Welcoming 2017 IRA Chairman, Jim Kallas
On Wednesday, February 1, the Illinois Restaurant Association will host its Annual Meeting and Luncheon welcoming Jim Kallas, Division President at Eurest, as Chairman of the Board. A Chicago-native, Kallas has been working in the industry since high school and is passionate about the success of the industry. We sat down with Jim to learn more about his upbringing, career path and goals for the future.
Tell us a little bit about your history.
Our family immigrated to South Chicago in the early 20th century and my parents lived in Historic Pullman (it wasn’t historic then) when I was born. We lived in Roseland during my formative years. After high school I graduated from the original Washburne Culinary School at 31st and Kedzie (as did my wife Rose). We married in 1993 and except for a few years, we have always lived in the Chicago area. Our children George and Sophie were born in 1998 and both attend college, George at Loyola Chicago and Sophie at Carthage College. We love Chicago but also spend as much time at our oceanfront condo in New Smyrna Beach, Florida as we can.
How did you get where you are today?
I started in the hospitality industry while in high school and after graduating from Washburne worked in clubs and restaurants for a few years before joining Szabo Foodservice. During the 1980’s I lived and worked on Hilton Head Island, first with Sea Pines and then operated CQ’s restaurant in Harbor Town. I moved back to Chicago and joined Canteen and in 1994, Compass Group acquired Canteen. I have been lucky enough to be a part of this great company for 27 years and specifically with Eurest, the business dining division. For the past 15 years I have been the Division President for the Western and Central divisions. We manage staff dining rooms and catering services for most of America’s Fortune 500 companies.
To what do you attribute your success?
My easy answer is luck, but being in the right place at the right time is only part of it. I have always taken complete ownership of my responsibility and I believe that my commitment to succeed in each position led to the next.
Do you have any advice for aspiring restaurateurs?
Completely understand your business model and although it is important to be optimistic and seize opportunity, take the time to analyze the worst-case scenario and determine if you can withstand the downside.
What is your biggest challenge?
First and foremost, it is attracting and retaining great people. Our business continues to grow at a rapid rate and a committed team is increasingly difficult to develop. Second, in our day-to-day business we need to continue to be creative and “new.” Our industry generally serves the same customers every day and it is easy for our offerings to get stale.
What is your biggest reward in working in the industry?
Seeing people you have brought into the company succeed; the legacy that you leave is successful continuity.
What are you excited about this year?
We have reorganized a bit and I have more time to spend in Chicago, which allows me to spend more time with my family and become more involved in the community. My new role as Chairman with the IRA is a perfect example of something I have previously been unable to commit to because time constraints.
What would your last meal be and whom would you share it with?
Easy!! I’d be with my family and we’d eat my wife Rose’s Roast Chicken and Potatoes.
What do you see as being the most valuable resources/service that the IRA provides to its members?
Choosing the most valuable is hard because we do so much. If I had to choose one it would be our tireless advocacy and continuous attempts to protect our business in the public sector. Sam, Mary Kay and the entire team do an unbelievable job in keeping our interests top of mind with our elected officials.
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