Dirk J. Smith 229 C.N Hilton Hotel Houston Texas 77204-3028 CAREER Dirk Smith grew up in the hospitality industry. At the age of 10, he began working in the kitchen of his family’s award-winning restaurant, Chateau Louise, outside of Chicago, Illinois. 1986: Dirk began his professional restaurant career as a successful manager at Taco Bell. His operational successes helped him rise through the ranks to a corporate position, including: 1991 Zone Manager of Operation Services, Houston, TX 1990 Market Manager Houston, TX 1989 Manager of Operations, Planning & Development Irvine, CA 1987 District Manager, Houston, TX 1996: Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises and Brinker International. As Regional Manager, Dirk developed CORNER BAKERY CAFÉS on the West Coast. 1999: Senior Director of Operation, Diedrich Coffee, Inc. Responsible for U.S. Company Operations.
Entrepreneurship 28 Years 1991: Dirk developed and opened Sizzlin’ Quick Hamburgers, a new value driven QSR in Pasadena, Texas. His distribution method was franchising. The company opened nine (9) restaurants in two years. 1993: Hot’ n Now Brand Dirk purchased sixty-four QSR restaurants from Taco Bell & PepsiCo. The negotiation evolved into purchasing sixty-four (64) restaurants and a development agreement included territories in Portland Oregon, Las Vegas Nevada, Kansas City Missouri, Omaha Nebraska, Birmingham Alabama, Jacksonville and Orlando Florida. 2001: Diedrich Franchisee Dirk purchased three Diedrich Coffeehouses in Houston, Texas from the troubled franchisor Diedrich Coffee, Inc. Since 2001, Diedrich Coffee has won several local awards including "CITY'S BEST AWARD". In 2006, Zagat created a survey guide to the top places across the nation for coffee and tea specialty drinks. In Houston, Dirk’s coffee shops won the top spot in 8 of the 14 categories surveyed. The following are the 8 coveted categories Diedrich Coffee won: Telephone: 714-336-9005 E-mail: dirkjons@aol.com
Dirk J. Smith 229 C.N Hilton Hotel Houston Texas 77204-3028 •
Best Cup of Regular Coffee,
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Best Latte, Best Flavored Hot Coffee,
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Best Flavor-Blended Iced,
Best Espresso,
Best Cappuccino,
Best Iced Coffee,
Best Varieties of Flavored Tea
2003: BRILO LLC: Dirk started investing in real estate in 1991. Today, the company owns multiple properties including apartments, a retail strip center and rental homes in Houston and California. 2006: Golden Paws School of Dog Styling: Dirk purchased a Texas state licensed School that trains students to professionally groom dogs. 2010: Live Oak Pet Services, Inc.: Dirk invested in a Pet Cremation and Memorialization service. The company has continued to expand the sales area to include multiple counties surrounding the Houston Area. 2013: Pooch in the City: Dirk purchased a Pet Grooming shop that has become the number 1 rated grooming shop in its area. Today, Dirk owns a number of small businesses and Real Estate investments. Dirk has become an expert in small business development. He consults with business owners, franchisees and franchisors opening, training and growing coffeehouses, restaurants, and other small businesses. Currently, Dirk is an Adjunct Professor and teaches Entrepreneurship at the Conrad Hilton College of Hotel Restaurant Management at the University of Houston.
EDUCATION BBA University of Houston Finance MHM University of Houston Conrad Hilton College of Hotel Restaurant Management
Telephone: 714-336-9005 E-mail: dirkjons@aol.com