Sofia Riley
PresidentFavorite TGIS Dish: I can’t decide…..love the TGIS Stripe Salad….love our signature burger….love our octopus….do I really have to narrow it to one?
Favorite Signature Drink: Big Red Wines
Favorite Thing to Do When I’m Not at TGIS: Travel, enjoy time with husband, family and friends!
Sofia was raised in a family of restaurateurs. Her father was a formally trained chef who experienced much success in the restaurant business. Sofia knew she wanted to work with food, specifically by taking it to the next level from a creative and aesthetic standpoint. After graduating from California State University Long Beach and UCLA, Sofia launched THANK GOODNESS IT’S SOFIA in 1989. For ten years she successfully balanced the difficult responsibilities of building a business and raising a family. In 1999, as TGIS was growing at a rapid pace, Sofia decided to invite her brother, George, to partner with her. Sofia has been married to husband Jim for twenty-five years and is mother to Elizabeth and Dean. She continues to use many of her talents in working with many charities helping to fight cancer and child abuse. In 2004, she was nominated for Orange County Business Journal “Woman of the Year.”
George Marinos
Chief Executive OfficerFavorite TGIS Dish: Cavatelli with Ricotta Dumplings and Housemade Duck Sausage
Favorite Signature Drink: It’s an office joke… but I love my Diet Coke
Favorite Thing to Do When I’m Not at TGIS: Spend time with my wife and two children
George has a passion for food that was cultivated during a childhood spent working in the kitchen of his father’s restaurants. After high school, George attended the University of Southern California and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. He decided to leave the family business though, and promptly landed a job as an accountant at the prestigious firm, BDO Seidman. After a few years at BDO, George moved on to work in the film industry, first at Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) and later as a film producer at Shoreline Entertainment. Despite some success in Hollywood, George always felt a longing to return to what he truly loved: food. So, when Sofia approached him with the idea of joining her in the catering business, he seized the opportunity. George’s background in filmmaking enables him to bring a unique visual flair and elegance to every TGIS event. He still tries to spend as much time in the kitchen as possible, whether it’s preparing meals for his wife and children or overseeing the catering for a wedding reception.
Jeremy Smith
Senior Event Sales ManagerEmail: jsmith@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-206-0862
Favorite TGIS Dish: Simple Pleasures…..
Favorite Signature Drink: Really Good IPA Served with A Great Cut of Grilled Steak w/ Our Scratch Made Chimichurri – SOOO Good!!!!
Mark Rivera
Senior Event Sales ManagerEmail: mrivera@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-206-0868
Favorite TGIS Dish: Warm Buttermilk Spiced Donut Holes finished with our Warm Chocolate Ganache
Favorite Signature Drink: Plymouth and Tonic with a Lime Wedge
Vanessa Pro
Event Sales ManagerEmail: vpro@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-989-3817
Favorite TGIS Dish: Seared Cauliflower Slider Topped with Salsa Macha and Pickled Raisins Finished with Caramelized Pineapple, Pickled Red Onion and Chipotle Butter
Favorite Signature Drink: White Spicy Sangria with Fresh Peaches and Plums
Elizabeth Riley
Event Sales Manager, Director of MarketingEmail: eriley@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-989-3815
Favorite TGIS Dish: Stonefired Flatbread Finished with Organic Wild Mushrooms, White Truffle Oil and Fennel Pollen
Favorite Signature Drink: Hawaiian Mule with Fresh Muddled Pineapple
Kyle Anderson
Event Sales Manger, Sycamore PlazaEmail: kanderson@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-804-4434
Favorite TGIS Dish: Burrata Tower with Heirloom Red and Yellow Tomatoes Stacked between Layers of Fresh Italian Burrata Cheese, Basil, and Fresh Pesto Drizzled with Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Reduction Finished with a Hint of Kosher Salt
Favorite Signature Drink: Hendrick’s Mule
Azalea Avelar
Director of Events, Sycamore PlazaEmail: aavelar@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-804-4434
Favorite TGIS Dish: Mini Bahn Mi Pork Belly Tacos Filled with Caramelized Pork Belly in a Mini Wonton Taco Shell
Favorite Signature Drink: Jalapeno Margarita Served on the Rocks with a Salted Rim
Agustin Herrera
Banquet Manager, Sycamore PlazaFavorite TGIS Dish: Carne Asada Tacos with Extra Guacamole
Favorite Signature Drink: Buchanan’s Scotch Whisky Served over Ice
Ignacio Gonzalez
Facilities Manager, Sycamore PlazaFavorite TGIS Dish: Ale and Maple Braised Short Ribs Served with a Braised Reduction Sauce
Favorite Signature Drink: Corona with Lime
Ariyana Noyla
Human Resources and Staffing ManagerEmail: staffing@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-294-6425
Favorite TGIS Dish: Korean Braised Brisket Served over Sweet Potato Noodles in a Chinese Takeout Box
Favorite Signature Drink: Moscow Mule
Colby Johns
Event Sales MangerEmail: cjohns@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-492-9555
Favorite TGIS Dish: WHITE TRUFFLE & HONEY GLAZED SALMON Topped with a Caper, Red & Yellow Tomato Caponata Served over Shallot Caramelized Orzo
Favorite Signature Drink: Orin Swift Papillion
Kathryn Martin
ControllerEmail: accounting@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-206-0120
Favorite TGIS Dish: Beef Empanaditas Served with a Habanero Ketchup
Favorite Signature Drink: Strawberry Margarita
Gonzalo Andrade
Warehouse ManagerEmail: gandrade@tgiscatering.com
Favorite TGIS Dish: Shallot Honey Truffle Glazed Salmon Topped with a Fresh Gold and Red Tomato Finished with a Garlic Olive and Basil Coulis
Favorite Signature Drink: Jalapeno Moscow Mule
Pablo Paz
Assistant Warehouse Manager and Beverage ManagerFavorite TGIS Dish: Any one of our Beef Dish.. our trip tip, beef short ribs, and Prime Rib are all amazing
Favorite Signature Drink: Moscow Mule… It’s a must to be served in a Copper Mug
Patricia Rios
Executive Sous ChefEmail: prios@tgiscatering.com
Favorite TGIS Dish: Fire Roasted Anaheim Chile Filled with an Ancho Chile Chicken Topped with a Chihuahua Cheese
Favorite Signature Drink: Citrus Crush with Fresh Squeezed Lemon and Lime Juice, Agave Nectar and Garnished with Mint and Sliced Lemon
Violeta Figueroa
Director of Events, The MayneEmail: vfigueroa@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-804-1934
Favorite TGIS Dish: Grilled Corn Cakes Topped with our Maple Glazed Pulled Pork and Chopped Jalapeno Cilantro
Favorite Signature Drink: French 75
Angela De Toro
Administrative Assistant, Sycamore PlazaEmail: events@lakewoodcity.org
Phone: 5628044434
Favorite TGIS Dish: Pistachio Crusted Halibut Served with Spring Green Risotto
Favorite Signature Drink: Watermelon Margarita
Sinead Valencia
Events Sales CoordinatorEmail: tgis.catering@tgiscatering.com
Phone: 562-492-9555
Favorite TGIS Dish: Churro Cups Dusted with Cinnamon Sugar and filled with Vanilla Custard
Favorite Signature Drink: Pomegranate Mojito
Kevin Meyer
Executive ChefEmail: kmeyer@tgiscatering.com
Favorite TGIS Dish: Steak and Eggs; Sunny Side Quails Egg, Herb Brioche, Bernaise
Favorite Signature Drink: Whiskey Sour