Kelly Baltes Bio

Mr. Baltes joined Argonne Capital Group in 2024 as a Senior Operating Partner and serves as an advisor and Board Member for each of Argonne’s restaurant companies. He has over 30 years of executive and multi-unit experience in the restaurant industry. Before joining Argonne, Kelly built his career as a results-orientated operator and held significant leadership roles at Darden Restaurants, including Senior Vice President of Operations for Olive Garden and Executive Vice President of Operations for Red Lobster. He also led Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen as Chairman and CEO, overseeing brand repositioning while delivering substantial growth and impressive financial results. Additionally, Kelly has held President and CEO positions at other iconic and growth brands: Maggiano’s Little Italy and Crisp & Green. Kelly earned his Executive MBA from the Harbert College of Business at Auburn University and was later named as one of the school’s “40/40” which recognized him as one of the top 40 graduates in the first 40 years.