Carol Erickson

About Carol:

Growing up in the family hospitality business, Carol Lawrence has over 30 years of experience managing and marketing of various restaurants, including her own. She started at the age of 12 peeling potatoes, setting the banquet hall and taking turkeys apart with Memere at Belmont Hall. By 15, she had worked her way up to dishwasher and line cook, before accepting a waitress position at the Weathervane Seafood Restaurant. This position was short-lived because within two weeks, she was offered the Dining Room Manager position and soon after followed her passion to learn all about the back of house. After successfully managing another family business, The Derryfield Restaurant, Carol bought her first restaurant in September 1987 when she was just 23 years old. Since this time, she has earned national exposure for the Red Arrow Diner through print, television and radio media as well as expanded the brand to three locations across New Hampshire.

The "Spark" that Makes Her a Shining Star of the Industry:

Even in the infamously competitive hospitality industry, Carol continually supports countless local restaurants in many ways.

Carol truly believes that restaurateurs should build each other up and collaborate to build a thriving economy that benefits everyone. To this end, she founded the NH Entertainment and Tastes of the State (NH EATS) and hosted a food-themed radio show for over a decade that showcased local eateries, chefs and signature dishes. When tragedy strikes for fellow hospitality entrepreneurs, Carol is at the front of the line to offer encouragement, consultation and other support for these individuals and their staff.

Carol was named by the New Hampshire Lodging & Restaurant Association as the 2018 Stars of the Industry Restaurateur of the Year. Carol is an active supporter of her community and supports countless charitable endeavors. Each year, she and her team leads the planning committee for the Tower of Toys holiday fundraiser which collects toys for disadvantaged children. She serves annually as a Make-A-Wish NHtable captain and actively supports the Perkins School for the Blind, including funding in perpetuity the organization’s annual Jesse Isabelle Spirit Award to recognize a child with great passion and spirit.

For over six years, she has volunteered her time and compassion as an educational surrogate for a 17-year-old girl in foster care. Carol has also served on the Challenger Sports NH board of directors, was honored to be the keynote survivor speaker of the American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women Luncheon in 2017, and a supporter of both New Hampshire Association for the Blind and Compassionate Friends. She also conducts countless fundraisers through her diners and provides generous donations for a wide variety of causes.

On Winning the Lifetime Achievement Award at this time in her career:

"Winning this award at this time in my life is HUGE! I am beyond humbled and honored!"

Beyond awards and titles, how Carol personally measures her own success:

"It’s the employees who started with me years ago and went on to build successful lives and careers. It’s the customers who became friends, the families who made our restaurant part of their traditions, and the relationships I’ve built throughout the hospitality industry and my community.

I’m proud of the businesses I helped build, but I’m even more proud of the people I helped along the way and the memories we created together.

At this stage of my life, success isn’t about how much I accomplished—it’s about being able to look back and know that I made a difference, I treated people well, and I left something meaningful behind."