2008-10-01 21:33:02 -

- Sami Ladeki, Founder and CEO of Sammy's Woodfired Pizza, proudly announces the appointment of Dan Clay, former Senior Vice President of Houston's Restaurants, to Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Sammy's Woodfired Pizza.

With an impressive resume, Clay brings over thirty-five years of expertise to Sammy's. A graduate of University of Missouri, Clay began his career at age 15 as a back of the house employee of a small privately owned restaurant in St. Louis. He joined S&A Restaurant Corporation at age 19 and worked his way up the ranks to General Manager and then Area Associate for the Bennigan's concept. A new position with Houston's Restaurants led Clay to Phoenix where he followed a successful path to Vice

President of Operations for the company.

After fifteen years with Houston's, Clay left to become President of Catawba Corporations, where he recruited a new operations team, built sales and reestablished a growth pattern for the company. Clay was later recruited by Cooker Restaurant Corporation to help reorganize the struggling company, and as Chief Operating Officer, led the company out of Chapter 11.

More recently, Clay served as President of Houlihan's Restaurants in Leawood, Kansas, where he was responsible for more than 100 restaurants with average sales of $3.2 MM and 12 specialty restaurants with average sales in excess of $5MM.

As COO for Sammy's Woodfired Pizza, Clay will oversee all aspects of the company's operations, including restaurant procedures, brand management, internal systems and business processes in addition to the company's strategic development and new store openings. He will also oversee the restaurant group's specialty concepts including Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar and Mosaic Catering.

Sammy's Woodfired Pizza has grown to nearly 800 employees with 16 locations throughout Southern California and Nevada. Other concepts in the portfolio include Roppongi Restaurant & Sushi Bar and Mosaic Catering. The Ladeki Restaurant Group corporate headquarters is located at 565 Pearl St., Ste. 225, La Jolla, Calif., 92037 and can be reached at 858-456-8018 / www.sammyspizza.com.

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