News & Information
|
| For Immediate Release |
Contact: Andy Deloney |
November 1, 2007
|
517/377-3931 |
Michigan
Restaurant Association Elects Rob Bruce to Board of Directors
LANSING – The Michigan Restaurant
Association (MRA) announced the election of a new member to its Board of
Directors: Rob Bruce, president and managing partner
for Tomatto Grotto, LLC, based in Ann
Arbor. Tomatto
Grotto owns and operates seven Carino’s Italian Grill restaurants in Michigan and holds the
exclusive development rights for the entire state.
“Rob Bruce is an accomplished and
successful restaurant entrepreneur,” said Rob Gifford, president and chief
executive officer of the MRA. “We are
excited to have him join our Board of Directors.” The MRA Board of Directors is committed to
assisting, representing, promoting and educating the foodservice industry, said
Gifford.
Rob and Tomatto Grotto opened
their first Carino’s restaurant in Norton Shores in 2003 and have since opened locations in Grand Rapids,
Holland, Commerce Township, Westland, Allen Park and Brighton.
In 2000, Rob formed One Iron, LLC to be the exclusive franchise sales
agent for Fired Up, Inc., the parent company of Carino’s Italian Grill. Rob was responsible for selling development
and franchise rights for Carino’s throughout the country. He successfully sold development agreements
for more than 200 Carino’s restaurants, thus doubling the number of Carino’s
restaurants to be developed over the next seven years.
Rob graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts
degree in 1983 and received his Masters of Business Administration,
specializing in Finance, from Eastern Michigan University in 1988.
Founded in 1921, the Michigan Restaurant Association represents more than 4,500 Michigan foodservice establishments. The foodservice industry plays an integral role in Michigan’s economy, employing more than 436,000 people and creating more than $11.3 billion in total annual sales. For more information, call (517) 482-5244.
|
