Partners
Gerard Vincent Centioli is President & CEO of ICON LLC (ICON) and Senior Partner & Senior VP of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, Inc. (LEYE).
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.
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.
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.
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.
In March 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.
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 Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab opened in Chicago’s River North area on October 19, 2000. The second Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab opened on the Las Vegas Strip at the Forum Shops at Caesars on October 22, 2004.
The second partnership is with one of the most famous quick service 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). The first KremeWorks Krispy Kreme store opened in Issaquah, Washington on October 30, 2001. KremeWorks operates 12 Krispy Kreme stores in the Pacific Northwest.
Centioli was a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) from 1989 – 2004 and served as an officer of the Chicago Chapter from 1994 - 1996.
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.
Centioli was elected to the Board of Regents of Gonzaga University in April 1999.
In June 1999 Centioli was elected to the Board of Directors of Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc.
Centioli was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Italian American Foundation in March 2000.
In March 2002 Centioli was elected to the Board of Directors of the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) where he serves as Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee.
Centioli has a passion for college football that he acquired attending University of Washington games with his father Gill, a season ticket holder since 1951. He now attends University of Notre Dame games with his son Lauren, a 2007 ND graduate and University of Washington games with his daughter Cicilia, a UW Junior.
Centioli also enjoys flying with his son, a pilot and attending Seattle Opera with his daughter, a singer.
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.
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.
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.
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.
In March 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.
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 Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab opened in Chicago’s River North area on October 19, 2000. The second Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab opened on the Las Vegas Strip at the Forum Shops at Caesars on October 22, 2004.
The second partnership is with one of the most famous quick service 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). The first KremeWorks Krispy Kreme store opened in Issaquah, Washington on October 30, 2001. KremeWorks operates 12 Krispy Kreme stores in the Pacific Northwest.
Centioli was a member of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) from 1989 – 2004 and served as an officer of the Chicago Chapter from 1994 - 1996.
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.
Centioli was elected to the Board of Regents of Gonzaga University in April 1999.
In June 1999 Centioli was elected to the Board of Directors of Lawry’s Restaurants, Inc.
Centioli was elected to the Board of Directors of the National Italian American Foundation in March 2000.
In March 2002 Centioli was elected to the Board of Directors of the Distinguished Restaurants of North America (DiRoNA) where he serves as Chair of the Quality Assurance Committee.
Centioli has a passion for college football that he acquired attending University of Washington games with his father Gill, a season ticket holder since 1951. He now attends University of Notre Dame games with his son Lauren, a 2007 ND graduate and University of Washington games with his daughter Cicilia, a UW Junior.
Centioli also enjoys flying with his son, a pilot and attending Seattle Opera with his daughter, a singer.