Steve Ells
Encyclopedia
Steve Ells is the founder
, Co-CEO, and Chairman of Chipotle Mexican Grill
. Ells founded Chipotle in 1993, and under his direction, committed the restaurant to serve only naturally raised meat and to promote sustainable agriculture
.
, the son of a pharmaceutical executive. He attended Boulder High School
, the University of Colorado at Boulder
(receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History) and Culinary Institute of America
in Hyde Park, New York, graduating in 1990.
at Stars restaurant
in San Francisco prior to launching Chipotle. and now sits on the board of directors of the Land Institute
.
Ells was named Rocky Mountain News Business Person of the Year, 2005. In 2007, Ells received the CEO of the Year Award from ColoradoBiz magazine.
In June 2010 it was announced that Ells would join the judging and investment panel on NBC
's new series America's Next Great Restaurant
alongside Bobby Flay
, Curtis Stone
and Lorena Garcia.
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
, Co-CEO, and Chairman of Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill
Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. is a chain of restaurants in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada specializing in burritos and tacos, founded by Steve Ells in 1993 and based in Denver, Colorado...
. Ells founded Chipotle in 1993, and under his direction, committed the restaurant to serve only naturally raised meat and to promote sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture
Sustainable agriculture is the practice of farming using principles of ecology, the study of relationships between organisms and their environment...
.
Early life
Ells was born in IndianapolisIndianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, the son of a pharmaceutical executive. He attended Boulder High School
Boulder High School
Boulder High School is a high school in Boulder, Colorado. It is a part of the Boulder Valley School District.-History:Boulder High School was founded in 1875 as part of the University of Colorado at Boulder as a preparatory school for the University...
, the University of Colorado at Boulder
University of Colorado at Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is a public research university located in Boulder, Colorado...
(receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree in Art History) and Culinary Institute of America
Culinary Institute of America
The Culinary Institute of America is a non-profit culinary college located in Hyde Park USA, founded in 1946. The CIA also has branch campuses in St. Helena, California, and San Antonio, Texas, as well as a campus in Singapore. It is a not-for-profit academic institution of higher learning...
in Hyde Park, New York, graduating in 1990.
Career
Ells served for two years as a sous chef under Jeremiah TowerJeremiah Tower
Jeremiah Tower is an American celebrity chef who, along with Wolfgang Puck, Alice Waters, and Jonathan Waxman, is generally credited with developing the culinary style known as California cuisine.-Biography:...
at Stars restaurant
Stars (restaurant)
Stars was a landmark restaurant in San Francisco, California from 1984 through 1999. Along with Spago, Michael's and Chez Panisse it is considered one of the birthplaces of California Cuisine, New American cuisine, and the institution of the celebrity chef....
in San Francisco prior to launching Chipotle. and now sits on the board of directors of the Land Institute
Land Institute
The Land Institute is a non-profit research, education, and policy organization dedicated to sustainable agriculture based in Salina, Kansas, United States....
.
Ells was named Rocky Mountain News Business Person of the Year, 2005. In 2007, Ells received the CEO of the Year Award from ColoradoBiz magazine.
In June 2010 it was announced that Ells would join the judging and investment panel on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's new series America's Next Great Restaurant
America's Next Great Restaurant
America's Next Great Restaurant is an NBC reality television show featuring contestants pitching restaurant ideas to a panel of judges, where the winner receives financial backing for their restaurant concept. Three locations were opened across the nation — Los Angeles, Minneapolis, and New York—on...
alongside Bobby Flay
Bobby Flay
Robert William "Bobby" Flay is an American celebrity chef, restaurateur and reality television personality. He is the owner and executive chef of 12 restaurants: Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, New York City, and the Bahamas ; Bar Americain in New York City and Uncasville, Connecticut; Bobby Flay Steak...
, Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone
Curtis Stone is an Australian celebrity chef, author and television personality, nicknamed "The Quiet Terminator" by fans following his performance on The Celebrity Apprentice 3.-Background:...
and Lorena Garcia.