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Nation's Restaurant News
The most influential restaurant CEOs in the country, according to Nation’s Restaurant News readers
NRN staff Feb 17, 2021

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Geoff Alexander, President/CEO, Wow Bao

Zaid Ayoub, CEO & Founder, SAJJ Mediterranean

Paul Baldasasro, President and CEO, Hickory Tavern

Sam Ballas, President and CEO, East Coast Wings + Grill

Bill Bayne, Co-Founder/CEO, Fish City Grill

Tosh Berman, CEO/Founder, The Madera Group

Elizabeth Blau, Founder + CEO, Blau + Associates

Thomas Bonfiglio, Founder and CEO, Triple T Hospitality Group (Tommy's Tavern + Tap and Tio Taco + Tequila Bar)

Mark Brezinski, CEO, Marugame Udon

Dennis Byrd, CEO, Island Famous/The Spot

Jose Cil, CEO, Restaurant Brands International

Mike Colonna, CEO and President, NORMS Restaurants

Chuck Cooper, CEO and President, Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken

Jim Creel, President & CEO, Taco John's

John Cywinski, CEO, Applebee's

Roger David, President & CEO, GSR Brands - Parent Organization of Gold Star and Tom & CheeGSR Brands - Parent Organization of Gold Star and Tom & Chee

Massimo De Marco, CEO, Piestro Pizza

Founder, Kitchen United

CEO, Future Labs VI

Flynn Dekker, CEO, Bonchon

Daniel DeLeon, CEO, Grumpy's Restaurant

Scott Deviney, CEO, Chicken Salad Chick

Laura Rea Dickey, CEO, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Daryl Dollinger, CEO, Cinnaholic

Clay Dover, CEO, Velvet Taco

Landon Eckles, CEO, Clean Juice

Mark Findlay, CEO, Lone Star Texas Grill

John Fisher, CEO, Nando’s PERi-PERi

Don Fox, CEO, Firehouse Subs

Stephen Frabitore, CEO, Tupelo Honey Hospitality

Randy Garutti, CEO, Shake Shack

Robert George, CEO, Ethos Hospitality

Roy Gilad, CEO and Co-Founder, Vitality Bowls

Robert Hall, CEO, Refined Hospitality Concepts

GJ Hart, CEO, Torchy's Tacos 

Dan Hawkins, CEO, The Human Bean

Cheryl Henry, President and CEO, Ruth's Chris Hospitality Group 

Emanuel “Manny” Hilario, President and CEO, The ONE Group

Luke Holden, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Luke's Lobster 

Jim Holthouser, CEO, Focus Brands 

Carl Howard, CEO, Fazoli's 

Joe Hummel, CEO, Twin Peaks Restaurant 

Akash Kapoor, CEO & Co-Founder, Curry Up Now 

Sean Kennedy, President and CEO, Cowboy Chicken 

Wan Kim, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Smoothie King

Mark King, CEO, Taco Bell

Tom Krouse, CEO, Donatos Pizza

Michael Kupstas, CEO, Lion's Choice

Tony Lamb, CEO and Founder, Kona Ice

Brandon Landry, Founder, Co-Owner & CEO, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux

Andy Lansing, President and CEO, Levy Restaurants

Scott Lawton, CEO and co-founder, bartaco

Robert Lee, CEO, Coolgreens

Jeffrey Levine, Co-Founder & CEO, Raw Juice

Tony Libardi, President & Co-CEO, Marco's Pizza

Jeremy Litwack, Founder, CEO, Jeremiah's Italian Ice

Kim Lopdrup, CEO, Red Lobster

Sal Lupoli, President and CEO, Sal's Pizza

Rob Lynch, President and CEO, Papa John's

Paul Macaluso, President & CEO, Another Broken Egg Cafe

Gregory Maly, CEO, MILA Miami 

Paul Mangiamele, Owner, Chairman & CEO, Legendary Restaurant Brands

Harold Martin, Jr., CEO, Taco Mac

Nicole Marquis, Founder and CEO, Marquis & Co restaurants (HipCityVeg, Bar Bombon, and Charlie was a sinner.)

