Richard Thomas Chief Executive Officer-The Present House Hospitality Group Richard is the founder and CEO of The Present House Hospitality Group, a global company focused on developing “Minority Loved Brands” in the food and luxury vacation space across multiple brands:
• The Island Spot – Jamaica Kitchen & Bar, a chain of Jamaican restaurants focused on sharing the joys of the Jamaican culture through Rich Food, Reggae and Rum
• The Island Spot Villa, luxury villas mostly in the Caribbean providing guests with a taste of island life through Lifestyle, Leisure and Luxury
• Bone Daddy’s House of Smoke, a multi-unit barbeque concept with locations across Texas.
In 2010, Richard opened the original location of The Island Spot in Carrolton, TX with the goal of sharing the Jamaican culture, food, and music with a universal demographic. Richard is currently working on the third location of The Island Spot and has a strategy to create the first national Jamaican chain of restaurants through strategic partnerships with private equity firms. The Island Spot has been awarded Best Jerk Chicken and 100 Favorite Dishes by Dallas Observer.
Richard Thomas recently served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Procurement Officer of Borden Dairy. Richard was responsible for managing Borden’s strategic partnerships with suppliers and vendors totaling one billion dollars of annual spend. By sourcing all of the company’s raw milk, direct and indirect materials, Richard ensures that Borden has the materials it needs to produce its full range of wholesome, nutritious products. He also led Borden’s mergers and acquisitions strategy, creating alliances that enhance the company’s overall performance.
