Mark Lanning, Frisch's Restaurants

Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. has announced that Mark R. Lanning, 56, will become the company's vice president finance with the intent that he will also be named the company's chief financial officer within three months following a brief transition period working with retiring CFO, Donald H. Walker.

Lanning brings over 30 years of financial management experience Frisch's. He most recently served as vice president-investor relations and treasurer of Hillenbrand, Inc. headquartered in Batesville, Indiana.

Prior to 2008 he served as vice president and treasurer of Hillenbrand Industries, Inc. also headquartered in Batesville, Indiana. Prior to joining Hillenbrand in 1987, Lanning served in various capacities with Ernst & Whinney (now Ernst & Young) in its Indianapolis and Tampa offices.

Craig F. Maier, president and chief executive officer, says: "We are very pleased that Mark has agreed to join our company to lead the finance group at Frisch's. He will be responsible for corporate finance, treasury, public reporting, investor relations, budgeting, auditing, accounting, long range forecasting, tax and insurance functions."

Frisch's Restaurants, Inc. is a regional company that operates full service family-style restaurants under the name "Frisch's Big Boy." The company also operates grill buffet-style restaurants under the name "Golden Corral" pursuant to certain licensing agreements. All Big Boy restaurants are currently located in Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana. Golden Corral restaurants currently operate primarily in the greater metropolitan areas of Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, Dayton and Toledo, Ohio, Louisville, Kentucky and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The company owns the trademark "Frisch's" and has exclusive, irrevocable ownership of the rights to the "Big Boy" trademark, trade name and service mark in the states of Kentucky and Indiana, and in most of Ohio and Tennessee. All of the Frisch's Big Boy restaurants also offer drive-through service. The company also licenses Big Boy restaurants to other operators, currently in certain parts of Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana.

The company has reported a profit every year since going public in 1960, and paid cash dividends to shareholders every quarter over the same period.

Michael Jordan, The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon

Veteran restaurateur Michael Jordan has been named vice president of food & beverage for Anaheim's newest restaurant and live country music venue, The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon.

Known among many in the local restaurant industry for his role and contributions as global manager of wine sales and wine education for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts worldwide, also as general manager of Napa Rose restaurant at Disneyland in Anaheim, Jordan left his most recent role as president of The Beachcomber Restaurant Group for the position.

Anticipating a fall 2011 launch, Jordan is no stranger to restaurant openings, or to the Orange County dining scene. Previous to Napa Rose, Jordan also opened Pinot Provence in Costa Mesa and was general manager of Pavilion at Four Seasons Hotel Newport Beach when it received AAA's Five Diamond Award.

Jordan's new role at The Ranch is to develop all food & beverage operations. He holds a master sommelier diploma from the Court of Master Sommeliers as well as a certified wine educator diploma from the Society of Wine Educators. Jordan is one of only 15 people in the world to hold both diplomas. He has taught comprehensive wine and beverage courses to hundreds of students and will be providing that education and certification for all Ranch staff members. In addition, The Ranch will become a food and wine educational center for Southern California with classes and exams offered to guests and industry professionals alike.

Jordan says he is looking forward to this opportunity. "I have traded my surfboard for cowboy boots and my guitar; I am excited about being a part of creating a new restaurant and a fun new venue for live country music in Orange County."

The Ranch Restaurant & Saloon is the brainchild of Andrew Edwards, founder and owner of Extron Electronics, a leading manufacturer of professional AV system integration products for over 28 years. Originally from North Carolina, Edwards' deep passion for country music, dancing the two-step, enjoying fine wine and his southern hospitality roots spurred the idea to venture into the restaurant and entertainment business.

Edwards tapped Jordan to assist him in developing The Ranch's food and beverage concept. "Bringing Michael aboard with his experience and background in restaurants and his little known passion for music has been instrumental while navigating this new business venture." 

The RanchRestaurant will feature true American regional cuisine; cooking from scratch with the finest ingredients possible to capture the rustic style of wine country and the freshest flavors of the farm. California's great ranches, farms, dairies and the artisan bread bakers and cheese and wine makers will be honored. Emphasis will be on farm to table, fresh organically grown fruits and vegetables from local farms and from the restaurant’s own ranch in the Santa Ana Mountains.

The Ranch’s wine program will feature an extensive and complete cellar with a world class selection of wine served in a friendly and unintimidating style. 

The Ranch saloon will feature the best in live country music with a state of the art sound system, a 48-foot x 26-foot dance floor and a 40-foot concert stage. Prime country music entertainers will be in concert on select dates with the best in local country music bands nightly as well as a DJ and complementary dancing lessons.