Checkers CEO to be on TV's 'Undercover Boss'

Rick Silva, chief executive officer of Tampa-based Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, is featured in the CBS reality show Undercover Boss at 8 p.m. Friday. Silva worked in disguise in front line jobs at Checkers outlets in Carol City, Homestead and Mobile, Ala., in the single episode program, plus three other stores that did not make the final cut. The company made some changes as a result of the experience: creating a mentoring program to groom selected hourly workers for management, altering employee training and bringing store managers to meet top executives more frequently at headquarters in Tampa. Checkers paid nothing for the appearance, which typically is seen by 13 million viewers.