Entrepreneur
DILIGENCE. DESIRE. PERSEVERANCE. RELATIONSHIPS.
These are only a few of the tools George Tinsley, Sr. used to both carve his niche and obtain success in business.
George’s resume includes three years as a teacher and coach; a one-year stint as an Exhibition Specialist for the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, and training as an FBI agent. However, George had a burning desire to earn more income for his family. During this time, he was presented with the ground floor opportunity to work as a training instructor for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and start their formal training programs for new Franchisees entering the system.
Being one of the first hired into the program afforded George the opportunity to assist with its development. “I had little business background, but very good people skills,” he said. “And being a former professional athlete opened a lot of doors for interaction with both KFC corporate executives and franchisees.”
DILIGENCE. DESIRE. PERSEVERANCE. RELATIONSHIPS.
These are only a few of the tools George Tinsley, Sr. used to both carve his niche and obtain success in business.
George’s resume includes three years as a teacher and coach; a one-year stint as an Exhibition Specialist for the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, and training as an FBI agent. However, George had a burning desire to earn more income for his family.
During this time, he was presented with the ground floor opportunity to work as a training instructor for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) and start their formal training programs for new Franchisees entering the system.
Being one of the first hired into the program afforded George the opportunity to assist with its development. “I had little business background but very good people skills,” he said. “And being a former professional athlete opened a lot of doors for interaction with both KFC corporate executives and franchisees.”
A New Journey Begins
Although Tinsley was quickly rising through the corporate ranks at KFC, he aspired to an opportunity without limitations that allowed him to reach his full potential. During an informal meeting with several high-level corporate executives, he said, “the idea came up that I should look at becoming a franchisee, and this opened the door for Tinsley to become a franchisee and open a restaurant in Auburndale, FL. So I seized the opportunity; and had them put the offer in writing.”
Tinsley and his wife Seretha quit their jobs, moved the family to Winter Haven, Fl and emabarked on the first of many entrepreneurial endeavors.
A New Journey Begins
Although Tinsley was quickly rising through the corporate ranks at KFC, he aspired to an opportunity without limitations that allowed him to reach his full potential. During an informal meeting with several high-level corporate executives, he said, “the idea came up that I should look at becoming a franchisee, and this opened the door for Tinsley to become a franchisee and open a restaurant in Auburndale, FL. So I seized the opportunity; and had them put the offer in writing.”
Tinsley and his wife Seretha quit their jobs, moved the family to Winter Haven, Fl and emabarked on the first of many entrepreneurial endeavors.
After their first year as a KFC franchisee, Tinsley said, “the restaurant developed into an outstanding success and spawned other opportunities.”
He later assisted in developing KFC’s minority franchisee program.
Tinsley developed two KFC restaurants within three years. After six years with KFC, he opened the first African-American owned T.G.I. Fridays® in the U.S. “It became the No. 1 TGI Fridays in the U.S. for nine consecutive years he said.
Continuing to diversify with other branded concepts, Tinsley Family Concessions now owns/operates more than 60 restaurants, with airport locations in Florida and Kentucky.
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