Ed Bailey, age 60. Background - raised in Cincinnati, Ohio; earned a psychology degree from University of Cincinnati; served in the United States Marine Corps. 1972, opened a men's designer clothing store. 1984, moved family to Plano, Texas, invested $180,000 in a small underperforming McDonald's restaurant located in a local mall. In 22 years, parlayed the single restaurant into present ownership of 61 McDonalds in North Texas, currently serving 115,000 customers each day, with an estimated $135 million per year in sales. 2006, purchased two Patrizio restaurants. Sounds like Sacramento's local restaurant entreprenuers Mike and Abe Alizadeh? Amazing!

Ed Bailey's key to success? Buying underperforming companies and managing them back to health. Says Mr. Bailey in an interview with Cheryl Hall of the "Dallas Morning News", "There's nothing more vulnerable than entrenched success - companies look in the rearview mirror and not down the road with a strategic mission. " Impressive!

Speaking of Abe and Mike, stay tuned for what's next in the Alizadeh's entrepreneurship journey. I understand their latest restaurant Crush 29 will be opening this fall in Roseville.

Pierre Cutler
The Sacramento Executive