Clarence A. Daniels, Jr.

Clarence A. Daniels, Jr. was Chairman and CEO of CMS Hospitality (CMS), airport food and beverage concessions company. Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Los Angeles, Daniels executed the sale of the company in 2016. Among the fastest-growing companies in its industry segment, Daniels built the company from three stores at LAX to over 40 locations in eight major airports, including Los Angeles International, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International, Washington Reagan, and Houston George Bush International.

Among the company's accomplishments were participating in the design, opening, and operation of the food court in the new Los Angeles Tom Bradley International Terminal and the design and opening of the first two-story TGIFriday Restaurant in the then-new Washington Reagan Airport. The company was also at the forefront of introducing popular local restaurants in airports to create "A Sense of Place."

In 2013, Daniels was selected as the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year for the Greater Los Angeles Region. The award recognizes outstanding high-growth entrepreneurs who demonstrate excellence and extraordinary success in such areas as innovation, financial performance, and personal commitment to their businesses and communities.

Since the sale of the business, Daniels has spent his time mentoring small businesses, non-profit organizations, and youth. With his fraternity, he started a mentoring program in the Watts community for 11-to-13-year-old disadvantaged males. Daniels enjoys spending time with the family, traveling, playing golf, and the arts. He has recently started taking acting lessons.