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Founder, President and Chief Executive
Officer - ICON LLC
Senior Partner - Lettuce Entertain You
Enterprises, Inc.
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington,
Centioli spent his childhood employed in all segments of a KFC Franchise
(41 units) owned by Gil's Enterprises, Inc., his family business.
He worked after school, weekends and holidays learning about restaurant
operations, finance, marketing, purchasing, distribution, real estate,
construction and every other aspect of the company. After receiving
his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with majors in public
accounting and marketing from Gonzaga University in Washington,
Centioli went on to hold the posts of Assistant to the President
and Vice President for Gil's Enterprises, Inc.
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Gil's Enterprises, Inc.
merged into Collins Food International, Inc. (NYSE: CF) in July, 1983
at which time Centioli was named Regional Vice President of the Kentucky
Fried Chicken Division of CF. In March 1984, he was named Vice President
of Administration of the Kentucky Fried Chicken Division of CF. His
affiliation with Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc. began in
1984, through a joint venture with CF to develop the Ed Debevic's
concept. The joint venture between CF and LEYE named Centioli Vice
President of Ed Debevic's, Inc. He was named President & CEO of Ed
Debevic's, Inc. in 1988. He was named President & CEO of the Tucci
Division of LEYE in 1992. He was named a member of the LEYE Executive
Committee in 1993. Centioli was named President & CEO of the Maggiano's
/ Corner Bakery Division of LEYE in 1993 |
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Maggiano's and Corner
Bakery were preparing for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) of the
company's stock in 1995. In anticipation of the IPO, the individual
Maggiano's and Corner Bakery entities were merged into a single corporation
- Maggiano's / Corner Bakery, Inc. and Centioli was named President
and CEO. |
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Maggiano's / Corner Bakery,
Inc. ultimately merged into Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT)
in August 1995. Centioli was named Senior Vice President of EAT and
President and CEO of the Maggiano's / Corner Bakery Division. In October
1995 he was elected to the Board of Directors of EAT. In January 1996
EAT formed the Italian Concepts Division which included Romano's Macaroni
Grill, Maggiano's Little Italy and Corner Bakery, at which time Centioli
was named President and CEO of the Division. While under Centioli's
direction, Romano's Macaroni Grill grew from 62 to 94 units, Maggiano's
Little Italy grew from inception to 10 units and the Corner Bakery
grew from inception to 42 units. In April 1997 EAT formed the Emerging
Concepts Division and named Centioli President and CEO. The Emerging
Concepts Division was comprised of Maggiano's Little Italy, Corner
Bakery, Big Bowl and Wildfire. |
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In April 1999, Gerard
Centioli, Richard Melman and Michael Fox founded ICON LLC. ICON was
formed to establish partnerships with bona fide restaurant icons for
the expressed purpose of multi-unit development. |
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The first of these partnerships
is with one of the most famous full service restaurant icons in America,
Joe's Stone Crab (Joe's). Joe and Jennie Weiss opened Joe's in Miami,
Florida in 1913. Today, Joe's is owned and operated by Jo Ann Bass,
granddaughter of the founders, and Stephen and Jodi Sawitz, children
of Jo Ann. Joe's Stone Crab Development Company, LLC is a partnership
between ICON and the founding family. The first restaurant opened
in Chicago's River North area, in October 2000. |
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The second partnership
is with one of the most famous quick serve icons in America, Krispy
Kreme Doughnuts. Vernon Rudolph opened Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Winston-Salem,
North Carolina in 1937. KremeWorks, LLC is the exclusive area developer
for Krispy Kreme in Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Hawaii and British
Columbia. KremeWorks is a partnership between ICON and Krispy Kreme
Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD). |
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Crain's Chicago Business
named Centioli one of the 40 Players Under 40 in 1994. Nation's Restaurant
News named Centioli on of the Top 50 New Players in 1997. |
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In June 1999 Centioli
was elected to the Board of Directors of Lawry's Restaurants, Inc.
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In March 2000 Centioli was elected
to the Board of Directors of the National Italian American Foundation. |
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Centioli is a member of the Gonzaga
University Board of Regents as well as the Dean's Round Table for
the School of Business. |
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Centioli is also a member of the Young
Presidents' Organization (YPO) where he served as an officer of the
Chicago Chapter in 1994 - 1996. |
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