Billy Dec is an Filipino-American TV personality, actor, and businessman in the entertainment and hospitality industries. He is the CEO/Founder of hospitality management company Rockit Ranch, marketing agency COACT, and human resources firm HR Pro. He makes regular television appearances discussing food and entertainment, and his acting credits include Criminal Minds and Empire. He also hosts a podcast, The Meal of Your Life!.
Dec has also served on the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, the White House Bullying Prevention Task Force, and was the director of cultural relations on the Chicago 2016 Olympic committee.
During his first year of law school, Dec established his first club, Solo. While in law school, he went on to open Equinox Wine Bar, Dragon Room, Circus and The Bedroom.
In 2002, Dec and business partner Brad Young formed Rockit Ranch Productions, a restaurant and nightclub development and management company.[3] Their first nightclub venture was Le Passage Nightclub, and their first restaurant was Rockit Bar and Grill, a restaurant themed around rock music. The company went on to open more venues including Rockit, Underground, Sunda, and Rockit Burger Bar.[4][5][6] In 2019, Rockit Bar and Grill closed after 15 years.[7]
Entertainment industryedit
In 2015, Dec launched a Chicago-based production company, Elston Films, with his wife Kat Stephans and producers DeAnna Cooper and Kevin Cooper.[citation needed]
Dec is a supporter of several non-profit organizations and charity events based in Chicago, including Make-A-Wish Illinois, Best Buddies, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the American Cancer Society, the Lookingglass Theatre Company,[8] and Maggie Daley's After School Matters. He was the director of cultural relations on the Chicago 2016 Olympic committee,[9] responsible for attracting celebrity support for the city's Olympic bid.
Illinois Secretary of State's Asian Pacific American Business Leadership Award[14]
Business
2010
Illinois Secretary of State Judy Baar Topinka Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in Business
Business
2010
Filipino American TV Asian American Hall of Fame Award[14]
Television
2010
Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas' Asian Pacific American Entrepreneur Award[14]
Business
2010
Cook County State Attorney's Asian Pacific American Community Leadership Award[14]
Business
2009
Midwest Emmy Award - Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment Programs – Arts/Entertainment Program or Program Series (Broadcast/Advanced Media) (Won)[15]
Television
2008
Nightclub & Bar Magazine's USA Operator of the Year (Won)[16]
Nightlife and Hospitality
2008
Midwest Emmy Award - | Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs – Single Magazine Program, Program Series, or Segment (Nominated)[17]
Television
Referencesedit
^Hipster club owner Billy Dec analyzes the science of Chicago’s scene July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
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This article has multiple issues Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page Learn how and when to remove these template messages This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification Please help by adding reliable sources Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page especially if potentially libelous Find sources Billy Dec news newspapers books scholar JSTOR April 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Some of this article s listed sources may not be reliable Please help improve this article by looking for better more reliable sources Unreliable citations may be challenged and removed April 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia s general notability guideline Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention If notability cannot be shown the article is likely to be merged redirected or deleted Find sources Billy Dec news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message Learn how and when to remove this template message Billy Dec is an Filipino American TV personality actor and businessman in the entertainment and hospitality industries He is the CEO Founder of hospitality management company Rockit Ranch marketing agency COACT and human resources firm HR Pro He makes regular television appearances discussing food and entertainment and his acting credits include Criminal Minds and Empire He also hosts a podcast The Meal of Your Life Dec has also served on the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans amp Pacific Islanders the White House Bullying Prevention Task Force and was the director of cultural relations on the Chicago 2016 Olympic committee Contents 1 Early life and education 2 Hospitality industry 3 Entertainment industry 4 Charity work 5 Personal life 6 Filmography 6 1 Film and television 6 2 Television guest appearances 7 Awards 8 References 9 External linksEarly life and education editDec was born and raised in Chicago and educated at St Clement School and the Latin School of Chicago Upon graduation Dec attended the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign majoring in Economics Pre Law 1 2 During his time in college he worked as a nightclub bouncer After graduation he was offered a job as a promoter but turned it down to attend law school at Chicago Kent College of Law Hospitality industry editDuring his first year of law school Dec established his first club Solo While in law school he went on to open Equinox Wine Bar Dragon Room Circus and The Bedroom In 2002 Dec and business partner Brad Young formed Rockit Ranch