Billy Dec

Billy Dec is a 2 time Emmy Award Winning TV Personality, Actor, Attorney, Restaurateur, and owner of celebrated hospitality and entertainment venues like Sunda New Asian and The Underground Nightclub. In addition to being CEO/Founder of Rockit Ranch, a hospitality management company, Dec launched a new cutting edge marketing agency called COACT, and an HR firm called HR Pro, both built on leveraging growing communities of top independent talent in their respective industries.

Dec can regularly be seen on NBC's TODAY Show, acting in films and on TV shows like Criminal Minds and Empire, hosting his own podcast “The Meal of Your Life!” and is hosting/producing a new documentary for PBS he recently shot in his mother’s native island of the Philippines. Dec is a Chicago-Kent College of Law and Harvard Business School Alum, who was a Presidential appointee for five years, serving on the White House Advisory Commission on Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders, and the White House Bullying Prevention Task Force, and served on many local committees, boards, and commissions to serve the community.

Dec's educational background includes the University of Illinois, Chicago-Kent College of Law & the Harvard Business School. He has received numerous awards including the Excellence in Business Award from the State of Illinois, the Cook County State's Attorney's Community Leadership Award and Chicago-Kent College of Law Alumni Professional Achievement Award. Dec is also actively involved in philanthropic organizations such as Best Buddies, Lookingglass Theatre, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and formerly served as the Director of Cultural Relations for the Olympic Committee.

Early life

Dec was born and raised in Chicago and went to St. Clement School for elementary and later, the Latin School of Chicago. Upon graduation, Dec attended the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign where he majored in Economics/Pre-Law.[1][2] During his time in college, he worked as a bouncer where he learned the ropes of the nightlife industry. After graduation, Dec got offered a full-time job as a promoter but turned it down to attend law school at Chicago Kent College of Law. During his first year of law school, he opened up his first club called Solo. While in law school, Dec went on to open Equinox Wine Bar, Dragon Room, Circus and The Bedroom. In 2009, Dec married Katherine Stephans.

Rockit Ranch Productions

In 2002, Dec and business partner Brad Young formed Rockit Ranch Productions, a restaurant and nightclub development and management company specializing in entertainment marketing, promotions, branding, public relations and operations.[3] Their first nightclub venture was Le Passage Nightclub and their first restaurant was Rockit Bar and Grill, a restaurant that featured rock music along with all American food. The company opened more award-winning[4][5][6] venues like Rockit, Underground, Sunda, Rockit Burger Bar.

Charity work

Dec is a supporter of non-profit organizations and charity events throughout Chicago, such as Make-A-Wish Illinois, The American Cancer Society, the Lookingglass Theatre Company,[7] and Maggie Daley's (late wife of Richard M. Daley) After School Matters. He is known for his role on the Chicago 2016 Olympic committee as director of cultural relations[8] where he interviewed 60 celebrities to support the Olympics coming to Chicago.

Elston Films

In 2015, Dec launched Elston Films production company with Kat Stephans and Hollywood producers DeAnna Cooper and Kevin Cooper. Based in Chicago, and with a focus on storytelling and working with top talent, Elston Films plans to bring a larger part of the entertainment industry to Chicago through movies and television projects. On January 9, 2016, Elston announced the acquisition of Justin Kremer's Black List script Bury the Lead, about a talented journalist on a quest for a Pulitzer Prize who fabricates the truth to create a compelling news story. On March 7, 2017, Elston Films announced Anthony Hemingway as the director for Bury the Lead, their first feature film scheduled to be filmed in 2017 in Chicago.

