A company's relationship with its customer often expands to the community at large. Dickey's Barbecue Restaurant CEO Laura Rea Dickey talks one-on-one with Zoomba Group Editorial Director Joe Carbonara on efforts such as the company's Barbecue, Boots & Badges program and its franchisees' relief efforts after Hurricane Harvey, work that enhances the brand, employee loyalty and engagement, and ultimately the guest experience. Judging by Dickey's fast growth, the efforts are not only good works, but also good for business.

Laura Rea Dickey, President, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants

Laura Rea Dickey currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Dickey served as the Chief Information Officer for eight years, and made the transition to CEO after excelling in her previous role. Dickey has worked in the marketing and information technology field for over 15 years, and has led the marketing, IT and training departments at Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. during her time there.

In her time as CIO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., Dickey implemented countless new initiatives to improve the Dickey’s brand and better the business as a whole. Dickey found a way to merge technology and barbecue to create a way to better serve Dickey’s customers as well as the business, and has made Dickey’s a technology leader in restaurant industry.