Joseph Stein
An influential leader and restaurant industry veteran with more than 22 years of expertise, Joseph N. Stein is currently owner/founder of Simply Innovate, an innovation consultancy. Until early 2011, Mr. Stein was Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at El Pollo Loco, Inc. (EPL), a West Coast restaurant chain with over 400 locations. Stein, who had been the company's chief financial officer for six years, was named to this newly created position in January 2009 and was tasked with leveraging innovation throughout the company by developing new products, processes and technology, as well as aligning resources around key initiatives.
After spending the last 20 years as a Certified Public Accountant at KPMG, the National Agency Director at Fidelity National Title, the Chief Administrative Officer at Checkers and Rally's Drive-in Restaurants, and the Chief Financial Officer at Carl's Jr, Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill and EPL, Joe Stein found the innovation world to be his true calling.
At EPL, Mr. Stein put in place an idea: website for the corporate employees, franchisees and vendors; an innovation intranet; an innovation learning center; project tracking sites; evaluation teams for filtering ideas; and a reward and recognition program for employees. In addition, he sponsored new innovations that generated over $1.5 million in his first full year in this new position.
Mr. Stein holds a bachelor degree in Business Administration (cum laude) from California State University at Long Beach with an emphasis in accounting and has been a Certified Public Accountant.
Not content just to innovate, Joe participates in triathlons, having competed in both the Ironman and Half Ironman World Championships and is an avid mountain biker, recently completing one of the most challenging mountain bike races in the country; the Leadville 100. He also plays keyboard in a rock band, assists his two sons with their soccer and surfing passions, and participates in occasional romantic dinners with his lovely wife.
An influential leader and restaurant industry veteran with more than 22 years of expertise, Joseph N. Stein is currently owner/founder of Simply Innovate, an innovation consultancy. Until early 2011, Mr. Stein was Senior Vice President of Strategy and Innovation at El Pollo Loco, Inc. (EPL), a West Coast restaurant chain with over 400 locations. Stein, who had been the company's chief financial officer for six years, was named to this newly created position in January 2009 and was tasked with leveraging innovation throughout the company by developing new products, processes and technology, as well as aligning resources around key initiatives.
After spending the last 20 years as a Certified Public Accountant at KPMG, the National Agency Director at Fidelity National Title, the Chief Administrative Officer at Checkers and Rally's Drive-in Restaurants, and the Chief Financial Officer at Carl's Jr, Rubio's Fresh Mexican Grill and EPL, Joe Stein found the innovation world to be his true calling.
At EPL, Mr. Stein put in place an idea: website for the corporate employees, franchisees and vendors; an innovation intranet; an innovation learning center; project tracking sites; evaluation teams for filtering ideas; and a reward and recognition program for employees. In addition, he sponsored new innovations that generated over $1.5 million in his first full year in this new position.
Mr. Stein holds a bachelor degree in Business Administration (cum laude) from California State University at Long Beach with an emphasis in accounting and has been a Certified Public Accountant.
Not content just to innovate, Joe participates in triathlons, having competed in both the Ironman and Half Ironman World Championships and is an avid mountain biker, recently completing one of the most challenging mountain bike races in the country; the Leadville 100. He also plays keyboard in a rock band, assists his two sons with their soccer and surfing passions, and participates in occasional romantic dinners with his lovely wife.
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