Focus on family begins at home

Patrick Sterling/ MICHAEL MARCOTTE

Patrick Sterling's emphasis on family carries over to his life outside of the office.

His favorite pastime is spending time with his wife of 31 years, Ellen, whom he met as a student at Louisiana State University, and his 16-year-old daughter, Grace, who is a high school sophomore.

“I just enjoy time at home,” said Mr. Sterling, senior director of risk and legendary people for Texas Roadhouse Inc.

Mr. Sterling, 53, said he has enjoyed following Grace's interest in soccer and track and field, where she participates in the triple jump and long jump.

“She's a multisport athlete, so she's always on the go,” Mr. Sterling said.

Mr. Sterling also looks forward to visiting his 22-year-old daughter, Natalie, who works as a neonatal intensive care nurse in Louisville, Kentucky, and his 30-year-old daughter, Victoria, who works as a financial analyst for insurance brokerage Hub International Ltd. in New Orleans and recently gave birth to a son, who is Mr. Sterling's first grandchild.

Mr. Sterling's colleagues describe him as someone they can count on at any time of day.

“Patrick is basically (available) 24/7, and I really mean that,” said Rick Kaskel, a Providence, Rhode Island-based regional market partner with Texas Roadhouse who oversees about 150 restaurants in several states.

“Patrick has an enormous amount of enthusiasm and positive energy, and he really brings that to work literally every day,” said Scott Colosi, president and chief financial officer of Texas Roadhouse.

Mark Simpson, vice president of legendary people who handles human resources for Texas Roadhouse, said Mr. Sterling is known as a morale booster around the company's support center.

“He'll be the first person to put on a crazy costume, pull a prank or have some fun on folks, just to create that true fun-loving culture,” he said.

Mr. Simpson and Mr. Sterling, who were fraternity brothers at Louisiana State, sit in offices next door to each other and described each other as brothers.

That strong bond has made it all the more fulfilling to work together over the years, Mr. Simpson said.