Join us in celebrating a huge honor for Harry, who was named the 2026 Olive Garden Team Member of the Year!

It’s hard to do justice to what a big deal this is. The award is given to one Olive Garden team member across the entire country, and we can’t imagine a more deserving candidate: Harry was hired at an Olive Garden outside Philadelphia in 2016, and the care and commitment he brings to his job led his Manager, Art, to put him forward for the award.

As this year’s big winner, Harry was flown down to Florida for the company’s annual General Manager conference. Joined by his mother and surrounded by supportive colleagues, he took the stage to receive his award. He had a blast at the conference, networking with Olive Garden team members from across the country while also setting aside time to take in the sights, sun, and iconic Florida palms!

“Receiving this award has significantly boosted his confidence, independence, and motivation,” shared our own Lerma Licup-Ezekiel, who’s supported Harry throughout his time at Olive Garden. “It honors his job performance and the tremendous contributions he makes at his workplace, while also inspiring him to continue to grow, learn, and expand his role.”

We are so proud of Harry for this incredible achievement, and deeply gratified to see his excellent work recognized on this national platform. A big thank you is due to Art (pictured center), Harry’s manager at Olive Garden, who’s advocacy and support of Harry helped make this possible. Art shared that the end of October will mark Harry’s 10-year work anniversary, so more celebration is on the way!