Billy Dec is an American television 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. Early life and education Dec 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. 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. 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. 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. 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, responsible for attracting celebrity support for the city's Olympic bid. Personal life In 2009, Dec married Katherine Stephans. Filmography