Sterling's right-hand man is his successor in waiting

Patrick Sterling, senior director of risk and legendary people for Texas Roadhouse Inc., has used his background in restaurant human resources to guide the career development of Texas Roadhouse professionals throughout the company.

“He's very passionate about individual development and professional development,” said Nora FitzGerald Meldrum, associate general counsel with Texas Roadhouse.

That includes planning to pass the Texas Roadhouse risk management torch to senior claims manager Britt Roarx. Though Mr. Sterling said he does not have a definitive timeline for when a transition would happen, he wants to make sure that Texas Roadhouse's risk management operations have a continuity plan in place.

“He is my right hand and successor in risk management,” Mr. Sterling said of Mr. Roarx.

Mr. Roarx worked in claim management with companies such as Louisville, Kentucky-based fast food restaurant chain Long John Silver's Inc. and Atlanta-based telecommunications firm BellSouth Corp. before joining Texas Roadhouse seven years ago. He was connected with Mr. Sterling through a contact at Marsh L.L.C., which is Texas Roadhouse's primary broker for most of its insurance programs, who believed Mr. Roarx's general liability and workers compensation claims background would be helpful to Texas Roadhouse.

Mr. Sterling said Mr. Roarx came in just as Texas Roadhouse began handling its own general liability claims and has been a “perfect” fit with Texas Roadhouse's goals and corporate culture.

“He's done an amazing job,” Mr. Sterling said.

Mr. Roarx said he's “honored” to know that Mr. Sterling trusts him to head up Texas Roadhouse's risk management operations some day.

“He's such a force and so good at what he does that I want to live up to those expectations,” Mr. Roarx said.