FORMER McDONALD’S CEO IS KEYNOTE SPEAKER
AT MULTI-CHAMBER LUNCHEON ON MARCH 24
ELMHURST, IL, February 25, 2011 – Ed Rensi, Co-Founder of Tom & Eddie’s and former President/CEO of McDonald’s USA, will be the Keynote Speaker at a multi-chamber luncheon to be held at Bobak’s Signature Events at Seven Bridges, 6440 Double Eagle Drive, Woodridge, on Thursday, March 24, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Rensi will share his insights with chamber members for marketing their businesses.
More than 500 members from the Elmhurst Chamber of Commerce & Industry and partnering chambers are expect to attend this event, which also will provide a unique opportunity to network with a broad range of area business people.
The luncheon cost is $35 per Chamber member and $50 per non-Chamber member.
Visit the events calendar at www.elmhurstchamber.org to register and pay on line.
“Ed is an icon in the restaurant industry,” said John R. Quigley, President and CEO of the Elmhurst Chamber since 1999. “Climbing up from the kitchen grill to the corporate penthouse is quite an accomplishment.”
Rensi recently developed the gourmet hamburger restaurant chain of Tom & Eddie’s in partnership with a long-time friend Tom Dentice. He is a Partner in Woodridge-based America’s Better Burgers, which operates Tom & Eddie’s.
His restaurant career started out at a Columbus, Ohio, McDonald’s in 1966 as a grill man earning $.85 per hour before Rensi worked his way up to President and CEO of McDonald’s USA. He been a Manager after one year, spent seven years learning the corporate ropes in Columbus and Washington, D.C., and was appointed District Manager in Philadelphia in 1972.
After stints as Regional Manager and Regional Vice President, Rensi moved on to the home office in Oak Brook as Vice President of Operations and Training. In 1980, he became Executive Vice President and COO. Two years later, he was Senior Executive Vice President.
In 1984—the year before graduating from Ohio State University—the one-time college dropout was promoted to President and CEO, which Rensi served as until retiring in 1997.
Career highlights include starting Ronald McDonald House, driving the most recognizable brand in the world and developing Chicken McNuggets in 1983.
Rensi then moved on to his second career as Chairman and CEO of Team Rensi Motorsports, where he applies the managerial and motivational skills he honed in the corporate world to the sport of NASCAR auto racing.
Rensi also serves on the Boards of Directors of Snap On Tools, International Speedway Corporation, Great Wolf Lodge Resorts and more.
Joining the Elmhurst Chamber are the chambers in Addison, Bartlett, Bloomingdale, Bolingbrook, Carol Stream, Darien, Downers Grove, Elmhurst, Glen Ellyn, Hinsdale, Lisle, Lombard, Villa Park, Western DuPage, Westmont, Wheaton, Winfield and Woodridge.
