Dr. Constance Dierickx is joined by Ryan Turner, co-founder of Unsukay Restaurants and a founder of the Giving Kitchen. Ryan shares his journey from a political science major to an entrepreneur with a deep commitment to supporting food service workers. Ryan highlights the importance of personal connection, intentional leadership, and building trust within a team.
About Ryan Turner:
Ryan Turner is a founding partner of Unsukay Restaurants, whose first concept is a popular neighborhood restaurant in Smyrna, GA. The partners now oversee a portfolio of eight restaurants and private dining clubs, including Muss & Turner’s, Eleanors, Local Three Kitchen & Bar, Warhorse Investments, Seahorse Advisors, The Arbitrage Room, MTH Pizza, and Roshambo.
In 2011, The Georgia Restaurant Association recognized Unsukay Restaurants as Restaurateurs of the Year. The Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce and the Atlanta Business Chronicle acknowledged Turner’s contributions to the business landscape by naming him Business Person of the Year in 2014. A founding member and board chair of the Giving Kitchen Turner and still serves on the board’s Executive Committee. In 2015, the Unsukay partners were awarded the National Restaurant Association’s highest honor, the Cornerstone Humanitarian Award, for their role in founding Giving Kitchen.
In 2019, Giving Kitchen was named the James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year. Turner was honored to represent the organization and share his thoughts with a national audience.
Before opening Unsukay’s first concept in 2004, Turner was the food and beverage manager at East Lake Golf Club. The Georgia Restaurant Association elected him to their board in 2012, and later, he served the organization as board chair.
Originally from Maine, Turner graduated from the University of Vermont in 1994. After that, he served with AmeriCorps in Arizona along the border of Mexico. In 1995, he moved to Atlanta, where he met his wonderful wife of 25 years, Shelley, née Standard (UGA 1993). They reside in Smyrna with their two teenage children and dog, Baxter. In his free time, Turner loves to learn, write, cook for his family, and play golf.
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