Clarence A. Daniels, Jr.

Hospitality Entrepreneur

Clarence A. Daniels, Jr. was Chairman and CEO of CMS Hospitality (CMS), an 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's 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.

Daniels is a graduate of Bowling Green State University, where he received his Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Education, and Howard University School of Law. Prior to starting CMS, he was a Vice President of the Marriott Corporation, Vice President of Development for Host International, the largest company in the airport concession business, and President of Educational Dining at Aramark Corporation. Daniels started his professional career as a child advocate and civil rights lawyer with the Children's Defense Fund.

Daniels has been actively involved in civic activities. He served on the Board of Directors of AMAC, a national airport trade association, on the national board of directors for the 100 Black Men of America, and locally as a Board member of the Los Angeles Urban League, a board member of The Los Angeles Educational Partnership, President of the Board of the Greater Los Angeles African American Chamber of Commerce, and was appointed by the Mayor of Los Angeles as a Commissioner on the Los Angeles Convention Center Authority. Daniels joined the ArtCenter College of Design Board of Trustees in 2019.

Daniels and his wife, Dr. Monet Daniels, a retired educator, reside in Los Angeles. They have two children and two grandsons. Their daughter, Dr. Sonya Walker, is Director of Health and Wellness for the YMCA of Las Vegas and their son Anwar, owns Daniels Hospitality, an airport concession company.