NADA 2023

Joe DeLoss
Head Fryer and Founder
Hot Chicken Takeover


Joe DeLoss built a fried chicken empire by changing perspectives on HR and workforce development. Though his career began as an investment bank analyst, DeLoss quickly left the cubicle behind to combine his passions for entrepreneurship and community impact. Ten years and dozens of ideas later, DeLoss has earned critical acclaim with his newest adventure: the Midwest restaurant chain, Hot Chicken Takeover (HCT). The secret of his success? Selling delicious fried chicken in a family-reunion-like environment. As part of his business model, DeLoss relies on an unconventional workforce and HR strategy. Most team members have experienced major adversity — from addiction to homelessness to incarceration. Yet, for DeLoss, leveraging fair-chance employment and social entrepreneurship is far from charitable; it’s the linchpin of HCT’s success.

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