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ASI Show Chicago 2026: Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun imparts his business expertise in keynote Q&A. Adamolekun spoke with ASI CEO Ashish Mittal about the commonalities between restaurant service and promotional products, and how promo pros can make improvements without feeling like they need to reinvent themselves. Key Takeaways - Strong leadership starts with staying calm under pressure, understanding front-line operations and making targeted improvements instead of overreacting to short-term problems. - Adamolekun said businesses succeed by protecting what customers already love while making thoughtful, incremental changes that modernize the experience without abandoning the brand's identity. - Creating moments of "unexpected delight" and building trust through personalized service are competitive advantages that promotional products distributors can apply to strengthen client relationships. Red Lobster was on the brink. All of the news was negative. The restaurant was bankrupt and seemingly days away from shuttering as an entire franchise for good. And then came Damola Adamolekun. Before taking over as the CEO of Red Lobster, Adamolekun had worked his magic for P.F. Chang's, stepping into the leadership role just as the restaurant world was being rocked by the COVID-19 pandemic. "That was about as bad as it could go," Adamolekun said in a keynote conversation with ASI CEO Ashish Mittal at ASI Show Chicago on July 23. Before his time at P.F. Chang's or Red Lobster, though, his life had taken plenty of twists and turns. He was born in Nigeria, and lived for a time in Zimbabwe and The Netherlands before settling in Maryland, where he grew up with his physician father and pharmacist mother, whom he described as something of a serial entrepreneur. That sense of work ethic and opportunism rubbed off on Adamolekun and his brother, who was his "business partner" in various childhood endeavors. Following his education, including at Harvard Business School, Adamolekun was ready to take on the industry's toughest challenges thanks to everything that he had experienced in his life. "When a child's first tooth comes in, it's the worst pain they've ever experienced because they've never felt anything else," he said. "When you first play sports, they make you run hills and it's the worst thing you've ever done. But then it gets easier, and when they ask you to do something hard, you find that you can do it." Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun joined ASI CEO Ashish Mittal at ASI Show Chicago to discuss his leadership journey and the work he's done at Red Lobster. Adamolekun's friends and peers see him as calm and self-assured, something he says is necessary for a leader in any capacity, especially one who has been tasked with saving a giant brand like Red Lobster. "You can't lead if you're panicking," he says. "People will look at you and they'll panic, too." Relying on service. Adamolekun's current role is in the restaurant space, but his lessons are applicable for promo pros. They're both in the service industry, if you think about it. He equates food service and the expectations that come with it to what a distributor does. They have to deliver on time, manage multiple touchpoints - whether line cooks or suppliers - and be personable with the customer and find solutions that make everyone happy. Managing a company that wasn't performing well financially, he had to look at things like pricing and budgets the same way a promotional products distributor at any level would. In the process of revitalizing Red Lobster, Adamolekun got on the ground floor immediately, visiting locations to find common issues at individual franchises, and scaling it upward to fix issues at the corporate level. "It's a people business, what we do," he said. "You can't sit in an ivory tower and expect things to go well." You also can't paint in broad strokes when analyzing your business, he says. He uses the example of certain menu items that weren't selling by the time he took over. The company had clearly been successful for decades before him; something had changed, and it wasn't just the food. "Endless shrimp was successful for 20 years, and it was unsuccessful for three," he said. "I didn't need to get rid of the whole thing. I just needed to restore it to what it used to be." This "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater" approach allowed Adamolekun and Red Lobster to retain its core group of loyal customers - of which there were still plenty - while also making tweaks to appeal to a modern audience. The company introduced new products and services and made tweaks along the way, like adding variable spice levels to the seafood boil. These weren't enormous swings or paradigm-shifting decisions, they were calculated and thoughtful changes that went along with the goal of keeping what works and fixing what doesn't. "People love Red Lobster; that was something when I took this job that excited me," he said. "It matters to a lot of people, and that's the most important thing. It's hard to build. And when you have it, it's the most important thing to protect. When people love your business, you can fix the small stuff." He related this to promotional products by saying that, ultimately, the product a distributor is selling is their humanity. Once you build trust among your client base and a reputation for quality, the hard work is done. Now, it's just routine maintenance when the occasion calls for it. "Try not to make big mistakes," he said. "You don't want to make fatal mistakes. You're going to have failures, but you want to get the important things right." Finding opportunities for 'unexpected delight' Red Lobster is not a Michelin-starred restaurant, but that doesn't mean the ownership doesn't look for ways that its staff can make customers feel extra special and welcomed. Sure, they might not have monogrammed pashmina shawls to bring a patron when they overhear them say they're a little chilly, but Adamolekun says each franchise looks for moments of "unexpected delight," like hearing it's a special occasion or celebration at a table and delivering a special moment. In promo, these moments of unexpected delight can be things like branded gifts, thank-yous sent to top clients or partners, or especially thoughtful details in a product design. "This is a thing they'll remember forever," Adamolekun said, "especially if it's a special occasion." It might have seemed like Adamolekun was given the most difficult job in the world, but he doesn't see it that way. Maybe that's that quiet confidence that he's known for, but when he's asked how he almost single-handedly rescued Red Lobster and all its delicious Cheddar Bay Biscuits (which attendees received) from certain doom, he makes it all sound so simple: Don't change who you are or what you do, because people love that. Instead, make small changes and find what works. Sometimes that will come with minor setbacks, and all it takes is readjusting - no big deal. And make sure that everyone who engages with your product, whether you're selling high-end goods or reasonably priced seafood, feels like the most special customer in the world.

