Olive Garden Italian Restaurant has appointed Valdosta resident Theresa Strickland as general manager of the new restaurant located at 1315 N St Augustine Road in Valdosta, Ga.  The restaurant will open on Monday, Jan. 23.

As general manager, Strickland will be responsible for leading a team that maintains the highest quality of food, wine and service — consistently exceeding guests’ expectations.

“Theresa will ensure each and every guest enjoys their dining experience at our new Valdosta restaurant,” said Dan Kiernan, executive vice president of operations for Olive Garden.  “Her professionalism and dedication to providing 100 percent guest delight makes her a great leader for our team in Valdosta.”

Strickland brings extensive restaurant industry experience to her new position.  She has been with Olive Garden for 22 years, most recently as culinary manager of the Olive Garden located at 405 Cypress Garden Blvd. S.E. in Winter Haven, Fla.  Strickland received a bachelor’s degree in fine arts from the Academy of Design in Tampa, Fla.

Strickland is one of more than 1,200 managers who have participated in Olive Garden’s Culinary Institute of Tuscany program in the Tuscan village of Riserva di Fizzano, which serves as the source of inspiration for some dishes on Olive Garden’s menu. 

Each year, at least 100 managers spend a week in Tuscany getting immersed in Italian culture, which includes learning the time-honored traditions of Italian cooking and working side-by-side with Italian master chefs, as part of the restaurant’s dedication to Italy and commitment to rewarding and recognizing its team members.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to lead the Valdosta restaurant and a great team at Olive Garden,” said Strickland.  “Our team members are focused on providing excellent service while treating all of our guests like family.”