Jim Mazany, CEO, SPB Hospitality

Tim McEnery, Founder/CEO, Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants

Michael McHenry, Founder and CEO, The McHenry Group

David McKillips, CEO, CEC Entertainment (Chuck E. Cheese, Peter Piper Pizza and Pasqually's Pizza & Wings)

Zach McLeroy, Cofounder and CEO, Zaxby's Franchising LLC

John Miller, Chief Executive Officer, Denny's

Cameron Mitchell, Founder and CEO, Cameron Mitchell Restaurants

Jason Morgan, CEO, Original ChopShop

Tim Morrison, CEO, Tacala Companies

Sam Mustafa, CEO and Founder, Charleston Hospitality Group

Sam Nazarian, CEO and Founder, C3

Justin Nedelman, Co-Founder & CEO, Eureka! Restaurant Group

Shahpour Nejad, CEO and Founder, Pizza Guys

Jonathan Neman, Co-Founder + CEO, sweetgreen

Peter Newlin, CEO, Birdcall

Abe Ng, CEO, Sushi Maki

Aaron Noveshen, Founder & CEO, Starbird and The Culinary Edge

James O'Reilly, CEO, Smokey Bones

Michael Osanloo, CEO, Portillo's Hot Dogs

Dave Pesso, CEO & Co-Founder, The Hummus & Pita Co.

Tim Petrillo, President/CEO, The Restaurant People

Bill Phelps, CEO, Dave's Hot Chicken

Dave Plate, CEO, Randolph Beer

Nour Rabai, Founder and CEO, PITA Mediterranean Street Food

Jamal Rasoully, CEO and Founder, The Halal Shack and Spin Sauce

John T. Reed, CEO, Bosscat Kitchen & Libation, Ten Sushi + Cocktail Bar, BCK

Mason Revelette, CEO, Jonathan's Grille

Ricky Richardson, CEO, Eggs Up Grill

Samantha Rincione, CEO, Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ

Kelly Roddy, CEO, Saladworks

Adam Romo, CEO, Eatzi's Market & Bakery

Tinku Saini, CEO and partner, Tarka Indian Kitchen

Susan Sarich, Founder/CEO, SusieCakes Holdings, LLC

Adam Saxton, Co-CEO, The Saxton Group

Elliot Schiffer, Partner/CEO, Mici Handcrafted Italian

Jennifer Schuler, CEO, Wetzel's Pretzels

Chris Schultz, CEO, Voodoo Doughnut

Michael Schultz, Founder + CEO, Infuse Hospitality

Randy Sharpe, CEO, Xperience Restaurant Group (Acapulco, Chevys Fresh Mex, El Torito, El Torito Grill, Las Brisas, Who 

Mandy Shaw, CEO, Blaze Pizza

Max Sheets, Owner & CEO, Chick N Max

Ike Shehadeh, CEO, Ike's Love & Sandwiches

Imran Sheikh, CEO & Co-Founder, Milkshake Concepts

Eric Slaymaker, CEO, Wingers

Nicholas Stone, Founder and CEO, Bluestone Lane 

Jonathan Streep, Principal and CEO, ALIDORO

Susan Taylor, President & CEO, Juice It Up!

Chris Tomasso, CEO & President, First Watch

Jason Vaughn, CEO, Frisch's Big Boy

Charles Watson, CEO, Tropical Smoothie Cafe

Steve Weigel, CEO, Wild Wing Cafe

Andy Wiederhorn, President and CEO, FAT Brands

Bobby Williams, President and CEO, Lizard's Thicket, Inc.

Anil Yadav, CEO, Yadav Enterprises, Inc.

Ryan Zink, CEO, Bad Daddy's Burger Bar

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The most influential non-commercial operators in the country, according to Nation’s Restaurant News readers
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