"The People Thing"

Vince Orza

Television news anchor, corporate executive, entrepreneur, university professor of marketing, Dean of the Meinders School of Business and two time candidate for governor all describe the dynamic career of Dr.Vince Orza.

The founder, Chairman and CEO of Eateries Inc., Vince created Garfield’s Restaurants in 1984 and over the next two decades built it into a $125 million chain of Garfield’s, Pepperoni Grill and Garcia’s restaurants in over 25 states.  In July 2005, Vince accepted the position of Dean of the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University.  For the 15 years prior to creating Garfield’s, Vince simultaneously held positions as an award winning television news anchor and tenured professor of Marketing at the University of Central Oklahoma. Vince holds a Doctor of Education degree from the University of Oklahoma and Bachelor of Science in Business and Master of Education degrees from Oklahoma City University.

A contributor and editor of several professional textbooks, journals, and other publications, Vince was awarded several fellowships in various marketing disciplines.  Vince is a speaker, panelist, and organizer of numerous national restaurant conferences and conventions.  He serves as a director of the Oklahoma Restaurant Association, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the Oklahoma Leukemia Society, Chairman of the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon of Oklahoma, and was a 1990 and 2002 candidate for Governor of the State of Oklahoma.  Vince is a columnist for the Oklahoma Gazette, as well as a nationally recognized motivational and after dinner speaker.

Vince is also the author of “When I Want Your Opinion I’ll Tell It To You,” a book that looks at life now versus his days growing up a 2nd generation Italian in Connecticut.  Married with two daughters, Vince, Patti, Alixandra and Landi have traveled throughout the world.

Bio:
Author, small businessman, corporate executive, award winning television News Anchor, University Professor of Marketing & Economics and candidate for Governor of Oklahoma, all describe the dynamic career of Vince Orza.

Recognized for his contributions to business, education and the civic community, Vince serves as founder, Chairman and CEO of publicly held Eateries, Inc. and its 20 state 62-unit chain of Garfield's Restaurants, Garcia’s Mexican Restaurants & Pepperoni Grill Italian Bistros.  Vince has grown Eateries, Inc. from an idea to over $100 million in annual sales.  He is also the author of “When I Want Your Opinion I’ll Tell It To You,” a light-hearted, nostalgic look at growing up as a second generation Italian American. Vince has been the keynote and motivational speaker at meetings and conventions across America.

Vince & Eateries, Inc. were named:

1. November 2003 inducted into the Oklahoma Commerce & Industry Hall of Fame.
2. Recipient of 2003 Restaurant Neighbor Award from Oklahoma Restaurant Association for its work in the community.
3. Recipient of  2002 Restaurant Leadership Award from Leadership Network.
4. Recipient of “2000 Vision Award” from the Exchange Club of Oklahoma City.
5. 1999 “Order of Achievement Award” by Lambda Alpha Chi Fraternity.
6. Voted one of “1998’s 10 Best Performing CEOs” by Restaurant Business Magazine.
7. 1998 Ranked #1 among “Oklahoma’s Top 50 Publicly Traded Companies."
8. Finalists for Neighborhood Restaurant Awards by National Restaurant Association for its work in the community.
9. 1995 "Marketer of the Year" by Sales & Marketing Executives Association of Oklahoma City.
10. One of the "Top 100 Best Small Companies in America" in May 1994 by Businessweek Magazine.
11. Recipients of the 1993 "Blue Chip Enterprise Award" from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Nation's Business magazine.
12. Finalists in the 1993 and 1994 Ernst & Young, Inc. Magazine and Merrill Lynch "Entrepreneur of the Year Award."
13. 1992 "Entrepreneurial Success Award" winners by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
14. The 19th Fastest Growing Small Public Company in America by Inc. Magazine
15. 1991 "Gold & Silver Plate Award" nominees by the International Food Service Manufacturer's Association.

An award winning television news reporter and anchor, Vince worked for ABC-TV affiliate KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City.  He was the recipient of two United Press International (UPI) awards, three awards from the Oklahoma Education Association and several prestigious Gannett Awards for broadcast excellence in news.  Vince writes a commentary entitled "Common Sense" for radio stations and newspapers.  He has hosted statewide broadcasts such as "Tax Wise" sponsored by the Oklahoma Society of CPA's and "Teamwork Oklahoma" a television broadcast on economic development.

A world traveler, in 1989 Vince visited the Soviet Union as a delegate to an international economics conference.  Vince has been inducted into the 1991 "Who's Who of American Business Leaders," 1992 "Who's Who Platinum Edition" and "Who's Who of Emerging Leaders in America."  Vince was named to the first edition of "Two Thousand Notable American Men 1992" by the American Biographical Institute, Inc., a 1994 "Paul Harris Fellow" by Rotary International, a 1993 "Melvin Jones Fellow," the highest honor conferred by Lions Club International and the 1993 "Leukemia Man of the Year" by the Leukemia Society.

In his first venture into politics, Vince ran for Governor of Oklahoma in 1990.  A dark horse candidate, Vince won the Republican Primary but lost the runoff by only one percent. Vince ran for Governor of Oklahoma again in 2002.

Vince was a tenured Associate Professor of Marketing at the University of Central Oklahoma where he received numerous national fellowships in advertising and marketing.  A contributing editor to several textbooks in business, Vince has written and presented numerous professional papers in marketing and holds a Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor and Masters degree from Oklahoma City University.  Vince is a nationally recognized commencement and after dinner speaker on the subjects of free enterprise, leadership and personal motivation.  Vince was also granted the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in conjunction with his 2000 OCU Commencement address.

DIRECTOR
Leukemia Society
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Junior Achievement
Hugh O'Brian Youth Leadership Foundation
Child Abuse Response Center
Oklahoma Academy for State Goals
Western Oklahoma Chapter of Muscular Dystrophy Association
OU College of Business Administration Board of Advisors
Oklahoma Restaurant Association
North Care Mental Health Center
Choctaw-Nicoma Park Education Foundation

MEMBER
Board of Trustees Oklahoma City University
Honorary Chairman 1995, 1994, 1993 & 1992 Cerebral Palsy Telethon
Oklahoma State University Foundation Board of Governors
Board of Trustees of St. Gregory's College Endowment Foundation
Board of Visitors College of Education University of Oklahoma
Oklahoma Vo-Tech State Advisory Council
AAA Oklahoma Advisory Board
Education and Business Council for the Oklahoma Department of Education
College Scholarship Association of Oklahoma City
American Citizenship Center Advisory Board