Author Name
George Tinsley Sr. (Author)
GEORGE W. TINSLEY, SR.CEO & President OF PENGEO, INC. AND Past President of TINSLEY FAMILY CONCESSIONS, INC.George Tinsley Sr.’s road to success could be likened to a rags-to-riches story. His story is offaith, tenacity, education, and a white-hot desire to succeed. George’s unyielding determination andstrong work ethic are the true gifts that catapulted him to a lifetime of multiple careers, professionalachievements, business success, and meaningful contributions to improving the lives of others. GeorgeWilliam Tinsley grew up in Smoketown, an inner-city neighborhood one-mile southeast of downtownLouisville, Ky. Smoketown has been a historically black neighborhood since the Civil War and is the onlycity with such a continuous presence.Despite many obstacles, Tinsley capitalized on his athletic gifts and was recruited on scholarship toKentucky Wesleyan College in 1966, and as a freshman, he led the team to the first of 3 Division II NCAANational Championships. He quickly earned the rep of being a ‘defensive demon’. and would take thePanthers on to 2 national titles in 1968 and 1969, for which he was twice named All-American, selectedas an alternate to the 1968 U.S. Olympic Team and would soon be drafted to the old AmericanBasketball League to play for the Oaks, Washington Capitals, Miami Floridians, Kentucky Colonels andthe New York Nets.Tinsley was already prepared to pursue other options when his 3-year tour with the ABA ended in 1972.He had graduated from Kentucky Wesleyan on the dean’s list and was the first African-American toreceive the prestigious Oak and Ivy Award for academic achievement. Tinsley transitioned his talent forteam management to the corporate sector, beginning with an 8-year management career at KentuckyFried Chicken Corporation, where he paved the way to his first franchise in 1984. Within 5 years, he hadacquired and built 5 more franchises and, in 1989, was named KFCC’s Premier Operator, the highesthonor presented to franchisees. Today, George Tinsley is the President and CEO of PenGeo Inc., TinsleyFamily Concessions, Inc., The Tinsley Group, Inc., Tinsley-Bridgeman, LLC, and GW Tinsley Consulting,LLC. His company owns and operates more than 60 franchises in Florida and Kentucky.Tinsley has served on the board of the National Basketball Retired Players Association for 7 years asBoard Member, President, Treasurer, and Chairman of the Board of Directors. He also served on the Airport Minority Advisory Council Board as theSoutheast Representative. He is currently serving on the boards of The United Way, Talbot House, TheFlorida Bar Foundation and Nda, Inc.Thirty-four years of entrepreneurship, Tinsley holds as many records in business as he did in basketball.He was honored as KFCC’s Premier Operator for a second time in 1994. His KFC restaurant, located inAuburndale has won the KFC Million Dollar Sales Award since 1986. His KFC restaurant is also in the top5 sales categories per town size since 1986. His TGI Friday in Tampa has won the Highest DomesticFranchise Sales and Domestic Franchise of the Year awards for 9-straight years.Tinsley was named Florida’s Minority Entrepreneur of the Year in 1989, Louisville Male High School Hallof Fame in 1986, Smoketown Hall of Fame in 1985, was named Winter Haven Businessman of the Year in2010. He has been inducted to the Kentucky Wesleyan Alumni Hall of Fame in 2005, the Kentucky BlackSports Hall of Fame in 2011, the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame in 2011, the Kentucky Wesleyan CollegeAthletic Hall of Fame Inaugural Class of 2013 and the National Small College Basketball Hall of Fame2017. Tinsley also holds an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Humanities from Kentucky Wesleyan. In 2010He had the distinction of being the first athlete & African American to give the commencement speechin the school's history.Tinsley has been involved in the Airport Concessions business for over 25 years. He first became amajority partner with HMSHost and operated the TGIF Fridays at the Tampa Airport. He then became aminority partner with HMSHost in the Miami Airport. He also became a minority partner with HMSHostat the Louisville Regional Airport and a minority partner with HMSHost AVOLTA with two Starbucks.Tinsley is presently a partner in the new development with HMSHost as partner and is a Sub Tenant asTinsley Bridgeman as a Wendy’s Franchise in the Main Terminal. Tinsley has a Wendy’s location underdevelopment at the Ft. Myers Airport in the Plaza as you enter the Airport property.Tinsley will tell you, with all his success, Tinsley says his greatest treasure is his family.Read more about this authorRead less about this author
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