Productions a restaurant and nightclub development and management company 3 Their first nightclub venture was Le Passage Nightclub and their first restaurant was Rockit Bar and Grill a restaurant themed around rock music The company went on to open more venues including Rockit Underground Sunda and Rockit Burger Bar 4 5 6 In 2019 Rockit Bar and Grill closed after 15 years 7 Entertainment industry editIn 2015 Dec launched a Chicago based production company Elston Films with his wife Kat Stephans and producers DeAnna Cooper and Kevin Cooper citation needed Dec hosts a podcast entitled The Meal of Your Life in which he interviews celebrity guests about a defining meal that has affected their lives Past guests include David Schwimmer Andrew Zimmern Macy Gray Carla Hall Ming Tsai Curtis Stone and Rahm Emanuel citation needed Charity work editDec is a supporter of several non profit organizations and charity events based in Chicago including Make A Wish Illinois Best Buddies Asian Americans Advancing Justice the American Cancer Society the Lookingglass Theatre Company 8 and Maggie Daley s After School Matters He was the director of cultural relations on the Chicago 2016 Olympic committee 9 responsible for attracting celebrity support for the city s Olympic bid Personal life editIn 2009 Dec married Katherine Stephans Filmography editFilm and television edit TBD Single Car Crashes Joey 2022 Leverage Redemption Jimmy 2019 Food Roots Himself 2018 Mollywood Rush 2018 Miss Arizona DJ Solid 2018 The Law of Moises Jim Boone 2017 Chasing the Blues Officer Frye 2016 Chicago Fire FF Belzer 2016 Chasing Gold Taze 2016 American Crime Story expert 2016 Jessica Gerry 2015 Chasing Grace Officer Reddick 2015 Entourage Billy Dec 2015 Powers cop 2015 Empire Alan Lester 2014 Criminal Minds Detective Paul Rosado 2014 NightLights medic 1 2013 One Small Hitch concierge 2012 I Heart Shakey party patron 2012 Adventures in the Sin Bin REO Monitor 2011 The Chicago Code receptionist 2011 The Rites of Joy May hipster 2009 Entourage agent 2009 The Beast agent FBI Tactical Officer 2009 Baby on Board attorney 1999 2004 Friends multiple characters 1996 Book of Swords martial arts fighter 10 Television guest appearances edit 2019 Today in Nashville guest 2018 Today in Nashville guest cohost 2007 2019 Today Show food contributor 2016 Weekend Today guest 2016 The Meredith Vieira Show guest 2011 2016 Windy City LIVE entertainment contributor 2014 Frankenfood guest judge 2014 Good Morning America food contributor 2014 Chicagoland guest 2014 Fox amp Friends food contributor 2008 24 7 Chicago hostAwards editYear Award Industry2023 Chicago Illinois Tech Personal Achievement Award Business2019 Chicago The Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame Legend Award Won Business2019 Champaign Urbana University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts amp Science Alumni Award Won Business2017 Chicago Chicago United Business Leaders of Color Won Business2015 Midwest Emmy Award Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs Single Magazine Program Program Series or Segment Won 11 Television2010 Byrne Piven Community Service Award 12 Community Service2010 Chicago Kent College of Law Professional Achievement Award 13 Law2010 Illinois Secretary of State s Asian Pacific American Business Leadership Award 14 Business2010 Illinois Secretary of State Judy Baar Topinka Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in Business Business2010 Filipino American TV Asian American Hall of Fame Award 14 Television2010 Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas Asian Pacific American Entrepreneur Award 14 Business2010 Cook County State Attorney s Asian Pacific American Community Leadership Award 14 Business2009 Midwest Emmy Award Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment Programs Arts Entertainment Program or Program Series Broadcast Advanced Media Won 15 Television2008 Nightclub amp Bar Magazine s USA Operator of the Year Won 16 Nightlife and Hospitality2008 Midwest Emmy Award Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs Single Magazine Program Program Series or Segment Nominated 17 TelevisionReferences edit Hipster club owner Billy Dec analyzes the science of Chicago s scene Archived July 22 2011 at the Wayback Machine Who The Heck Is Billy Dec Overview Rockit Ranch Productions Chicago s Best Winter Cocktails Chicago s top 10 celebrity spots in October Chicago Tribune Chicago s top 10 celebrity spots in August Chicago Tribune https chicago eater com 2019 7 9 20687391 rockit bar grill river north closing billy dec brad young Board of Directors Lookingglass Theatre Company lookingglasstheatre org Archived from the original on 2010 10 06 Retrieved 2010 10 08 TOC poll Should Chicago get the 2016 Olympics Archived February 24 2010 at the Wayback Machine Billy Dec IMDb 2014 2015 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Chicago Midwest Emmy Nominees permanent dead link Actress Kate Walsh receives award from Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston Archived from the original on 2010 10 23 Retrieved 2019 10 17 Alumni Award Recipients 2010 a b c d Famous Filipinos Chicago Hearts Trivia Billy Dec wins an Emmy Chicago beams with pride Archived October 5 2010 at the Wayback Machine Rockit Ranch Productions Profiles Billy Dec 2007 2008 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Chicago Midwest Emmy Nominees permanent dead link External links editOfficial Website of Billy Dec Billy Dec at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Billy Dec amp oldid 1195628234, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
