A new vision for the industry
Steve Palmer is a best-selling author, TedX speaker, James Beard semifinalist, industry leader, mental health advocate, & restaurateur.
Proceeds from speaking engagements benefit Ben’s Friends.
Biography
Best-selling author, podcast host, Welcome Conference and TEDx speaker, James Beard Award semifinalist, mental health advocate, and restaurateur Steve Palmer is a food & beverage industry leader with more than 40 years of experience.
As Founder, Managing Partner, and Chief Vision Officer of the award-winning Indigo Road Hospitality Group (IRHG), Steve has played an integral role in growing the Charleston, SC-based hospitality company from one restaurant in 2009 to a portfolio of restaurants and independent hotels across the country. He maintains the philosophy that great service starts with well-cared-for employees and attributes the company’s success to its loyal and dedicated team. By promoting from within and continuously creating new opportunities for his staff, Steve has developed a people-first culture built on an unwavering, high level of care and hospitality.
Nationally recognized by outlets like The New York Times, NPR, and Southern Living, Steve is a four-time semifinalist for the James Beard Foundation Awards’ Outstanding Restaurateur, with his most
recent nomination in 2024 for his work with colleague Kimball Brienza at O-Ku.
He became a best-selling author when he published Say Grace: How the Restaurant Business Saved My Life in 2019. He is also the host of a podcast called Say Grace: Food for Thought in Hospitality, on which he takes a deep dive into the stories of leaders in the hospitality industry and beyond.
His proudest accomplishment to date is co-founding Ben’s Friends with close friend and fellow longtime industry veteran Mickey Bakst. Through this organization, they offer hope, fellowship, and a path forward to professionals who struggle with substance abuse and addiction. An avid proponent of supporting people and communities, Steve serves as an active member on several industry boards and annual fundraising events and has also lent his voice to influential events like Welcome Conference, TedX Charleston, and Charleston Wine + Food Festival, speaking on personal passions like building strong company cultures and addiction/recovery.
Topics:
- Creating a Supportive Culture of Wellness: Palmer can discuss strategies for fostering a culture of wellness within hospitality organizations, including promoting mental and physical health, supporting work-life balance, and providing resources for employees struggling with addiction or mental health issues.
- Addressing Addiction and Substance Abuse in the Workplace: Drawing from his own experiences and advocacy, Palmer can speak about the prevalence of addiction and substance abuse in the hospitality industry, as well as strategies for addressing these issues proactively, providing support, and encouraging recovery among employees.
- Building Resilience and Coping Mechanisms: Palmer can share insights into building resilience and developing healthy coping mechanisms to navigate the stresses and challenges of working in the hospitality industry, including strategies for managing stress, maintaining work-life balance, and seeking support when needed.
- Leadership’s Role in Supporting Employee Wellness: Palmer can discuss the crucial role of leadership in promoting employee wellness and supporting those struggling with addiction or mental health issues, including training for managers, creating open communication channels, and leading by example.
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Community Engagement and Support Networks: Palmer can highlight the importance of community engagement and building support networks within the hospitality industry, including partnerships with addiction recovery organizations, peer support groups, and initiatives to reduce stigma and encourage seeking help.
Steve Palmer AT THE WELCOME CONFERENCE
What they are saying
“Say Grace is a powerful and moving reminder that people are the heart and soul of our industry and that taking care of each other is our first and most sacred responsibility. Enormous credit is due Steve Palmer for generously sharing his story and dedicating his remarkable career to helping others in the true spirit of hospitality.”
-Danny Meyer
Best Selling Author and Founder of Union Square Hospitality Group
“We’re at a watershed moment in the hospitality industry, a time when the conversation about addiction and mental health crises is finally coming to the fore thanks to the courage of leaders like Steve Palmer. A call to action and a love letter to restaurant people, Say Grace will empower those who work in the business to take care of themselves and one another as much as they do for their customers.“
-Hunter Lewis
Editor in Chief at Food & Wine
“Restaurateur and community leader Steve Palmer offers a raw and unflinching account of his battles with drug and alcohol addiction, not to say, “Hey look at me, ” but, “Hey there’s hope. applaud his courage, his honesty, and his ongoing mission to help others struggling with addiction.“
-Darcy Shankland
Editor-in-chief, Charleston Magazine
Say Grace
How the Restaurant Business Saved My Life
Say Grace is an unflinching look at the modern restaurant industry. Through his deeply personal stories, Steve Palmer paints a picture that will be familiar to anyone who has worked in the food and beverage industry. His dissection of how he arrived at his addiction, and how he found his way out, is a beacon to the struggling.
Proceeds from Say Grace benefit Ben’s Friends.