Red Lobster CEO, former NFL star headline Black Tech Week. All to know. Cincinnati Enquirer Updated July 13, 2026, 11:06 a.m. ET The three-day event attracts thousands of founders, investors and creatives, engaging in keynotes, workshops, fireside chats and networking events, to venues around the Queen City, per its website. What is Black Tech Week? Black Tech Week is an event where thousands of people from different industries, backgrounds and experience levels gather together to learn from and network with other technology professionals. Felecia Hatcher and Derick Pearson founded Black Tech Week in 2013 in Miami, Florida. In 2022, Lightship Foundation CEO Candice Matthews-Brackeen and Lightship Capital general partner Brian Brackeen acquired ownership of the event and brought it to Cincinnati. Black Tech Week has wide career potential for its attendees, with specialized opportunities for founders, investors, students and business partners alike. When is Black Tech Week 2026? July 14-16. Where is Black Tech Week 2026? Black Tech Week take place at various locations around downtown Cincinnati, including the Aronoff Center, Contemporary Arts Center, Procter & Gamble Hall and Jarson-Kaplan Theater. See the schedule a little further down for more details. Who is the keynote speaker at Black Tech Week 2026? Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun is Black Tech Week's keynote speaker this year. The Nigerian-born Harvard Business School alum took over Red Lobster's operations in August 2024, becoming the youngest CEO in Red Lobster's history at 35. Now, at 37, Adamolekun has turned the company's operations around after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2024, per CNBC. Before he was the Red Lobster CEO, Adamolekun served as the CEO of P.F. Chang's from 2020 to 2023. He has also been featured in numerous publications, such as Forbes, Fortune, Business Insider, Bloomberg News, CNBC, Nation's Restaurant News and more. How can I buy tickets for Black Tech Week? Tickets for Black Tech Week are still available, with prices varying depending on the ticket. For more information, visit blacktechweek.com. Black Tech Week 2026 schedule. Here's a list of some notable Black Tech Week events. Check out the full three-day schedule at blacktechweek.com. July 14. Human After All: Creativity in an Algorithmic World * What: A conversation on protecting imagination, originality and human instinct in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms. * Who: NPR's Angel Suttle is joined by Zandria Ross and Alante Serene. * When: 10-10:45 a.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. App Development * What: ThinkMODA's Rod Walton takes a practical look at how ideas become products, from early concept to a usable app people can engage with. * When: 11-11:45 a.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. Who Gets Counted? The Hidden Power of Data in Culture, Media, and Medicine * What: Nielsen's Charlene Polite Corley and Antoinette Houston explore how data shapes visibility, access and decision-making across culture, media and medicine. * When: 11-11:45 a.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. High Tech, Low Tech: Building What's Next * What: TotalCare Studio's Sydney Davis and Regina Carswell Russo explore what it takes to build meaningful solutions with the right mix of technology, instinct and execution. * When: 1-1:45 p.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. You're Not Overlooked, You're Mispositioned * What: Learn how clearer positioning can change how people understand your value, your work and your next move. * When: 1-1:45 p.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. Legacy and Leadership * What: Former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champ Anquan Boldin, with the Players Coalition and Sport for Impact, discusses leading with purpose, building influence and creating impact that lasts. * When: 2-2:45 p.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. Global Partnerships * What: A practical conversation with Annette Richardson on building partnerships that travel across markets, industries and borders. * When: 2-2:45 p.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. Enterprise Business Development * What: Earl Patton, with Allocation (A Cyphr Ventures Co.), showcases how to navigate enterprise relationships, open the right doors and build partnerships that drive growth. * When: 3-3:45 p.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. Opening Ceremony * What: Black Tech Week officially begins with a high-energy celebration of community, culture and what comes next. * When: 5-7 p.m. * Where: American Sign Museum, 1330 Monmouth Ave., Cincinnati. Wednesday, July 15. Using Your Influence for Good * What: Explore how leaders can turn visibility, access and influence into meaningful action with Tylik McMillan and Will Allen. * When: 10-10:45 a.