Fostering a Culture of Inclusivity with Paul Damico
Leadership shapes culture.
And culture shapes how people feel seen, supported, and empowered at work.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we welcome Paul Damico, President & CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, a respected leader with more than 40 years of experience in the hospitality and restaurant industry.
Paul has held top leadership roles across globally recognized organizations including Host Marriott, FOCUS Brands, Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill, Global Franchise Group, and Dine Brands Global. Throughout his career, he has led major growth initiatives, scaled global restaurant brands, and championed people-first leadership inside complex franchise systems.
In Fostering a Culture of Inclusivity, we explore:
• Why inclusive leadership drives stronger business performance
• How large franchise organizations create cultures where people feel valued
• Lessons from scaling brands across thousands of locations
• The leadership mindset required to support teams during change and growth
• Why connection and belonging matter in high-performance environments
🎙️ Hosted Tullio Siragusa
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
Inclusive cultures do not happen by accident. They are built intentionally through leadership, systems, and everyday actions.
President & CEO
Paul Damico is an accomplished and well-respected executive with more than 40 years of foodservice experience in the hospitality industry. Paul’s career includes top leadership roles in premium organizations including Host Marriott, FoodBrand, LLC, Creative Host, SSP America, FOCUS Brands portfolio of restaurants, Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill, Global Franchise Group, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and Dine Brands Global.
Following graduation from Johnson & Wales University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Restaurant/Institutional Management and an Associate of Science degree in Hotel Food and Beverage Management (Culinary Arts) Paul spent 13 years in various roles with Host Marriott Corporation culminating to his role as Vice President of International Development where he oversaw restaurant development on five continents.
In 1999, his entrepreneurial instinct came to life and he co-founded FoodBrand LLC, a company that specialized in the development of restaurants in malls and airports. He and his co-founders grew this company to over 100 restaurant locations.
In 2005 he joined SSP America, a global concessions company as Chief Operating Officer responsible for the day-to-day operations for 42 airports in the USA, Canada, and Caribbean.
In 2008, Paul was recruited to Moe’s Southwest Grill (a Roark Capital/Focus Brands company) as President of the organization. Over a six-year period he grew the company from 170 locations to over 700, leading the industry in new restaurant openings and culinary development. During his time w…Read More
