Famous Dave's Names Jackie Kane Ottoson as Vice President of Human Resources

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Famous Dave’s of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: DAVE) today announced that it has named Jackie Kane Ottoson as Vice President of Human Resources.

A 20-year HR veteran, Ottoson comes to Famous Dave’s from McKesson Medication Management in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, where she led the human resources function including talent acquisition, education, development, benefits and total rewards, serving up to 2000 employees in over 200 locations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. At McKesson, Ottoson put in place a “High Performing Workforce Model,” a program that closely links the human resources function to the business model and builds web-based systems and analytics to more effectively manage and track performance.

Prior to her tenure at McKesson, Ottoson was an HR executive at Deluxe Corporation, GN ReSound North America, Caremark RX, Inc., and Bon Secours Baltimore Health Corporation.

“Famous Dave’s is very pleased to have attracted a professional of Jackie’s caliber to serve as our ‘people champion.’ She has a proven record in building solid business teams and of aligning Human Resources functions with core business initiatives and goals,” said Wilson L. Craft, CEO and President. “Famous Dave’s is proud of its industry-leading retention rates. In 2007, we won the ‘Spirit Award,’ which is the most prominent human relations award in our industry. We look forward to Jackie helping us build on an already strong company culture.”

“This is a tremendous opportunity,” Ottoson said. “I have great respect for the organization Famous Dave’s has built and I am excited to help position Famous Dave’s as a premier and preferred employer in this highly competitive marketplace.”

Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que features award-winning hickory-smoked St. Louis-style spare ribs, Texas beef brisket, Georgia chopped pork and a variety of Famous Dave’s regional BBQ sauces. Additionally, the menu offers barbeque and country roasted chicken, BBQ sandwiches, burgers and salads. Plus, the restaurant prepares and serves up such down home classics as coleslaw, potato salad, Wilbur Beans, corn bread muffins and Famous Fries. Famous Dave’s delectable homestyle desserts include its award-winning bread pudding and hot fudge Kahlua brownie.

Having won more than 300 awards for everything from best sauce to best ribs to best cookbook, Famous Dave’s has received wide acclaim and praise from guests and critics alike. Famous Dave’s Rib Team regularly competes in rib competitions across the country, and has raked in 1st place awards at the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook-Off in Sparks, Nevada, the Southern Florida Championship Cook Off in Jupiter, Florida, the Great American Rib Cook-off in Ohio, the Sioux Empire Rib-fest in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the Rib Fest & More in Fargo, North Dakota, the Pontiac Rib America Rib Fest in Pontiac, Michigan, the Twin Cities Rockin’ Rib Fest in Minneapolis, Minnesota and the Rib America Indianapolis Rib Fest in Indianapolis, Indiana to name just a few.

About Famous Dave’s. Famous Dave’s of America, Inc. (NASDAQ: DAVE) develops, owns, operates and franchises barbeque restaurants. The company currently owns 48 locations and franchises 125 additional units 36 in states. Its menu features award-winning barbequed and grilled meats, an ample selection of salads, side items and sandwiches, and unique desserts. For more information, please visit www.famousdaves.com or contact Pat Courtemanche at (612) 746-1776.

Statements in this press release that are not strictly historical, including but not limited to statements regarding the timing of our restaurant openings and the timing or success of our expansion plans, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, which may cause the company’s actual results to differ materially from expected results. Although Famous Dave's of America, Inc. believes the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, it can give no assurance that its expectation will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Famous Dave's expectation include financial performance, restaurant industry conditions, execution of restaurant development and construction programs, franchisee performance, changes in local or national economic conditions, availability of financing, governmental approvals and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's SEC reports.

For Famous Dave's of America, Inc.:
Golden & Associates
Pat Courtemanche, 612-746-1776