award recipient based on the success of its people initiatives.
Morris recently completed his tenure as chairperson of the Certification Governing Board for the Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association (NRA), responsible for the oversight of all certification programs offered by the NRA. He is a member of the Board of Directors for both the National Diversity Council and The People Reportâ„¢ and past President of the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers (CHART).

A frequent speaker, Morris has presented at several CHART conferences, the Multi-Cultural Foodservice Hospitality Alliance (MFHA) conference, the California and Texas State Diversity conferences, the National Restaurant Show, and The People Report’sâ„¢ Best Practices conferences.

In 2008, Morris was recognized by the Texas Diversity Council with a DiversityFIRSTâ„¢ Award for his support of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. Rodney is also a recipient of the 2003 Elliot “Motivator of the Year” Award, CHART’s Year 2000 “Commitment to CHART” award, and was a 1999 recipient of an “Honorary Doctorate of Foodservice” Award by the North America Foodservice Equipment Manufacturer’s Association.

Rodney is a graduate of Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration.