Receiver of numerous awards and honors, Romano is a visionary and venture capitalist who always keeps and eye on the future. He doesn’t see or predict the future; he imagines it. He is the only person in the restaurant industry that has created more than two national concepts: 1) Fuddruckers has opened units in more than 150 locations worldwide, and 2) Romano’s Macaroni Grill now operates in more than 190 locations in the United States and Canada. The restaurant concepts created by Mr. Romano produce over $1 billion in sales each year. To date, his concepts have generated more than $10 billion in revenue.

From 1989 through 2002, Romano served as a consultant and joint venture partner of Brinker International, Inc. (NYSE: EAT) as national operator, developer and franchisor of numerous restaurant concepts, including Chili’s Grill & Bar and Romano’s Macaroni Grill

Mr. Romano feels that “a successful business is the result of satisfying the desires, needs and wants of the customers.” He utilizes a network approach to management and says “nobody works for me, they work with me.” His business philosophy is to recognize a need, envision the solution, and then create the solution. He considers service primary and profits secondary. Mr. Romano possesses an innate sense of “what the market wants.” He distances himself from the competition with “A Point of Difference.”

Romano currently owns and operates the following restaurant concepts: eatZi’s Market & Bakery, Nick & Sam’s Steak & Fish House, Who’s Who Burgers and Coal Vines Pizza.

In addition to his for-profit restaurant prowess, Philip Romano also has passion for giving back. In 2000, he and his family established The Food Foundation, which operates as Hunger Busters, a non-profit, charitable foundation that provides food to the hungry and has a mission of bringing a fresh meal with compassion to the hungry citizens of Dallas.

Romano serves on the Board of the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and lectures frequently at universities, national business seminars, civic organizations and special interest group meetings.

A native of New York State, he attended Florida Atlantic University. He presently resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife, Lillie, and twelve-year old son, Sam.

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