Business News

Kowalski Tells Her Story with a Grain of Salt

—February 22, 2002

Rosemary Kowalski, the queen of San Antonio catering, spoke about her experiences in the catering business during the Stories of Leadership lecture series in the Center for Professional Excellence. Rosemary Kowalski, the queen of San Antonio catering, spoke about her experiences in the catering business during the Stories of Leadership lecture series in the Center for Professional Excellence.

Kowalski, who founded the RK Group, has been in the catering business for 57 years. She got her start in business following World War II when she and her husband opened a barbecue restaurant on North Zarzamora called Uncle Ben's.

"We owned a restaurant, but I decided catering was the way to go," said Kowalski. "I took a crow bar to all the stools in the restaurant, so we were forced to become a catering company."

Her catering business took off following her success during HemisFair in 1968. "HemisFair changed the life of the RK Group," she said. "We served 95 percent of all the venues in San Antonio." Following HemisFair, her company received the contract for all catering services in the convention center.

"I believe success comes from hard work," she said. "I demand quality in everything that I do and that has led to my success. The greatest marketing strategy is word of mouth."

Kowalski's ties to UTSA have included the recent establishment of the Rosemary Kowalski Endowed Scholarship at UTSA.

Stories of Leadership is dedicated to the concept of learning through shared experiences. Business and civic leaders present the lessons they've learned throughout the course of their lives. The stories are powerful tools to instruct, guide and inspire the continued development of today's as well as tomorrow's leaders.

Wendy Frost—

Please send your comments to: wendy.frost@utsa.edu

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