Denny’s decides a woman fits the bill
Denny’s Corp., a company that has been recognized in recent years for its support of diversity, has named a woman with finance and food service experience to head its board of directors.
The Spartanburg-based company’s directors on Wednesday elected Debra Smithart-Oglesby as board chair, succeeding Robert E. Marks.
“Debra will be a tremendous advantage with her financial and restaurant background” as the company moves into its next growth phase, said Nelson J. Marchioli, chief executive officer and president of Denny’s. “Her experience with franchisees will be invaluable as Denny’s continues to strengthen and grow its franchise base.”
The newly elected chair, who is president of O/S Partners, a financial services firm, is among a growing, but still small, number of women who have risen to the top of the management level. Women make up 46.5 percent of the U.S. work force, but less than 8 percent of the nation’s managers, according to The Economist, a financial magazine.Smithart-Oglesby said, “It certainly requires a consistent effort” for women to make it to the level of top management in the business world. But it can be done.
“There are a number of companies, and Denny’s is a good example, that do create access and opportunity for women, as well as people of color,” she said.
She said she prepared herself to be ready to step through the door whenever opportunities to advance in business arose.
“It is still difficult,” she said. “Women always face challenges with balance of home and career.”
One way she has moved forward, she said, is “I’ve always set my own vision” rather than letting someone else set it and perhaps limit that vision.
Denny’s is a publicly owned full-service family restaurant chain, with 544 company-owned units and 1,030 franchised and licensed units.
It has operations in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, Guam, Mexico, New Zealand and Puerto Rico.
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