We met a wonderful warm, humble man and his family yesterday morning…at the grand opening of his new 115,000 sq ft facility in our town.
Orphaned at age 7 in his native Greece after Communist insurgents killed his parents. An uncle brought him to Houston at age 15 along with his brother and sister. He started school at age 15 to learn english. His first job was delivering newspapers, ultimately growing his Sunday route to over 325 subscribers. He also worked in grocery store after school for 59 cents per hour until he graduated High School. He joined the US Army, became a member of the 82nd Airborne and served in Germany.
Upon his return to the US he and his brother started a household deodorant manufacturing and sales business in their garage with $250. they borrowed. They operated that business until 1978 when they sold it to Coca-Cola. At the same time in 1960 he also opened and ran a pizzeria in downtown Houston where oil well firefighters were the regulars.
In 1975 he and his family introduced the gyro sandwich to Houston with the opening a restuarant named after his wife, Athena. It became a hangout for now famous news reporters and other notables.
In 1984 George started Alpha Foods Company, then being the only frozen pizza distribution company west of the Mississippi. He filled a niche by focusing on providing frozen pizza to schools and military installations. He built Alpha into a world-wide distribution company, including being the primary distributor for the US Air Force. (I’m certain there’s an untold story there relating to his Airborne days.)
In 1988 George expanding into pizza manufacturing, choosing only the highest quality ingredients because his focus is on the experience of the end consumer. “Taste, texture and smell are the most important features of our product”.
In 1992 he began planning his expansion which culminated this week in the opening of his 115,000 sq ft facility in our little town of Waller. He will create 50 new jobs for the people of our town and has plans to triple that in the next 10 years.
George didn’t do all this alone – he gives primary credit to God, his wife of 47 years, Athena and their children. He is CEO, she is company president and his 3 children and their spouses are the senior management team. George has built his business with
the intention that his kids and their kids will continue to build and operate the business.
When I asked him which of his many accomplishments he was most proud of his immediate response was; “America and her people – for creating the opportunity to pursue our dreams.”
So the next time your kids have pizza at school, remember George, adversity, hard work, perseverance and Faith, for it is very likely Alpha Foods that delivered it to their school.
About Dr Bill Toth
Bill’s Background
I’m just an average guy who’s learned a few things about Life, Success and Personal Development – thanks to some incredibly good and bad experiences during the past 25+ years. I’ve made many mistakes and have learned to combine down to earth values with a unique ability to distill complex concepts into simple powerful strategies which can be immediately applied to produce measurable results. In short;
“I’ve traveled the territory, drawn a few maps and I’m happy to share them”
I do not consider myself to be an “expert” and my work is never presented as the definitive doctrine on how you should live your life or what it takes to be successful in your business. I am a work in progress and if you were to you join me on life’s journey by hiring me as your coach or partnering with us in business – our learning will very likely be a two way street. In fact, I expect it to be.
“What you know dies with you – what you DO leaves a legacy”
I was raised in upstate New York and eastern Pennsylvania. This rural upbringing is strongly reflected in my personal value hierarchy: Faith > Family > Friends > Fitness and Finance.
Education and a commitment to continuous improvement are next on the list. All these and more are strongly reflected in my coaching, teaching, writing and speaking.
While growing my private practice I also taught Orthopedics and Neurology at both the undergraduate and graduate level, produced a TV show on fitness, appeared on numerous radio and TV programs, authored numerous journal articles, chapters for medical texts, served as vice-president of my state medical association, and started a family. I have had the honor and privilege of consulting with and coaching a diverse population of people from royalty to prisoners, from children to CEO’s, from amateur to professional athletes from 41 countries and people of almost every race, creed, religious belief and nationality.
I am passionately committed to contribution and Living With Intention. Part of my philosophy is to think globally while acting locally. I am a very active member of my church, as well as several community organizations. After church, my favorite philanthropy is the Nourish the Children. I have also performed extensive volunteer work for both the Anthony Robbins Foundation, and the Make a Wish Foundation.
Why become an Entrepreneur?
I became an entrepreneur because after 5 years of Health Care Reform I found I was merely an employee of the various insurance company’s I was interacting with. I became painfully aware I was working more hours for less money and that what I was doing wasn’t working!
At the same time my beautiful daughter, Casey, was born. This was the first time in my life I started to think about my future, and of course hers. When children come into your life, your perspective changes from Firebirds and Ferrari’s to Gymnastics, music lessons, horseback riding and so forth. Suddenly, I had to think longterm – was what I was doing going to provide all the things that a father wants for his children?
In October of 1998 I started my entrepreneurial endeavors on a very part time basis. Less than 3 months later my New Year’s Resolution was to put my practices up for sale. In May of 1999 I sold them and began to work on my dreams and my fortune on a full time basis. From there, it took me a full five years to get to the point where I could do whatever I wanted to do. Along the way I wrote my first book: “Morning Moments”…as well as learning a few things about money, transitioning careers and happiness. I am happy to share what I know, in short again;
“I’ve traveled the territory, drawn a few maps and I’m happy to share them”
In summary; Transitioning careers was the hardest challenge I’ve ever taken up and it’s been the most rewarding! In so many ways, this is the very best personal development seminar I’ve ever taken because I met mySelf and my wife in the process…and every perceived adversity was worth it.
Today, with my wife Julie, we “get to” pay the gift forward by coaching, mentoring others through the same process. There is no greater pleasure than showing others how to earn their freedom and then observing what good they do with it.
Life Will Never Be The Same