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. 90 Days to Save the Brand: Community-Centric Building with Kim Lewis * When: 11-11:45 a.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. Beyond the Prompt * What: Move past surface-level AI use and explore how stronger thinking leads to stronger outcomes with BoyTwigg's Alex Malebranche. * When: 11-11:45 a.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. IP, Ownership, and the Global Creator Economy * What: A conversation on protecting ideas, building ownership and creating lasting value in a global creator economy with Opulent Entertainment Group's Denim Richards and Annette Richardson. * When: 1-1:45 p.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. Engineering at Scale * What: Learn what it takes to build systems, teams and technical operations that can grow without losing clarity with Karl Seyfried. * When: 1-1:45 p.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. Careers in AI * What: Explore the skills, pathways and opportunities shaping the next generation of careers in artificial intelligence with Brandon Johnson. * When: 2-2:45 p.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. The 26 Hours: Reclaim your time. Amplify your potential * What: An immersive, game-inspired experience where you'll explore AI solutions for work, learning and everyday life with Lightship Foundation's Sindhia Bhanu Chilamakuru. * When: 3-3:45 p.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. What My Last Deal Taught Me * What: Vaugh Crowe with NVP Capital, Damia Murray with Level Up Ventures and Derrick Maultsby Jr. with FBT Gibbons LLP share the lessons, tradeoffs and real decisions behind their most recent deals. * When: 3-3:45 p.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. Thursday, July 16. Personal Branding * What: Learn how to communicate your value, build trust and create a personal brand people remember with ZoneofGenius.com's Ramon Ray. * When: 10-10:45 a.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. Machine Manufacturing * What: Explore how technology, production and new ideas are reshaping the future of manufacturing with Bobby Donor. * When: 11-11:45 a.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. JobsOhio Presents: Why Ohio, Why Now? * What: ThinkMODA with Rod Walton, Eric Kearney and Nicholas Archer hold discussion for JobOhio. * When: 11-11:45 a.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. The Bold Reset: Leadership, Transformation, and What's Next * What: A keynote discussion between Lightship Foundation CEO Candice Matthews Brackeen and Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun. * When: 1-1:45 p.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. * When: 2-2:45 p.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. Building Platforms People Actually LOVE * What: A practical conversation on creating products and platforms people want to use, trust and return to with Pinterest's Eugene Partridge III, Ronke Olaleye and Valerie Rodriguez. * When: 2-2:45 p.m. * Where: Procter & Gamble Hall, 650 Walnut St. Transitioning from the Corporate World to Entrepreneurship * What: Learn how to translate corporate experience into founder confidence, business strategy and a clear next chapter with Sherpa Sports AI CEO and Founder DJ Johnson. * When: 3-3:45 p.m. * Where: Jarson-Kaplan Theater, 650 Walnut St. The Enquirer's Grace Tucker contributed to this report. 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Santa Maria restaurant closing after 32 years. Posted 12:08 PM, Jul 10, 2026 and last updated 1 hour and 17 minutes ago A longtime Santa Maria restaurant will be shutting its doors for the final time next month. Representatives for Red Lobster tell KSBY the location at 1525 S. Bradley Rd. will close on Aug. 31. The closure comes "as part of our normal course of business," the representative stated, adding that, "Red Lobster continuously evaluates individual restaurant performance and lease terms and may, from time to time, choose to close select restaurants. This closure reflected specific decisions tied to the unique operating conditions at this restaurant. We remain committed to making thoughtful decisions that position Red Lobster for long-term success, stability and growth." The restaurant, known for its "fresh seafood and endless Cheddar Bay Biscuits(R), has been operating along S. Bradley Road since 1994. Red Lobster has more than 500 locations in the United States and Canada.