Chris Szechenyi

Chris brings 25 years of experience managing fine restaurants and hotels in southern California including tenured service of 5+ years as GM/ Managing Partner at The Capital Grille in Costa Mesa and 14+ years of service with the privately held Lawry’s Restaurants Inc. (Five Crowns, Tam O’ Shanter Inn, and Lawry’s, The Prime Rib in Beverly Hills).

Earlier in his career, Chris worked as GM of Pinot Bistro (for the Patina Group), and he did a stint at Universal Studios Back-Lot managing their Executive Dining and Catering.  Chris also has hotel experience with both the Biltmore and Hyatt Hotels.
Chris holds a degree in Arts Management and a Certificate of Sommelier.  He was Vice President of the Newport Beach Restaurant Association and was President of the Newport Beach Sunrise Rotary Club which named him Business Rotarian of the Year for the Orange Country / Long Beach areas in 2009-2010.

Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, but raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Chris has lived in southern California for more than 25 years, and married his wife, Susan, six years ago. In their spare time the couple enjoys travel, fitness and volunteering at animal shelters. 
And one more thing - my last name, credited to my Hungarian father, is actually easy to pronounce: (“say – chainy”) as long as you don’t look at it!”