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.