Board of Directors

Alton F. ("Rick") Doody, III has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company since its inception in 1987. Mr. Doody was our Chief Executive Officer from 1992 until February 2007 and our President from June 2006 until September 2009. Mr. Doody continues to remain employed in a non-executive officer capacity by the Company, primarily focusing on the development of our new restaurants. Mr. Doody also founded Lindey's German Village, and was responsible for all facets of its management. Mr. Doody received a Bachelor of Sciences degree in Economics from Ohio Wesleyan University and has completed all the necessary coursework for a Master's Degree from Cornell University in Restaurant/Hotel Management. Mr. Doody is a member of the Young Presidents Organization and the International Council of Shopping Center Owners and is a board member for the Cleveland Restaurant Association. Mr. Doody's qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his knowledge of our company and the restaurant industry and his years of leadership at our company.

Saed Mohseni joined the Company as Chief Executive Officer in February 2007 and assumed the additional role of President in September 2009. Mr. Mohseni has also served as a director of the Company since June 2006. Prior to joining us, Mr. Mohseni was the chief executive officer (January 2000-February 2007) and a director (2004-2007) of McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants, Inc. Mr. Mohseni joined McCormick & Schmick's in 1986 as a general manager. During his time at McCormick & Schmick's, he also held the positions of senior manager (1988-1993), vice president of operations-California (1993-1997), and senior vice president of operations (1997-1999). Mr. Mohseni attended Portland State University and Oregon State University. Mr. Mohseni's qualifications to serve on our Board of Directors include his knowledge of our company and the restaurant industry and his years of leadership at our company.

Thomas Baldwin has been a director of the Company since February 2012.  Mr. Baldwin has been the Chairman of the Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer of ROI Acquisition Corporation since its inception in September 2011.  Mr. Baldwin is a private investor and a past Chairman of the Board, CEO and business leader in the restaurant industry.  Previously, he served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President of Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc. from December 2005 through February 2010.  In addition, Mr. Baldwin had served as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Morton’s Restaurant Group, Inc. from December 1988 until December 2005. Mr. Baldwin also held several additional titles including Senior Vice President, Finance, Vice President of Finance, Secretary and Assistant Secretary during his employment at Morton’s Restaurant Group Inc.  Earlier in his career, Mr. Baldwin served as Chief Financial Officer for Le Peep Restaurant, a leading casual dining operator and franchisor. His experience also includes two years as Vice President for Strategic Planning at Citigroup and seven years at General Foods Corp., now part of Kraft Foods. Mr. Baldwin is currently on the Boards of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill Restaurants, Lone Star and Texas Land & Cattle Restaurants, and Home Run Inn Pizza.  He has also served on the board or as an advisor to Caribbean Restaurants, Inc., Charlie Brown’s Restaurants, Marie Callanders and Perkins Family Restaurants and McCormick and Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants, Inc.  Mr. Baldwin is a past member of the board of directors of the March of Dimes Connecticut Division.  Mr. Baldwin brings his comprehensive experience in brand positioning and brand management, general management including global strategy, operations, marketing and sales, people resources, investor relations, public relations, international and domestic development, franchising, as well as infrastructure functions to our Board. 

James S. Gulmi has been a director of the Company since October 2010. Mr. Gulmi currently serves as the senior vice president, finance and chief financial officer and treasurer of Genesco Inc., a leading retailer of branded footwear, licensed and branded headwear and wholesaler of branded footwear. Mr. Gulmi joined Genesco Inc. in 1971 as a financial analyst and was appointed chief financial officer in 1986. Mr. Gulmi has served as Genesco Inc.'s senior vice president, finance, since 1996. Mr. Gulmi serves as a board or committee member of several nonprofit agencies, including The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville and Leadership Nashville. Mr. Gulmi brings more than 30 years of experience in corporate finance, strategic planning and leadership of complex organizations. Mr. Gulmi earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business from Baldwin Wallace College and a Master of Business Administration degree from Emory University.

David B. Pittaway has been a director of the Company since June 2006. Mr. Pittaway is senior managing director, senior vice president and secretary of Castle Harlan, Inc., a private equity firm. He has been with Castle Harlan since 1987. Mr. Pittaway also has been vice president and secretary of Branford Castle, Inc., an investment company, since October, 1986. From 1987 to 1998, Mr. Pittaway was vice president, chief financial officer and a director of Branford Chain, Inc., a marine wholesale company, where he is now a director and vice chairman. Previously, Mr. Pittaway was vice president of strategic planning and assistant to the president of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, Inc., an investment banking firm. Mr. Pittaway is also a member of the boards of directors of The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated, Morton's Restaurant Group,, Inc. and Perkins & Marie Callender's Inc. In addition, he is a director and co-founder of the Armed Forces Reserve Family Assistance Fund. Mr. Pittaway possesses in-depth knowledge and experience in finance and strategic planning based on his more than 20 years of experience as an investment banker and manager of Castle Harlan's investing activities. Mr. Pittaway brings significant restaurant industry experience to the Board of Directors and, among other skills and qualifications, his significant knowledge and understanding of the industry and his experience serving as a director of a number of publicly traded companies in the restaurant industry. Mr. Pittaway received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas, a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Harold O. Rosser II has served as a member of our Board of Directors since June 2006. In January 2011, Mr. Rosser founded Rosser Capital Partners Maangement L.P. an entitiy formed to sponsor a private investment fund specializing in investments in middle market consumer & retail companies as well as restaurants and other multiple-unit concepts. Prior to forming Rosser Capital Partners, Mr. Rosser was a managing director and a founder of Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill and Co., Management, L.P., a New York-based private equity firm where he worked from 1995 to 2010. From 1987 through 1995 Mr. Rosser was an officer at Citicorp Venture Capital. Prior to joining CVC, he spent 12 years with Citicorp/Citibank in various management and corporate finance positions. Mr. Rosser is also a member of the board of trustees of the Culinary Institute of America and the management committee of the New Canaan Society. Mr. Rosser formerly served as a director of several private and publicly traded companies and had led his respective firm's investments in more than 16 restaurant companies over the past 20 plus years. His in-depth knowledge and experience in the restaurant and food service industry, coupled with his skills in corporate finance, strategic planning, leadership of complex organizations, and board practices of private and public companies, strengthen the Board's collective qualifications, skills and experience. Mr. Rosser earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Clarkson University and attended Management Development Programs at Carnegie-Mellon University and the Stanford University Business School.

Fortunato N. Valenti has been a director of the Company since October 2010. Mr. Valenti currently serves as the chief executive officer of Patina Restaurant Group (formerly Restaurant Associates), a boutique restaurant and food service company. Mr. Valenti joined Restaurant Associates in 1968 as a management trainee and was appointed to the position of chief executive officer in 1994. From 2002-2007 Mr. Valenti served as a member of the board of directors of McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants, Inc. and has served as a member of the boards of directors of public and private companies, including Real Mex Restaurants, Inc., Il Fornaio (America) Corporation and Papa Gino's Inc. Mr. Valenti is also a member of the boards of directors of various non-profit organizations, including the Culinary Institute of America, NYC & Co. and City Meals on Wheels. Mr. Valenti brings significant restaurant industry experience to the Board of Directors, including significant experience at the senior executive and board level in both the upscale affordable and upscale dining segments. Mr. Valenti earned an Associate's Degree from New York Community College.