DCG & Associates is an executive search, business development and human resources consulting firm designed to help businesses and business executives gain access to clients, tools, career opportunities, and information needed to grow and compete successfully.

Consulting in these areas is offered on both a project and retained basis.

We also provide tools / proven products in the areas of human resources, direct marketing, motivational programs, small business problem-solving and legal services. 

Don Gay:  Don has more than 20 years of business development, executive search and human resource consulting experience. Food industry search experience includes assignments for many national restaurant, hotel, food manufacturing / distribution organizations. Don is both a National Restaurant Association and California Restaurant Association Member. He is a CRA approved executive search provider.

Don's non-food work history includes developing recruiting strategies for a media agency with over $2 billion dollars in revenues. His leadership contributed greatly to a reduction of over $1 million dollars in annual hiring costs. Other non-search experience includes consulting and business development in the areas of corporate risk reduction, motivational / behavioral change programs, direct marketing via targeted direct mail and emarketing.

Michael Shrader: Mike’s career spans 40 years with experience in government, manufacturing, consulting and the hospitality industries. He began his career as a job developer and coach for the Kentucky State Department of Economic Security, followed by several years in the manufacturing operations of Philip Morris Tobacco Corporation. He then embarked on his career in hospitality management with Colonel Sanders and The Kentucky Fried Chicken Corporation. Subsequent to a KFC buyout by the Heublein Corporation, Mike joined Denny’s Inc., where he spent 13.5 years growing the organization from 295 restaurants to over 1100 units. Shortly after Denny’s went private, Mike left and spent 5.5 years with Red Robin Restaurants . He established the Human Resources Department for its new owners, Skylark, Ltd. of Japan.

Mike then spent a year in Lincoln, NE with the Gallup Organization, teaching and administering the Gallup Selection System to client companies.  He left Gallup to return to his home in Southern California, where he joined HomeTown Buffet as VP, Human Resources. After their merger with Old Country Buffet in Minneapolis, MN, Mike was promoted to Executive VP, Human Resources and Training. With this promotion came the additional responsibilities of overseeing the risk management and security areas of the organization.

Current and former food / non-food clients include: El Pollo Loco, Denny’s, Golden Corral, Blodgett, Hobart, Sambazon, Marriott, Holiday Inn, Starwood Hotels Worldwide, Safeco Insurance, Pepsico, Jiffy Lube, Marriott, Pac Bell, The Boston Globe, and The Los Angeles Times-Mirror Company. We serve the restaurant chain and food manufacturing / food distribution industries so often that we don't have room to list our numerous food clients here.