599 Millennium - Seventeenth Edition HOSPITALITY AND LEISURE OWNER, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Soprano’s Italian Franchise LLC Newport, VA CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER Federico’s Drive-In Shoe Service Monterey, CA ESSAM M. MAHMOUD A successful entrepreneur, Essam M. Mahmoud has achieved success as the owner of Soprano’s Italian Franchise LLC. Originally from Egypt, Mr. Mahmoud earned a law degree before immigrating to the United States at 21 years old. Despite his prior experience practicing law in Egypt, the language barrier prevented him from further pursuing law studies. In order to make ends meet, he entered the restaurant industry, starting as a dishwasher, busboy and waiter before rising to become a cook and later a manager. Mr. Mahmoud subsequently discovered his love and passion for the restaurant industry, and in 2004, he started his own business with Soprano’s Italian Restaurant. After steady success, he opened a second location in 2008, beginning what would become Soprano’s Italian Franchise LLC. Looking to the future, Mr. Mahmoud plans to continue growing his business by exploring various options to expand his product lines in the market. To promote the franchise, he also hopes to partner with new suppliers, such as Food Lion, to broaden the scope of his business and delve into new markets. Jose D. Perez is an entrepreneur and shoe care expert with more than 30 years of experience, specializing in high-quality shoe repair and customization. As a teenager, he began dyeing and repairing his own basketball shoes, which led him to join a Beverly Hills-based shoe repair company as a shoeshine and repair specialist at the age of 20. He continued his career in the 1990s with companies throughout Los Angeles and Salinas, California, further developing his skills in working with a variety of footwear and concerns. In 1999, Mr. Perez joined Federico’s Drive-In Shoe Service as a dyer. A family-owned company established in 1940, the business has maintained a reputation for excellence and has been voted as the best shoe repair shop in the region by local publications, including the Carmel Pinecone, for many consecutive years. Mr. Perez purchased the company in 2020 and has remained active in daily operations while taking on the role of chief executive officer. He looks forward to continuing to build the business in the coming years, with plans to launch a Beverly Hills location. JOSE D. PEREZ
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