As Director of Operations for Red Lobster, he strives to diversify and expand Hispanic leadership.
 Review
Today, for many immigrants, the arrival to the land of opportunity ends in disappointing dreams and expectations. Tony Morales however, is living proof that the American Dream is still alive.
Morales arrived in 1995 from Caracas, Venezuela, starting an unstoppable career first as a dishwasher for Red Lobster, a division of Darden Restaurants, which is also the parent company of Olive Garden and other prominent restaurants.
He says his dedication and responsibility have been the basis of his prosperity, but many who know him believe that his charming personality and great charisma have added to a perfect recipe for success.
Today Morales is the Director of Operations for Red Lobster in all of Oklahoma, and is in charge of about 850 employees and 45 managers in the restaurants the company owns in the state.
Morales came to the United States at a young age, thanks to a scholarship granted by the Venezuelan government. He studied business management for two years in San Francisco, California. Due to a strong currency devaluation in Venezuela, his student grant was cancelled. He was asked to return, however, he decided to stay. An uncle in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, offered room and board, in support of his wish to continue to build a future in this country. Morales wanted to continue attending school, but he had to find work in order to finance his goals. It was in this city that the opportunities to start his successful career began to present themselves, without him even realizing it. His first job was a floor tile installer, and was later hired by Red Lobster as a dishwasher. Then became a waiter, and in less than a year he was named floor manager, a position he held for five years. He was promoted to General Manager and finally moved to the company’s Human Resources Department. Red Lobster currently employs about 92 Operations Directors nationwide, only three are Hispanic. Morales is one of them.
Although he holds a director’s position, he has never lost his modesty, he arrives at the restaurants he is in charge of and shakes hands with everyone, no matter what position they hold. He greets them, shows an interest in getting to know them and what their goals are. He wants them to know that the company they work for offers the same opportunities that he once took advantage of, and that today make him feel satisfied.
And even as Morales has been able to accomplish the “American Dream”, his goals for Red Lobster are not over yet, since he wants all employees under him to better themselves and receive promotions, just like he did. He mentions that the company has a philosophy of developing the capabilities of employees instead of looking for qualified personnel elsewhere. He says that a great percentage of workers there are Hispanic and that the great majority are kitchen laborers, however, training and advancement opportunities for different positions have been offered to them. Every day, Morales tries and works hard so other Hispanics can follow in his footsteps.
One of the long term projects for Morales is to sponsor a Hispanic initiative from within the company through a work group, which will work to encourage and stimulate Hispanic talent through education, example and most importantly, confidence.
His wish is to give back to many the opportunity that he once received, and points out that Red Lobster is a firm believer of diversity. That is why he dreams on implementing a mentorship system where employees can learn and train for a company that believes in them, and on what they can accomplish. Currently he is working to implement this type of program, not only for Red Lobster, but for all of the Darden Restaurants. The initiative is an ambitious but not impossible project, especially when handled by a man that is passionate, and feels proud every time a Hispanic is promoted from within the company he works for.
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