Benefactors
Mike and Lisa Clock are the benefactors of this endowed graduate fellowship in accounting.
Mike has over 23 years of experience in the accounting and finance fields with 22 years in the restaurant industry. He currently serves as President and Chief Financial Officer for Newk’s Eatery. Prior to joining the leadership team at Newk’s, he was the Chief Financial Officer for Good Smoke Restaurant Group, the parent company for two long standing barbecue brands, Dinosaur BBQ and Jim ‘N Nick’s Community BBQ. There his primary responsibility and focus was on financial strategic direction, brand support, and external financial communications for GSRG.

Mike has also had the privilege of serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer for Le Duff America Inc., the second largest Bakery / Café concept in North America and the parent company to la Madeleine Inc., Bruegger’s Bagels, Timothy’s Coffee, and Brioche Doree. He has held leadership roles with Carlson Restaurants Worldwide / TGI Fridays; where during his tenure with the company, he was responsible for the successful consolidation of over 500 company-owned and franchised locations.

Earlier in his career, Mike had the opportunity of working with Management at HSC Hospitality (Restaurant division for W.R. Grace) as the company’s controller and with S&A Restaurant Corporation and Trammell Crow Family Holdings as an accountant.

Mike is a Texas CPA and holds a BBA in Accounting from the University of Texas at Arlington as well as an Executive MBA from the University of Texas at Dallas.