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Martin O'Dowd, President and Chief Operating Officer, Rainforest Cafe, Minneapolis, MN

Martin O'Dowd, President and Chief Operating Officer, Rainforest Cafe, Minneapolis, MN

Martin O'Dowd
President and Chief Operating Officer, Rainforest Cafe, Minneapolis

Age: 47. Why he's rising: O'Dowd is a no-nonsense, bottom-line operator—precisely the executive an emerging, growth-oriented chain like Rainforest Cafe requires. Ladder climbing: Vice president, operations, Hard Rock Cafe; corporate director, food & beverage services, Holiday Inn Worldwide; president and c.o.o., Rainforest Cafe. Education: B.A., English, Southwest Texas University. Performance: O'Dowd impressed industry observers by negotiating a lease deal with Walt Disney World earlier this year, and by opening a second Rainforest Cafe that report-edly grossed $1.9 million in its second month. Mentor: Norman Brinker. Wins praise for: Ability to control costs and negotiation skills. First job in foodservice: Barbecue restaurant in Houston, age 15. Next big move: O'Dowd plans to grow company sales to a billion dollars.

TAGS: Rising Stars