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Charmaine V. Rickette is president and CEO of Uncle Remus Saucy Fried Chicken, founded by her parents, Gus and Mary Rickette, over fifty years ago. She is the youngest of their 12 children.
She has breathed new life into the local, family-owned restaurant concept, building a sustainable business through operating system updates, a strong leadership team, and a commitment to employee training and engagement.
Under her leadership, history was made in 2006 when Uncle Remus Chicken became the first non-national and black-owned restaurant to operate in a Wal-Mart.
ChickChat with Charmaine was her radio talk show on WVON 1930, where she sought to educate, empower, and cultivate business owners and the larger community.
She is a co-author of Disrupting The Status Quo, where entrepreneurial women share how to crush mediocrity & maximize your potential, and serves as the Executive Director of the Rickette Foundation.
Charmaine believes in rehabilitation and second chances and has worked with city, state, and civic organizations to help transition inmates and displaced persons back into the workforce. Former gang members, substance abusers, and homeless citizens are now a part of her management team.
A natural communicator, Charmaine graduated from Columbia College, studying broadcast journalism and earning a B.A. in Liberal Arts. From 1985 to 1989, Charmaine was employed in the Mayor’s Office of Special Events under Mayor Harold Washington. Charmaine worked with Tourism, Protocol, and PR on festivals and dignitary visits.
Charmaine completed business courses at the Living Word Christian Center’s Joseph Center Business School and attended Pal’s Business Excellence Institute. Charmaine also develops and mentor existing businesses and entrepreneurs.
Charmaine is the Chairperson of the Austin African American Business Networking Association (AAABNA).
Her honors include the Chicago Defender Women of Excellence Award, the Launa Thompson Phenomenal Woman Award, and numerous other Local Civic and Community Accolades.