TERRY SULLIVAN • AUTHOR • RESTAURATEUR • LEADERSHIP PRACTITIONER
BUILDING BETTER HUMANS
THROUGH LEADERSHIP, SERVICE, AND CHARACTER
Real-world leadership forged through more than three decades of building teams, protecting culture, and serving people.
30+ YEARS OF LEADERSHIP • 14 RESTAURANTS • AUTHOR • SPEAKER • TRAINER
Protecting culture and serving people.
SULLIVAN LEADERSHIP PAGE
LEADERSHIP FORGED IN THE REAL WORLD
Terry Sullivan is an author, restaurateur, and leadership practitioner whose lessons were forged through more than three decades of real world business leadership. During his career, he has owned and operated fourteen restaurants—seven steakhouses and seven barbecue houses—leading teams through the daily demands of service, standards, accountability, adversity, and growth.
Today, he continues that work through Sullivan, Old Town BBQ in Old Town Lewisville, Texas. His leadership philosophy is simple: leaders must model the standard, hold themselves accountable, protect the culture, serve with humility, and help other people become stronger.
“Better human beings make for a better world—and our greatest success is measured by the lives we influence.”
LEADERSHIP PHILOSOPHY
- LEAD YOURSELF FIRST — Before asking others to follow, leaders must live by their own expectations.
- BUILD BETTER HUMANS — Develop character, discipline, integrity, humility, accountability, and confidence.
- PROTECT THE CULTURE — Culture is shaped by what leaders model, reward, correct, and refuse to tolerate.
- SERVE WITH EXCELLENCE — Leadership and hospitality begin with dignity, respect, stewardship, and genuine care.
- LEAVE A LEGACY — Success is not merely what we build, but who becomes stronger because we led.
SPEAKING & LEADERSHIP PROGRAMS - NAL WEB COPY
Signature Keynote Presentations
INTRODUCTION: Honest stories, proven principles, and practical lessons audiences can immediately put to work.
BUILDING BETTER HUMANS — Leadership, Service, and Character
Why leadership is ultimately measured by the people who become stronger because we led. Participants leave with a practical framework for character, integrity, accountability, humility, service, and meaningful influence.
LEAD YOURSELF FIRST — Following Your Own Leadership
Before leaders can ask others to follow, they must live by the expectations they set. This presentation challenges leaders to model discipline, consistency, attitude, responsibility, and personal accountability.
PROTECT THE CULTURE — What Leaders Permit Becomes the Standard
Culture is built through daily behavior, clear communication, consistent expectations, and decisive leadership. Audiences learn how to build trust, correct problems early, protect standards, and develop people without lowering the bar.
Workshops & Leadership Training
Interactive programs that move leadership principles from the page into daily organizational practice.
THE SULLIVAN STANDARD
A hands-on culture and accountability workshop for leadership teams. Define the standard, communicate it clearly, coach consistently, confront what weakens the culture, and build an environment where excellence becomes normal.
FROM MANAGER TO LEADER
Practical development for new and emerging leaders: earning trust, communicating expectations, coaching people, making decisions, handling difficult conversations, and leading with both firmness and dignity.
HOSPITALITY IS LEADERSHIP
A service-centered program for restaurants, hospitality teams, and customer-facing organizations. Connect employee culture to guest experience and turn genuine care, respect, consistency, and stewardship into a competitive advantage.
Available Formats
- Keynote — 45–60 minutes
- Interactive workshop — 90 minutes
- Half-day leadership intensive — 3-4 hours
- Full-day team development — Customized agenda
- In-person and virtual delivery
- Custom and multi-session programs available
THE SULLIVAN LEADERSHIP MANUAL
Building Better Humans Through Leadership, Service, and Character
The Manual turns more than three decades of leadership experience into practical principles addressing character, communication, respect, accountability, decisive leadership, hospitality, stewardship, culture, and legacy.
It is more than a book to read once. It is a working guide for teaching, training, coaching, reflection, and decision-making—for individual readers and organizations that want a shared leadership language they can continue using after an event or training session.
Pricing to Display
- Standard copy — $19.95
- Signed by Terry Sullivan — $24.95
- 35–49 copies — $17.95 each
- 50–99 copies — $16.95 each
- 100–249 copies — $14.95 each
- 250+ copies — $12.95 each
- Shipping quoted separately based on quantity and destination
- Applicable taxes added where required
Book-Integrated Programs
Pair The Sullivan Leadership Manual with a keynote, workshop, management retreat, leadership-team study, employee-recognition program, conference, church leadership initiative, or long-term organizational development program. Signed-copy arrangements are available for group orders.
WHAT LEADERS ARE SAYING
TJ Gilmore, Mayor, City of Lewisville, Texas
“I’ve watched Terry build community everywhere he goes. With his staff, his regulars, the whole neighborhood around his restaurant. People stick around Terry because he makes them feel they matter. This book is him finally writing down what he’s been doing by instinct, and sharing it with readers.”
Congressman Ro Khanna
“Terry Sullivan understands that great leadership begins with how we treat people. Drawing from a lifetime of experience, he shares practical wisdom on service, responsibility, and character that applies in every workplace and every community.”
Gilbert Montez, President & CEO, Christian Community Action
“Terry combines practical wisdom with a genuine passion for people, service, and excellence. This book offers leaders meaningful and real-world principles for building stronger teams, stronger cultures, and stronger lives.”
Claire Powell, City Manager, City of Lewisville, Texas
“Terry understands something that applies far beyond the restaurant business: great organizations are built when leaders set clear standards, treat people with dignity, own their mistakes, and develop others to lead.”
BRING THE SULLIVAN LEADERSHIP PLATFORM TO YOUR ORGANIZATION
Whether you are planning a conference, developing managers, strengthening organizational culture, creating a leadership retreat, or placing the Manual into the hands of your team, Terry would welcome the opportunity to learn what you are trying to accomplish.
DIRECT CONTACT:terrysullivanbbq@gmail.com • 972-955-7976 • Lewisville, Texas • In-person and virtual programs available
{{reservations.submitMessage}}
Professional Downloads
- Media & Booking Kit
- Speaker & Leadership Programs Sheet
- Professional Biography Package
- Book Sales & Bulk-Order Sheet
- Sullivan Leadership Platform Brief