Laurence B. Mindel

Laurence B. Mindel has more than 45 years of experience as a restaurant creator, developer and operator and is currently the Managing Partner of Poggio Trattoria, an award-winning Italian restaurant, and Copita Tequileria Y Comida, a ‘‘modern’’ Mexican restaurant, both located in Sausalito and Convivo, a ‘‘nomad Italian’’ restaurant in Santa Barbara, California. In 1970, he co-founded Spectrum Foods whose restaurant portfolio included, among others, California-based restaurants Ciao, Prego, MacArthur Park, Guaymas and Harry’s Bar. Following the acquisition of Spectrum Foods by Saga Corp. (NYSE) in 1984, Mr. Mindel served as President of Saga’s restaurant group where he directed the operations of more than 200 restaurants with combined revenue of over $375 million. When Saga was acquired in 1986, Mr. Mindel founded Il Fornaio, a restaurant and bakery company which became public in 1997 (NASDAQ) and was subsequently taken private in 2001. His professional honors include Nation’s Restaurant News ‘‘Golden Chain’’ award, International Foodservice Manufacturers Association ‘‘Gold Plate’’ award, Food Arts Magazine ‘‘Silver Spoon’’ award, Leadership Roundtable Conference award for Distinguished & Exemplary Leadership in the Food Service Industry and, in 1998, he was inducted into the California Restaurant Association’s Hall of Fame. In 1985, Mr. Mindel became the first American and the first person of non-Italian descent to be awarded the Caterina de Medici Medal from the Italian government, recognizing excellence in the preservation of Italian heritage outside of Italy. Mr. Mindel is a member of the Compensation and Governance Committees.