Meet our Team

  • Sofia Riley

    PRESIDENT / FOUNDER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Cali Fresh Caesar Salad & TGIS Octopus!

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Vodka Gimlet Up

    Sofia was raised in a family of restaurateurs. Her father was a formally trained chef who experienced much success in the restaurant business. Sofia knew she wanted to work with food, specifically by taking it to the next level from a creative and aesthetic standpoint. After graduating from California State University Long Beach and UCLA, Sofia launched THANK GOODNESS IT’S SOFIA in 1989. For ten years she successfully balanced the difficult responsibilities of building a business and raising a family. In 1999, as TGIS was growing at a rapid pace, Sofia decided to invite her brother, George, to partner with her. Sofia has been married to husband Jim for twenty-five years and is mother to Elizabeth and Dean. She continues to use many of her talents in working with many charities helping to fight cancer and child abuse. In 2004, she was nominated for Orange County Business Journal “Woman of the Year.”

  • George Marinos

    CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Caramelized Tomato Braised Lamb Shoulder – YUM!

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Dirty Gin Martini with Blue Cheese Olives

    George has a passion for food that was cultivated during a childhood spent working in the kitchen of his father’s restaurants. After high school, George attended the University of Southern California and graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. He decided to leave the family business though, and promptly landed a job as an accountant at the prestigious firm, BDO Seidman. After a few years at BDO, George moved on to work in the film industry, first at Metro Goldwyn Mayer (MGM) and later as a film producer at Shoreline Entertainment. Despite some success in Hollywood, George always felt a longing to return to what he truly loved: food. So, when Sofia approached him with the idea of joining her in the catering business, he seized the opportunity. George’s background in filmmaking enables him to bring a unique visual flair and elegance to every TGIS event. He still tries to spend as much time in the kitchen as possible, whether it’s preparing meals for his wife and children or overseeing the catering for a wedding reception.

  • Jeremy Smith

    DIRECTOR OF SALES

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Tomahawk Pork Chop

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Smokey Paloma

    jsmith@yinglongcz.com

  • Mark Rivera

    DIRECTOR OF EVENTS

    THE CENTRE & THE MAYNE

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Pasa Bolcas

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Pineapple Jalapeno Margarita

    mrivera@yinglongcz.com

  • Monica Sajor

    EVENT MANAGER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Grilled Chillean Seabass

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Blood Orange Mimosa

    msajor@yinglongcz.com

  • Staci Collins

    EVENT MANAGER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Grilled Lamb Chop

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Espresso Martini

    scollins@yinglongcz.com

  • Drew Fremont

    EVENT MANAGER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Caramelized Pork Bahn Mi Eggroll

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    TGIS Old Fashioned

    dfremont@yinglongcz.com

  • Yessel Osorio

    EVENT MANAGER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Mushroom Truffle Flatbread

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    PERFECT Spicy Margarita

    yosorio@yinglongcz.com

  • Kaitlyn Garcia

    EVENT MANAGER &

    MARKETING MANAGER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Micro Birria Tacos

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Tequila Mule

    kgarcia@yinglongcz.com

  • Anastasia Dimitropoulos

    JR SALES EVENT MANGER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Lamb Moussaka Fritters

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Paloma

  • Claudia Munoz

    ACCOUNTING MANAGER/ HR

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Nashville Hot Chicken Slider

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Mint Mojito

    accounting@yinglongcz.com

  • Stephanie Gonzalez

    STAFFING MANAGER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Chicken Tikka Masala

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Paloma

    staffing@yinglongcz.com

  • Kevin Meyer

    EXECUTIVE CHEF

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Chicken Balsamico

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Moscow Mule

  • Patty Rios

    SOUS CHEF

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Black Bean Empanada

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Margarita

  • Luis Perez

    JR SOUS CHEF

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Tecate Beer

  • Lalo Andrade

    WAREHOUSE MANAGER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Truffle Glazed Salmon With Creamy Risotto

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    Moscow Mule

  • Yuri Guevara

    ASSISTANT WAREHOUSE MANAGER

    FAVORITE TGIS DISH:

    Coconut Shrimp

    FAVORITE DRINK:

    TGS Hot Apple Cider - Seasonal!