Sofia Riley

President

Favorite 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 Officer

Favorite 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

Director of Sales

Email: 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 Manager

Email: 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 Manager

Email: 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 Marketing

Email: 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 Plaza

Email: 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 Plaza

Email: 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, The Mayne

Favorite TGIS Dish: Carne Asada Tacos with Extra Guacamole

Favorite Signature Drink: Buchanan’s Scotch Whisky Served over Ice

Ignacio Gonzalez

Facilities Manager, Sycamore Plaza

Favorite TGIS Dish: Ale and Maple Braised Short Ribs Served with a Braised Reduction Sauce

Favorite Signature Drink: Corona with Lime

Claudia Munoz

Human Resources and Staffing Manager

Email: 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 Manger

Email: 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

Controller

Email: 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 Manager

Email: 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 Manager

Favorite 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 Chef

Email: 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 Mayne

Email: 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

Yessel Osorio

Administrative Assistant, Sycamore Plaza

Email: 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 Coordinator

Email: tgis.catering@tgiscatering.com