Nick Nicora
Vice President of Business Development
Ovations Food Services
UNIVERSITY: California State University, Chico
FIRST INDUSTRY JOB: I was a production manager for Bill Graham Presents while I was in college.
FIRST F&B JOB: I founded the food and beverage company Fillmore Fingers for Bill Graham Enterprises in 1979. It provided backstage catering services to all Bill Graham Presents concerts.
FAMILY MAN: If I wasn’t doing this, I’d be helping my children grow their businesses. My son Nicholas founded Gourmet Poppers, a new food item for stadiums and fairgrounds. Andrew has developed an online blog that combines social media, food critics, food trucks and TV called Stitches ‘n Dishes. My other son Dominic founded Mangiata, a catering, master food and beverage contractor and my daughter Christina is director of Banquets for Ryan Sanders Sports Services at Circuit of Americas in Austin, Texas.
FREE TIME PURSUITS: Travel and play golf.
FAMOUS LUNCH MATE: Julius Caesar. I would like to talk with him about how he created and managed an empire and how his decisions led to it’s demise.
LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS: I have a 38-year relationship with my business partner and a 42-year relationship with my high school sweetheart.
(925) 426-5128
Jimi Biron
Cirector of Entertainment Programming and Venue Development
McMenamins, Portland, Ore.
HOMETOWN: Northern New Hampshire
UNIVERSITY: Colorado College
FAMILY TIES: My dad and grandpa had some hotels and golf courses, as funny as that may be (McMenamins also runs hotel and golf course properties).
FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB: Always the music.
MENTORS: Rick Ohlson, who had been the GM of Double Tee Concerts and had also been an agent at ICM, showed me the ropes of the music business in 1997. Another would be Mike McMenamin. What a visionary he is, how he doesn’t take ‘No’ for an answer.
BEST ADVICE: Ohlson said the music industry is an industry of relationships. He had one other line: Settlement is an art form.
FREE TIME FOOTY: When I’m not at work I’m playing music and playing soccer. I play on a co-ed Sunday night team and I coach my 10-year-old’s team.
TIMBERS ARMY: Oh my god, yes, I’m a Portland Timbers (Major League Soccer) fan. I’m a Liverpool fan, too, as my English team.
SURPRISING FACT: I rescored the musical “Mother of Courage” for the American Repertory Theater. I also choreographed some dance routines and used to do things like that, along with a lot of performance art.
BIGGEST GUILTY PLEASURE: Hoppy hoppy hoppy IPA. I can’t go long without it.
(503) 223-0109
Joel Cowley
President and CEO
Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
Current City: Richmond, Texas
FIRST INDUSTRY JOB: I came to Houston in 2005 to serve as the Executive Director of Agricultural Exhibits. I oversaw the livestock show, the horse show, the wine show, auctions and international programs.
AGRICULTURAL ADVOCATE: I love the fact that we promote agriculture because, to me, as a nation you don’t want to be dependent on outside sources for energy or for food. I also love that we’re so good at putting on a fair and festival with 31,000 volunteers that we’re able to contribute $24.1 million to youth and education this year.
DREAM JOB: Originally an astronaut, but that was kind of a kindergarten dream. I thought I might want to be a county extension agent as I entered college. Now I have the greatest job in the world.
MR. FIX-IT: I am a true do-it-yourselfer. I change my own oil, I do my own automotive work short of tearing an engine block apart, I mow my own lawn, I do my own house remodels.
BEST ADVICE: Character without ability probably won’t get you far, and ability without character might land you in prison.
CAFFEINE ADDICT: I am a Starbucks addict. My beverage is a grande, five-pump, no-water chai tea latte. I am not a coffee drinker. I tried coffee when I was 15, didn’t like it and never went back to it. Unfortunately, I have my wife hooked on those now as well. It’s an expensive habit.
(832) 667-1057