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Darcy
Olson, co-founder of Let’s Dish!, brings nearly
15 years of experience to the Minneapolis-based
company she helped develop. Using her expertise
in organizational development, sales management,
and the food industry, Darcy partnered with
long-time friend and fellow entrepreneur Ruth
Lundquist in October 2003 to create one of the
country's first retail meal preparation stores.
Although Darcy and Ruth were initially
responsible for everything from business
planning to ingredient preparation, they now
focus on leading the strategic vision and
direction of the rapidly growing Let's Dish!,
which has grown from five to 175 employees in
less than four years. Today, Let’s Dish! is the
segment-defining brand with high unit volume as
compared to others in the retail food
preparation category nationwide and stores
currently open or under contract in 15 states.
In 2006, the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business
Journal recognized Darcy’s and Ruth’s success by
naming them to its 2006 “Top 25 Women to Watch”
list, which profiles female business leaders
across Minnesota. Darcy has also been a featured
speaker at the hospitality industry’s exclusive
Elliot Leadership Conference; the 2006
Restaurant Finance Conference; and a variety of
local academic, business, and entrepreneurial
events. The Let’s Dish! brand has attracted
national media attention from publications such
as USA Today, Woman’s World, and Real Simple.
Founded through a vision of creating a
business that adds value to people’s live, Let’s
Dish! has made nearly $50,000 in corporate
donations to national and local charitable
organizations to date. Darcy also makes it a
priority to give back to others in her personal
life, staying involved with her local school and
community as well as being a devoted “hockey”
and “dance” mom for her two children.
Prior to developing Let's Dish!, Darcy
managed learning and organizational development
at Minneapolis-based General Mills. There, Darcy
led strategic planning sessions for management
groups and provided leadership training and
development for top-performing managers. Before
General Mills, Darcy held management and sales
positions at The Pillsbury Company, The Nestle
Food Company, and Pinnacle Brands.
Darcy graduated from Iowa State University
where she earned a bachelor's degree in
marketing, with a speech and advertising
emphasis. She lives in the Minneapolis suburb of
Savage with her husband and children. Her free
time is spent creating fun with family and
friends, whether snuggled around a neighborhood
bonfire or on a weekend getaway. See Other Bios:
Ruth Lundquist – Co-Founder |