Filmography

Film and television
  • 2019: Food. Roots., Himself
  • 2018: Mollywood, Rush
  • 2018: Miss Arizona, DJ Solid
  • 2018: The Law of Moises, Jim Boone
  • 2017: Chasing the Blues, Officer Frye
  • 2016: Chicago Fire, FF Belzer
  • 2016: Chasing Gold, Taze
  • 2016: American Crime Story, expert
  • 2016: Jessica, Gerry
  • 2015: Chasing Grace, Officer Reddick
  • 2015: Entourage, Billy Dec
  • 2015: Powers, cop
  • 2015: Empire, Alan Lester
  • 2014: Criminal Minds, Detective Paul Rosado
  • 2014: NightLights, medic #1
  • 2013: One Small Hitch, concierge
  • 2012: I Heart Shakey, party patron
  • 2012: Adventures in the Sin Bin, REO Monitor
  • 2011: The Chicago Code, receptionist
  • 2011: The Rites of Joy May, hipster
  • 2009: Entourage, agent
  • 2009: The Beast, agent / FBI Tactical Officer
  • 2009: Baby on Board, attorney
  • 1999-2004: Friends, multiple characters
  • 1996: Book of Swords, martial arts fighter

[9]

Television guestings
  • 2019: Today in Nashville, guest
  • 2018: Today in Nashville, guest cohost
  • 2007-2019: Today Show, food contributor
  • 2016: Weekend Today, guest
  • 2016: The Meredith Vieira Show, guest
  • 2011-2016: Windy City LIVE, entertainment contributor
  • 2014: Frankenfood, guest judge
  • 2014: Good Morning America, food contributor
  • 2014: Chicagoland, guest
  • 2014: Fox & Friends, food contributor
  • 2008: 24/7 Chicago, host

The Meal of Your Life podcast

In each episode of The Meal of Your Life, Dec welcomes guests such as celebrities, athletes, renowned chefs, politicians and everyday people, and invites listeners to join in on an intimate conversation surrounding the defining meal that forever affected their lives. Past guests include David Schwimmer, Andrew Zimmern, Macy Gray, Carla Hall, Ming Tsai, Curtis Stone, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Awards
YearAwardIndustry
2019Chicago / The Chicago Filipino Asian American Hall of Fame, Legend Award - (Won)Business
2019Champaign-Urbana / University of Illinois, College of Liberal Arts & Science Alumni Award - (Won)Business
2017Chicago / Chicago United, Business Leaders of Color - (Won)Business
2008Midwest Emmy Award - | Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs – Single Magazine Program, Program Series, or Segment (Nominated)[10]Television
2008Nightclub & Bar Magazine's USA Operator of the Year (Won)[11]Nightlife and Hospitality
2009Midwest Emmy Award - Outstanding Achievement for Entertainment Programs – Arts/Entertainment Program or Program Series (Broadcast/Advanced Media) (Won)[12]Television
2010Byrne Piven Community Service Award[13]Community Service
2010Chicago-Kent College of Law Professional Achievement Award[14]Law
2010Illinois Secretary of State's Asian Pacific American Business Leadership Award[15]Business
2010Illinois Secretary of State Judy Baar Topinka Certificate of Appreciation for Excellence in BusinessBusiness
2010Filipino American TV Asian American Hall of Fame Award[15]Television
2010Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas' Asian Pacific American Entrepreneur Award[15]Business
2010Cook County State Attorney's Asian Pacific American Community Leadership Award[15]Business
2015Midwest Emmy Award - | Outstanding Achievement for Informational Programs – Single Magazine Program, Program Series, or Segment (Won)[16]Television

References
  1. Hipster club owner Billy Dec analyzes the science of Chicago’s scene Archived July 22, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  2. Who The Heck Is Billy Dec?
  3. Overview | Rockit Ranch Productions
  4. Chicago's Best Winter Cocktails
  5. Chicago's top 10 celebrity spots in October | Chicago Tribune
  6. Chicago's top 10 celebrity spots in August | Chicago Tribune
  7. "Board of Directors Lookingglass Theatre Company". lookingglasstheatre.org. Archived from the original on 2010-10-06. Retrieved 2010-10-08.
  8. TOC poll: Should Chicago get the 2016 Olympics? Archived February 24, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  10. 2007-2008 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Chicago/Midwest Emmy Nominees
  11. Rockit Ranch Productions - Profiles - Billy Dec
  12. Billy Dec wins an Emmy, Chicago beams with pride Archived October 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  13. "Actress Kate Walsh receives award from Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston". Archived from the original on 2010-10-23. Retrieved 2019-10-17.
  14. Alumni Award Recipients 2010
  15. Famous Filipinos - Chicago Hearts Trivia
  16. 2014-2015 National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences - Chicago/Midwest Emmy Nominees
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