Darrell Hooker

Darrell Hooker joined St. Vincent de Paul Georgia in January 2020 as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the day-to-day functioning of our 9 Thrift stores in North Georgia, the Chamblee Campus, our food recovery operations, and recycling initiatives. Darrell brings with him more than 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry as a chef and general manager. Before joining the SVdP team, he ran his own consulting firm training restaurant owners, managers, and staff for greater operational efficiency and enhanced customer service.

He is a veteran of the United States Marine Corps, where he served, among other places, in Operation Desert Storm, where he utilized his expertise in logistics in various operations, including the intricate and sensitive work of restoring fallen soldiers to their families. As our Senior Director of Operations, he draws heavily upon both his extensive experience in hospitality and logistics to continually improve both the efficiency and service of St. Vincent de Paul Georgia.

Darrell moved to Atlanta 1991 following his Active Marine Corp service and attended Clark Atlanta University, majoring in English, with hopes of one day publishing the next “Great American Novel.”  An active member of his native Cincinnati, Ohio community while growing up, Darrell continues service in his adopted home of Atlanta through a variety of programs including “Atlanta Senior Day,” an information and lunch program coordinated with the Atlanta Falcons, and  “Get the Job,” a workshop he developed in conjunction with McNair High School, preparing students who desire to enter the workforce directly after high school.

Darrell is an avid tennis fan. When he is not spending time with his wife, Tonya, and their two daughters, Darrell McKenna and Hannah, he can be found competing in amateur tennis leagues throughout metro Atlanta, working in his yard, or drafting his “Great American Novel.”