Billy Dec is a Filipino-American TV personality, background actor, and businessman in the 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 background acting experience includes Friends and Chicago Code. 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.
Early life and education Dec was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, 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.Hipster club owner Billy Dec analyzes the science of Chicago’s scene Who The Heck Is Billy Dec? 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 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.Overview | Rockit Ranch Productions 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.Chicago's Best Winter CocktailsChicago's top 10 celebrity spots in October | Chicago TribuneChicago's top 10 celebrity spots in August | Chicago Tribune In 2019, Rockit Bar and Grill closed after 15 years.
Entertainment industry In 2015, Dec launched a Chicago-based production company, Elston Films, with his wife Kat Stephans and producers DeAnna Cooper and Kevin Cooper. The company has yet to produce a single movie.
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.
Charity work 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, and Maggie Daley's After School Matters. He was the director of cultural relations on the Chicago 2016 Olympic committee,TOC poll: Should Chicago get the 2016 Olympics? responsible for attracting celebrity support for the city's Olympic bid.
Personal life In 2009, Dec married Katherine Stephans.
Filmography Dec has worked as an extra on many major productions and has used his connections to get small speaking roles as well.
Television guest appearances 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 & Friends, food contributor 2008: 24/7 Chicago, host
Awards
Year Award Industry2023Chicago / Illinois Tech, Personal Achievement AwardBusiness 2019 Chicago / The Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame, Legend Award - (Won) Business 2019 Champaign-Urbana / University of Illinois, College of Liberal Arts & Science Alumni Award - (Won) Business 2017 Chicago / Chicago United, Business Leaders of Color - (Won) Business 2015 Midwest Emmy Award - | Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs – Single Magazine Program, Program Series, or Segment (Won)2014-2015 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Chicago/Midwest Emmy Nominees Television 2010 Byrne Piven Community Service Award Community Service 2010 Chicago-Kent College of Law Professional Achievement AwardAlumni Award Recipients 2010 Law 2010 Illinois Secretary of State's Asian Pacific American Business Leadership AwardFamous Filipinos - Chicago Hearts Trivia 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 Television 2010 Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas' Asian Pacific American Entrepreneur Award Business 2010 Cook County State Attorney's Asian Pacific American Community Leadership Award Business 2009 Midwest Emmy Award - Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment Programs – Arts/Entertainment Program or Program Series (Broadcast/Advanced Media) (Won)Billy Dec wins an Emmy, Chicago beams with pride Television 2008 | Nightlife and Hospitality 2008 Midwest Emmy Award - | Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs – Single Magazine Program, Program Series, or Segment (Nominated)2007-2008 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Chicago/Midwest Emmy Nominees Television
References
External links Official Website of Billy Dec