Samuel Nicholas Borgese Email & Phone Number

Investor and Board member for companies seeking management, leadership and strategic capabilities in finance, marketing, data analysis and multi-location development skills for retail and restaurant companies that are privately or publicly financed. Emphasis on team leadership and brand building based on best practices; trust; critical constructive communication; commitment; accountability; and, attention to delivering financial results within a purpose driven business model. Believes that Board support of company management teams along with strong board governance reduces risk and improves returns to shareholders.

Costa Mesa, Ca, Us

Publicly traded NASDAQ-listed casual restaurant chain with 405 corporate and franchise operations in five states, generating $550M annual revenue.Member (January 2011 to Present), Executive Chairman (January 2011 to October 2011)Sought-after partner and trusted adviser to discerning committee leaders and senior management as a top-level collaborator. Appointed to lend an expert voice to diverse boards and to contribute to the development of strategic plans including technology business growth, brand strengthening, franchise operations, to surpass or meet legal, fiduciary, and growth targets.■ Leveraged strategic vision and tactical execution to guide a senior-level team through the complexity of a $273M restructuring of a corporate bond debt, carving a path toward the fifth largest IPO in 2015.

Beaverton, Oregon, Us

Sushiro USA is an entity under Sushiro Global Holdings Co. Ltd. (“Sushiro”), which is Japan’s 30-year-old largest chain of sushi restaurants with 430 company-owned locations in Japan, six in Korea, and two in New York. Annual revenues exceed JPY 135 billion yen ($1.3B USD). Inspired concepts for explosive business and profit expansion. Delineated action items and drove visionary evolution of M&A strategy tied to branding initiatives for sustainable growth. Aligned performance management to support company and brand direction. ■ Optimized return on invested capital, leveraging in-depth financial acumen to design and implement profit-focused strategic plans, review financial performance, and ensure integrity in the voting of strategic moves.

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Generating $2.8M per year across with more than 234 company and 26 franchise locations across 23 states. Acquired by Kelso & Company in 2010. Led through executive-level change leadership, tapping into repeated history turning around underperformance and leading company to its first positive YOY sales performance in more than 16 quarters. Transformed Logan’s Roadhouse into a world-class establishment by introducing excellence in operations, product quality, and day-to-day policies and procedures. Assumed ownership in developing master plan for culinary R&D, kitchen operations, performance development, communications, quality assurance, finance, marketing, guest services, legal, and operations services.■ Conceptualized and drove innovative multi-channel marketing plans that fueled sales and revenue growth of $8M, strengthening competitive market stance. ■ Built and shaped a top-caliber CxO team: chief financial officer, chief operating officer, chief marketing officer, VP of human resources in a direct report position to Board of Directors. ■ Realized $40M in cost savings within 12 months, augmenting EBITDA, through comprehensive financial analyses, uncovering unnecessary expenses and curtailing without jeopardizing quality. Eliminated poor marketing and operational practices such as disproportional discounts.

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One of five business units of Strauss Group and the leading food company in Israel with global revenue of $3B USD.Driving force behind the global launch of a new concept—opening two chocolate bar franchise locations in Tokyo and other in North America—steering from incubation to historic sales of $100M per year. Ensured ongoing success and evolution through the design of a five-year strategy, embedding sales channel pipeline growth tactics. Achieved complex structuring and project implementation by amassing collaborative teams of locals, successfully underscored by a keen understanding of cultural nuances and customs. Optimized manufacturing, bar restaurant operations, e-commerce, and product/service development, anchoring brand to its’ chocolate core. Streamlined operations to the realization of 10% profit growth. ■ Designed and executed regional/global expansion strategy, entering new markets, despite lack of familiarity with business model. Structured deals and closed new franchise agreements for Mosco, Russia, and Tokyo—opening first chocolate bar in the USA. ■ Developed three and five-year strategies within the first 90 days to pivot the company from developing its restaurant brand extension experiment back to developing its higher ROI global fast casual chocolate bar model.■ Pegged as a top-tier leader, invited to Strauss Group’s exclusive “Top Team” of high performing global executives. Contributed an expert voice in the implementation of best-in-class practices and risk management across finance & accounting, marketing, operations, human resources, and global growth.

Chief Executive Officer and President, Interim Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Restructuring Officer79 casual steakhouses operating under the name of Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse and Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse, and seven bar and grilles (The Office Bar & Grille) operating in ten East Coast states, generating $200M in annual revenue.Stepped into multiple C-level positions for the organization, during critical periods, demonstrating an unmatched skill in identifying hidden opportunities, then designing and implementing comprehensive turnaround strategies that delivered quick wins and long-term gains. Overcame market and operational obstacles, delivering EBITDA growth ($8M to 9.7M) within 9 months. ■ Created a top-quality senior-executive team, introducing a new culture of accountability and reliability that consistently delivered on C-suite mandate and stakeholder ROI needs; reviving three concepts and producing 6% sales growth and achieving prime cost at 60% (below industry average), increasing EBITDA 25% to 27%.  ■ Made decisions through financial and visionary lenses. Established and maintained alliance with top lending groups such as Wells Fargo, Fargo Foothill, and Ableco.■ Solved a multi-year sales challenge by introducing (2) revamped menu concepts, with significant top-line weight to the entire company’s revenue and yielded 4.5% sales jump.

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Family dinning restaurants in two brands (Coco's and Carrows) with over 240 company and franchise locations in eight states in the western U.S. Developed brand turnaround strategy resulting in 3X shareholder return in 22 months through the a sale of the company to a strategic Japanese food company. Continued as US CEO for buyer - Zensho Group.■ Led the executive management for this $280M, 7800 employee restaurant company with 200 units spread across two Western regional brands (Coco’s and Carrows)■ Increased revenue in 17 months by $12M and completed new capital funding of $10M.■ Created 2007 marketing concept and product development efforts.■ Increased EBITDA by 25% over prior year (2004 versus 2005); exceeded 2005 plan EBITDA by $2.5M; reduced employee turnover by over 20% in both field management and servers.■ Increased company overall valuation by 300% within 18 months.■ Led efforts that resulted in merger of company with Zensho Group of Tokyo Japan.■ Created several new restaurant concept prototypes from concept paper to construction CDs.■ Expanded new and existing market penetration and development modeling.■ Produced double digit same store sales comps in Coco’s brand through new menu design and introduction of over 40 new menu items rolled-out after testing to all units within 60 days.■ Returned the Carrows brand from negative double digit same store sales comps to positive comps through the re-introduction of a re-engineered menu favored by its traditional customers.

Enterprise and cloud computing real estate lifecycle management software development company for retail and restaurant companies. Raised US$11m in venture funding. Client list included 300 of the top 2000 companies in the U.S. Company sold to Israeli based company in 2002. Built this industry leader in installed enterprise software applications that managed the lifecycle of real estate assets for companies with multiple real estate assets or locations nationally and internationally from shut down to $5M in annual revenue in 30 months■ Raised $11M of fresh venture capital and increased customer base by 100%.■ Initiated off-shore development (India) of new J2EE application to replace legacy applications.■ Completed acquisition and integration of WiseConnect an installed software solution to manage new retail store openings.■ Completed sale of company to Workplace IQ U.S.A. a sole subsidiary of Workplace IQ Israel.■ Served as transaction advisor to the shareholders of Workplace IQ on the successful sale of WPIQ to Siterra Corporation in 2005.

Business Administration, Management And Operations

Coursework In Architectural Design And Engineering

Architectural Work Study Program

Independent Study Courses (Class Auditing)

Architectural Work/Study

Architectural Work/Study