-: My name is Chris Lilly,
I am a Partner and Vice President
of Big Bob Gibson BBQ in Decatur, Alabama.
I am the National Spokesperson for Kingsford Charcoal.
I am an ambassador, and do marketing and promotions
for companies like YETI Coolers, Smithfield Meats.
I do appearances and corporate caterings
for companies all over the country,
such as NASCAR, Microsoft, Toyota, Nissan, Ritz Carlton.
I'm a author, I have two books,
and also do work on television, as well,
so, a lot of hats.
When companies come to me,
it's usually within the barbecue industry.
They're wanting to know how to better serve their customers,
whether it's cooking barbecue,
whether it's recipe development,
whether it's how to put their products
in a better light for their customers
within the industry, as well.
And that's when I work with them
on appearances in marketing and promotion
for their products.
So it really depends on the company
and what they're looking for.
My job is to answer their questions
and make sure their products are in the best light
as possible for customers that are in my same industry.
So, you know, at the restaurant day-to-day,
my most important focus is
making sure the customers that come in the restaurant
get the best quality food, and the best service,
and that goes to working in the kitchen with our chefs,
and also working with our staff on customer service.
Beyond that, my day...
It's all about running a business.
It's hiring staff, it's training,
it's promotion, it's social media.
It is spreadsheets, and ledgers, and accounting,
and computer work, and a little bit of the culinary arts.
I often find myself, half the time at the restaurant,
I'm on the phone, or working on computer,
as opposed to working with food in the kitchen.
And that is talking to clients all over the country,
working with them on product-testing,
and product development,
and lining up appearances and catering jobs
all over the country.
There's some there's one thing about
doing your cooking and everything in-house,
but when you take it
all the way across the country to California,
the logistics that go in there on travel,
and acquisition of meat and food, and your prep kitchen,
and all of the cooking stuff that you use outdoors,
you know, in California, it's really mind-blowing
how much effort that goes into that on the forefront,
so part of my day is spent doing that, as well.