Frank S. Buonanotte

EXPERIENCE
Mr. Buonanotte has extensive entrepreneurial and corporate management experience. He has founded several successful companies that continue to operate throughout the southeast and has served as Chief Executive Officer for each of them.

Mr. Buonanotte formed Party City of Atlanta (PCA) in 1992 and, under his direction it has become the largest and most successful franchisee of Party City Corporation. PCA operates 27 superstores, in Georgia and Tennessee, selling paper goods and party supplies at deep discount prices.

Under Mr. Buonanotte's leadership from its formation in 1984 until his retirement in 2003, The Shopping Center Group (TSCG) grew to become the dominant retail real estate service provider in the southeast. With offices located in 17 cities throughout the region, TSCG serves its clients in the areas of tenant representation, shopping center leasing, asset & property management, land & investment property sales, development, syndication and consulting.

Prior to his entrepreneurial experience in real estate & retail, he was as an executive with several different companies including Six Flags Corp. and Bell & Howell. Mr. Buonanotte's corporate experience included management and senior management positions in corporate development, marketing, advertising & promotion, and sales.

He has completed the YPO President's Program at the Harvard Business School as well as the YPO President's Program at The Aspen Institute.

RECOGNITION

  • Mr. Buonanotte was awarded the 2002 Georgia Business Ethics Award by the American Society of Financial Advisors and Georgia State University.
  • He was selected, by Ernst & Young, as a finalist for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award in both 2000 and 1999.
  • Mr. Buonanotte was twice named “Franchisee of the Year” by Party City Corporation (both in 2000 and in 1996).
  • Mr. Buonanotte was awarded the 1998 Entrepreneurial Success Award by the Small Business Administration (SBA).
  • He was named “1997 Man of the Year” by ChainLinks, an international organization comprised of over 500 retail real estate advisors.
  • Party City of Atlanta was named one of 1998's Fastest Growing Companies by Inc. Magazine in its annual ranking of the Inc. 500.
  • Mr. Buonanotte received the Bronze Star Award from Chain Links in both 1998 and 1995.
  • The Shopping Center Group has received three separate awards for Best Real Estate Deal (1994, 1992, and 1989) from the Atlanta Business Chronicle and Ernst & Young.

BOARD SERVICE

  • Board of Directors, Party City of Atlanta, Inc. (current)
    (Chairman)
  • Board of Directors, The Shopping Center Group, LLC (current)
    (Chairman Emeritus, Member of Executive Committee)
  • Board of Directors, Young President's Organization (YPO), Rebel Chapter (past)
    (Forum Chairman, Member Networking Chairman)
  • Board of Directors, Robert Pattillo Properties, Inc., Atlanta, GA (past)
    (Chairman, Member of Compensation Committee)
  • Board of Directors, Special Olympics of Georgia, Atlanta, GA (past)
    (Member of Sports & Outreach Committee)
  • Board of Directors, Party City Franchisee Committee, Inc., Miami, FL (past)
    (Member of Executive Committee)
  • Board of Directors, Chain Links Retail Advisors, Inc., Washington, DC (past)
    (Chairman, Member of: Executive, Strategic Planning & By-Laws Committees)
  • Board of Directors, Diversified Mail Centers, Inc. (past)
    (Member of Executive Committee)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • Chief Executives Organization (CEO)
  • World Presidents Organization (WPO)
  • Young Presidents Organization (YPO)
  • International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)

PERSONAL
Mr. Buonanotte and his wife, Michele, have two terrific children. Alexandra (Alyx) is 20 and Eric is 16. When not spending time with the children; Mr. Buonanotte enjoys flying helicopters, sailing, reading, golf and tennis. He and Michele love to travel and have visited many “off the beaten path” destinations all over the world.

COMMUNITY
Mr. Buonanotte has served on the Board of Directors of Special Olympics of Georgia. He has hosted an annual golf tournament to benefit Children's Health Care of Atlanta. He has served on the Gentlemen's Committee for Cystic Fibrosis and the Gentlemen's Committee for Scottish Rite Children's Hospital. Mr. Buonanotte is actively involved in supporting Special Olympics, National Public Radio, The Galloway School, and Pace Academy.

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