john schnatter

Jeffersonville, Indiana Occupation Restaurateur and spokesman

John H. Schnatter better known as 'Papa' John (born 1962) is the founder, chairman, and former CEO of Papa John's International, Inc. He founded the company in 1985.[1] He currently is the spokesman for Papa John's and is the co-founder of Calistoga Bakery. He resides in Anchorage, Kentucky.[2] Contents [hide] 1 Biography 2 Financial donations 3 External links 4 References //

Biography

Born in Jeffersonville, Indiana he started work in the pizza business during high school, at the age of 15, where he worked as a student at Rocky's Sub Pub.[1] He obtained a degree in business administration from Ball State University in 1983 all the while practicing his trade at the local Greek's Pizzeria.[3] Afterwards in 1984, he expanded the kitchen at his father's bar, Mick's Lounge, where he began his own pizza business.[1] Today, there are almost 3,000 restaurants with the name Papa John's worldwide.

Schnatter appears in many Papa John's commercials, making him very recognizable. Schnatter usually ends his commercials by saying the company slogan, “Better ingredients, better pizza, Papa John’s”. On April 26, 2007 John Schnatter was inducted into the Junior Achievement U.S. Business Hall of Fame, the youngest ever to be inducted.[4] Schnatter also has been awarded by being one of the Outstanding Young Americans for 2000 by the National Jaycees and 1998 National Ernst & Young Retail/Consumer Entrepreneur of The Year.

He is the co-founder of Calistoga Bakery.[5]

In early 2006 Schnatter and David Jones (co-founder of Humana) proposed to pay for a study to compare locations for a basketball arena.[6] One location in downtown Louisville on the waterfront to replace the LG&E building which was chosen in 2005 by then Governor Ernie Fletcher's task force. That location is supported by mayor Jerry Abramson and University of Louisville's athletic director Tom Jurich.[6] The Louisville Arena Task Force supported the riverfront location, which Schnatter served on and was the lone opponent to that location. The second location was an old Louisville Water Company building, previously not considered. The two businessmen planned to pay $220,000 of their own money for the study. Just days after announcing their decision to have the study conducted the University of Louisville Trustees voted 11-0 to support the riverfront location.[6]

By May 2007 he stepped down as the Executive Chairman of Papa John's to serve just as the head of the board of directors.[4] In this move he would remain as a spokesman for the company with no cash compensation, just stock options.

Financial donations

John Schnatter has made several donations to help boost the Louisville area. His business has the naming rights to Louisville's Papa John's Cardinal Stadium used by the University of Louisville's football team and on August 28, 2007, Schnatter made a $10 million pledge toward a stadium