About The Founder
Johnny Rivers
President/CEO
Johnny Rivers is an award-winning and internationally acclaimed entrepreneur. His mission focuses on developing local economies, creating social improvements and positively impacting global communities.
In less than 30 years, since becoming Disney’s first Hospitality Corporate Executive in 1970 and currently heading lnglur, Rivers has opened more than 42 hotel and entertainment complexes, 280 restaurants and five theme parks including: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Tokyo Disneyland and Euro Disney. He regularly consults with various hospitality companies in the United States, Europe, Africa and Asia. Johnny Rivers has also worked and partnered with organizations such as Levy Brothers, Darden Group, American Dietetic Association, National Cancer Institute, Florida Hospital, and Euro-American Advisors.
Mr. Rivers has been featured in newspapers and magazines including Time, Redbook, and Southern Living among countless others. His voice has been heard on radio nationwide and he has appeared on many network television programs such as Oprah, Good Morning America, Live with Regis and Kathy Lee, and the Today Show with Bryant Gumble. His quest for knowledge led him to destinations on every continent where he gained the respect of his peers worldwide. Rivers has been involved in projects for US Presidents Obama, Bush, Clinton, Reagan, Carter, and Ford, South African President Nelson Mandela, royalty, dignitaries, countless celebrities, and top business executives throughout the world.
Among Rivers’ prized collection of honors are the 2009 US Congressional Recognition of Outstanding and Invaluable Service to the Community and the 2004 Businessman of the Year recognition from former President of the US, George W. Bush. The epitome of his achievements is the honorable Doctorate Degree presented to him by Johnson & Wales University in 1995.
Empowerment has been the forefront of Rivers’ commitment in enhancing the communities he is present in. Apart from his current humanitarian effort in Africa, he has twice co-chaired the Info World Summit in South Africa and participated in the first World Cooks Tour for Hunger in Johannesburg in 1993.
