Meet the Leadership Team

Lennys has a passionate executive team with decades of experience growing franchise systems

Chief Executive Officer and Chairman: Charley M. Shin

Mr. Shin has served as our Chief Executive Officer and Chairman since September 2019. He has held this same position with LSL since October 2019 and with GEI since its founding in May 1990. Mr. Shin has served as President of GEI’s affiliate, Charley’s Steakery, Inc., in Columbus, Ohio since its incorporation in March 1986.

As a college student at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Shin tasted his first Philly Cheesesteak, and it sparked his entrepreneurial dream. One year later in 1986, Charley perfected his own recipe for the beloved sandwich and opened his first restaurant near campus.

More than 30 years later, his namesake restaurant concept, Charleys Philly Steaks, is the World’s #1 Philly Cheesesteak brand with over 600 franchised locations in premier retail shopping centers, airports, and on Army & Air Force bases in 47 states and 16 countries. Known for its hot, grilled-fresh-to-order Philly Cheesesteaks, loaded Gourmet Fries and Real Fruit Lemonades, the restaurant franchise is quickly expanding to serve the world’s favorite Cheesesteaks across the globe.

In 2017, the menu expanded to include Boneless and Classic Wings. Select locations across the country offer this extended menu and operate under the name Charleys Philly Steaks and Wings.

A passionate entrepreneur, Shin has launched numerous restaurant concepts, with the newest being a nod to his Korean heritage—BIBIBOP Asian Grill— in 2013. Customers have embraced the restaurant concept built on the principles of providing a balanced happy and healthy lifestyle by using honest, well-balanced ingredients that taste as good as they make you feel. The brand has almost 30 locations nationwide.

Shin also is the founder and CEO of Solar Planet, one of the largest commercial solar power companies in Ohio.

Additionally, Shin founded Charleys Kids in 2010 to share hope with at-risk children worldwide. Charleys Kids partners with like-minded organizations around the world to provide food, education and mentorship.

Chief Operating Officer: Joseph Unger

Mr. Unger has served as our Chief Operating Officer since June 2023. From April 2021 to March 2023, Mr. Unger served as both Senior Vice President of REEF Technology Inc. and Global Chief Operating Officer of Vessel Holdings ULC and Vessel Global LLC in Miami, Florida. From August 2020 to March 2021, Mr. Unger was an independent consultant for franchise operators of Jersey Mike’s, Chicken Salad Chick, and Dave’s Hot Chicken in Greenwood, Indiana. From March 2018 to July 2020, Mr. Unger served as the Region Leader for YUM! Brands, Inc., working specifically with the Taco Bell brand in Irvine, California.

Director of Franchise Development: Matthew Cook

Mr. Cook has served as our Director of Franchise Development since September 2022. From August 2021 to September 2022, he served as our Franchise Business Consultant. From April 2014 to December 2019, he served as Director of Operations for Olive Oil Associates, LLC, a Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen franchisee in Memphis, Tennessee.

Director of IT: Anita Howald

Senior Manager of Franchise: Daniel Moran

Mr. Moran has served as our Senior Manager of Franchise Development since August 2022. From March 2021 to August 2022, he served as our Lead Generation Manager. From August 2019 to February 2021, he served as Account Executive with Outfront Media Inc. in Memphis, Tennessee. From September 2018 to April 2019, he served as Account Executive for the Alliance of American Football in Memphis, Tennessee.