Darryl Mickler

Senior Vice President of Food and Beverage at Golden Corral

Speaker

Dr. Darryl Mickler, DrBA, MBA, has had a distinguished career in the hospitality industry as a chef and industry executive. He began his professional journey with a summer internship and apprenticeship in a classical French kitchen before spending over 25 years at Walt Disney World. He contributed to the opening of the Grand Floridian Resort and Hong Kong Disneyland. He led culinary operations at various Disney locations, including Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, the Polynesian Resort, and the Contemporary Resort. His work earned him the Partners in Excellence award and was honored as a guest chef at the James Beard House.
After leaving Disney, Dr. Mickler held senior food and beverage development roles at major restaurant companies like Darden, Brinker, Hard Rock Cafe, and Golden Corral. He has led the food & beverage development of multi-site restaurant operations globally, including Texas Live, a partnership with the Texas Rangers and ECI/Live!
Dr. Mickler holds an AS in Hospitality/Culinary Arts, a BA in Organizational Behavior/Communication, an MBA, and a DrBA. His dissertation focused on the relationship between menu terminology and political identity. He continues his education with the Culinary Institute of America. He is an adjunct professor in the Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management department at Valencia State College, where he also serves on the Advisory Board for the School of Hospitality Management & Culinary Arts. He holds certifications as a sommelier and spirits professional and is involved in several industry associations.
Currently, Dr. Mickler leads food and beverage innovation and consumer insights for Golden Corral, including the culinary development of a new sub-brand, Golden Corral Favorites.