Oscar Black, The Fresh Diet's LA Manager and resident rock star!
Hi everybody, I’m Oscar Black and I am the Manager of The Fresh Diet’s Los Angeles kitchen. I thought this would be a great opportunity to let you know more about me. We like people to see the faces behind the business. So here goes…
I moved to Miami at the end of the summer in 2006 and started a post college seminary in religious studies. My brother’s childhood friend Zalmi Duchman was very gracious while I was there as I didn’t know anyone. We went out to eat together, saw movies, and yes, had boys night out on Tuesday nights where we usually went miniature golfing.
He (Zalmi) was extremely excited about a new business venture he started in the beginning of the year delivering diets to peoples homes. It was a new concept to me, delivering healthy meals that is, and I was always glad to get out of school and help him Thursday and Saturday nights pack the coolers and once in a while doing a delivery as well. Throughout the year I watched the business grow from 30 steady customers to about 100 or more and I must admit it was quite entertaining to watch the young men in action. After the last semester I went back to my home town of Los Angeles and enjoyed my time off.
In July of 2007 one of the partners, Yuda Schlass, whom I was close friends with as well, offered me a job managing the delivery operation when the previous manager left. I flew back to Miami and worked in the August heat, which was none too enjoyable, for a few weeks until they were able to find a replacement. I moved to New York that fall and had a great time learning what it means to be a citizen in the city that never sleeps.
In early winter of that year, The Fresh Diet, purchased a diet delivery service called Balance For Life. They had locations in Florida, Chicago and New York. So in January of 2008 I received a call from my former employers asking if I was willing to move back to Miami and help with the now significantly larger operational activities. I consented and in fact assisted the CEO in day to day operations.
In May they were looking for someone to run the call center in New York and of course I was there at the ready. It was a great summer. I would go into to the Madison Avenue office everyday with a giant balcony overlooking the immediate skyscrapers and take the train home to my Brooklyn apartment.
After this stint in New York I somehow knew that I would be asked to move again. Well the fresh diet decided to open up a branch in Los Angeles, and me being from there, they couldn’t find a better fit for the job. So in September I moved to L.A. and continued my customer service duties while setting up the kitchen with the executive chef. The first two weeks I in fact did all the deliveries myself until we hired a driver.
I’ve been here since then watching the company grow, managing the kitchen, customer service, and all deliveries.
This week we are featured with Sherri Sheperd on the front cover of OK Magazine, and it is nice to see some recognition of a diet plan that works.
I’ll tell you the best part of this job is hearing someone say they just feel great being 20 pounds thinner. If you have a question about our LA Operation, feel free to email me at oscar@thefreshdiet.com
Regards,
Oscar
