Michael J. Grisanti

Michael J. Grisanti is an entrepreneur and private investor in Louisville, Kentucky.  He is a graduate of Denver University BSBA (1973), Hotel Restaurant Management and an alumnus of the Graduate School of Business at Harvard University (2001), having completed the three-year Owner President Management program.

Grisanti began his career in fine dining with the award winning Casa Grisanti Restaurant, developed a casual Italian restaurant business and in 1984 sold it to Imasco U.S.A., the U.S. holding company of Imasco, LTD of Montreal, Canada.  Under Imasco ownership he served as division President of Grisanti’s and Casa Lupita Mexican Restaurants (1984-1989). He is co-founder and Director of PJ Iowa, LLC and P J United, Inc. formerly PJ America, Inc. (PJAM), the largest franchise developer of Papa John’s Pizza. Grisanti was an early investor and Director of Z-TECA Restaurants (Qdoba Restaurant Corp.) and is currently Chairman of ZT of Louisville, LLC, a multi state developer of Qdoba Mexican Grill. He is a member of the Investment Committee, Evermore Investments, LLC, a private investment partnership.

Grisanti also serves as a member of the Advisory Board - Institute for Cellular Therapeutics (University of Louisville), Secretary/Treasurer - The National Foundation to Support Cell Transplant Research, a foundation supporting research in the field of cell transplantation. He is currently Chairman, Board of Commissioners, Greater Louisville Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Grisanti served as a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business (1980), Chairman of the National Restaurant Association (1987-1988), Chairman of the Foodservice Management Professional Governing Board, FMP (1992-1993), Chairman of the Board of Trustee’s of The Educational Foundation of the National Restaurant Association (1993-1994) and Chairman of the Hospitality Business Alliance (1996-1997).

He is also an inductee, Nations Restaurant News, Fine Dining Hall of Fame, the recipient of Restaurant & Institutions prestigious Ivy Award, received an Honorary Doctoral Degree in Business Administration from Johnson & Wales University and named the HRM Alumnus of The Year by Denver University.  Grisanti has also received the Alumni Association Award for Professional Achievement from Denver University and the Ben O’Conner Housing Award from the New Directions Housing Corporation.

Grisanti and his wife of 29 years, Paula P. Grisanti, DMD, live in Louisville with their three sons, Michael Kyle 24, John 20 and Alex 18.