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: Matthew Cook
Mr. Cook has served as our Chief Operating Officer since September 2025. From September 2022 to September 2025, he served as our Director of Franchise Development. From August 2021 to September 2022, he served as our Franchise Business Consultant.
Director of IT: Anita Howald
Director of Construction and Procurement: Justin Johnson
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.
