Steve is the CEO and a member of the Board for Dave & Buster’s. After succeeding the founders in 2006, he successfully repositioned the brand and executed a plan for accelerated growth. Dave & Buster’s is now the largest operator of high volume entertainment and dining facilities across the US & Canada, where guests can Eat, Drink, Play and Watch Sports in a high energy fun filled dynamic environment.

Under Steve’s leadership, Dave & Buster’s has formalized it charitable endeavors partnering with Make a Wish, contributing more than $1 million in the past year. Dave & Buster’s created the D&B Heart Fund, a charitable foundation voluntarily funded by 70% of the company’s employees, dedicated to helping its own during times of financial need.

Prior to Dave & Buster’s, Steve spent 22 years with Carlson Restaurants Worldwide the parent of TGI Friday’s, during its most aggressive period of growth. He joined in 1984 when they owned 68 Friday’s restaurants and left as they passed 900. He served as CFO, COO for the U.S. and President of the International Division.

After graduating from the School of Hotel Administration, Steve continued his Cornell experience earning his MBA in 1981 from the Johnson School. He joined Arthur Young and became a CPA and then in 1983 began working for Prudential in their real estate investment group.

Steve is the proud father of Ryan (28) a Peace Corps volunteer in Ethiopia, Brianna (22) a senior at SMU in Dallas, and Megan (17) a junior at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut. His wife Shauna (MBA ’81) is VP of Finance and Business Operations for Yale University.

Whenever the family has a chance, they like to escape to their cranberry farm on Cape Cod, where Steve can sometimes be found driving a tractor or on his boat in search of bass and blues.

At the time of our 40th reunion, Steve had retired from his role as CEO in 2018, after leading a very successful 12 years of growth for Dave & Buster’s. He continues his involvement with the company as Chairman of the Board, as well as serving on the Board of Ruth’s Hospitality Group.