Gary Stephen Hopmayer

Gary Stephen Hopmayer began his business career in 1961 at International Products & Manufacturing Company, a Chicago based, privately owned automotive parts manufacturer.  Mr. Hopmayer remained involved in the automotive parts aftermarket through 1986, when he sold MEGA International to Dana Corp./Echlin Inc. (NYSE)

Hopmayer entered the culinary business world in 1987 as a founder of Original American Scones (OAS), a family operated, specialty bakery and distributor.  Original American Scones, a Starbucks Coffee preferred supplier, was included as one of Inc. Magazine's 500 fastest growing companies in America.

Mr. Hopmayer's hands-on passion for food contributed to him becoming an artisan bread baker, a founding partner of the Corner Bakery (a division of Lettuce Entertain You Inc.), and a founding partner of Fox & Obel Food Market in Chicago.

Mr. Hopmayer is a director of The Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago, a division of Career Education Corp (CEC) where he chairs the finance and facilities committee; a director and mentor to Kim & Scott's Gourmet Pretzels, Chicago; a director of CHEF Clinic, Santa Barbara, California; and a director of KneeLife, Chicago.  He has previously served as board chair of the New England Culinary Institute (NECI), Burlington, Vermont; a director of Champion Parts Inc., Hope, Arkansas, where he chaired the audit committee; a member of the national board of The American Institute of Wine & Food, San Francisco, California; and board member of the Mentor's Action Network (Mankind Project) of Chicago.

Mr. Hopmayer and his wife of 45 years, Meme, reside in the Streeterville area of Chicago, Illinois.