People: Soupman Inc (SOUP.PK)

Mr. J. Timothy Gannon is appointed as the Chairman of the Board of Soupman, Inc. In 1994, Inc. Tim Gannon, the co-founder of Outback Steakhouse, Inc. is an extremely businessman, great sportsman and a staunch polo sponsor. He is the creator of the “Bloomin’ Onion” recipe, and many of the other dishes on Outback’s menu. An alumnus of Florida State University, he studied art history and dreamed of being a museum curator which took him to Florence, Italy, where he became a tour guide for an art gallery. He then went to Aspen, Colorado where he developed his passion for food and cooking. The French chef at the Four Seasons Hotel had offered to train him to be his assistant. He has served in various senior management capacities at Outback Steakhouse since he co-founded it, and currently serves as a Director Emeritus of OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC, the company which currently owns Outback Steakhouse. In 1994, Inc. Magazine named Tim Gannon Entrepreneur of the Year. In 1999, The Florida Restaurant Association honored him with its “Lifetime Achievement Award”. In the year 2000, Tim received an honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration and Food Service Management from Johnson & Wales University. He is also a member of the Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce Business Hall of Fame. In 2009, he was inducted into the U.S. Business Hall of Fame along with his partners Chris Sullivan and Bob Basham. In 2011 he launched “Kettle Comfort, Cooking for America” based in West Palm Beach which is Chef inspired food that will be delivered to thousands of hungry or nutrition deprived people each day.