Bio
GJ Hart is president, CEO, and executive chair of California Pizza Kitchen.
Previously he was chief executive officer of Texas Roadhouse. He also spent
five years as president of Al Copeland Investments, which owned three food
processing plants, four restaurant concepts, hotels, and gaming/entertainment
venues—including the Improv Club. Hart began his business career as a trainee at
Shenandoah Valley Poultry Company and, after eight years, became a co-owner. He
then became president of New Zealand Lamb Company and moved to help launch
Trifoods International, a startup that created, produced, and marketed prepared
foods. In four years as president, he grew it from zero to $60 million in revenues.
Hart is a member of the Young Presidents Organization and involved in Habitat for
Humanity, American Red Cross, Volunteers of America, and other human service
organizations.