Michael's Page

Michael L. Atkinson: 1lgqum945007i; Share

About Me

: Male
San Jose, CA
United States; Member # 2; 99 Referrals; Joined Nov. 1, 2007; Seen Feb 6

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Michael L. Atkinson's discussions

Caterers using Social Media to attract customers

Added a post Jan 11

Feedback wanted on the all new www.iGotMunchies.co.uk

Added a post Jan 3

FohBoh and Ning Email Platform Issues

Added a post Dec. 19, 2009

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Twitter feed for me

michaelatkinson: WOOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!! (via @sexythinker)

michaelatkinson: French Quarter is going nuts #superbowl. Go Saints

michaelatkinson: @sexythinker you know it!!!!

michaelatkinson: Finally, a great superbowl commercial. Go Audi!

michaelatkinson: What is the top superbowl party food this year?

michaelatkinson: Amber can't count, or manage a wait!

michaelatkinson: @SocialNetDaily cool! We need to get the koolaid drinkers to have their own hashtag

michaelatkinson: I found a pizza diet that works: http://www.hotilalian.net

michaelatkinson: More social media statistics revisited http://bit.ly/cjsmmw from @econsultancy

michaelatkinson: Restaurant leadership is a precious commodity http://bit.ly/aZW2jV

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Michael L. Atkinson's Blog

Restaurant Leadership

By Michael L. Atkinson on Feb 1, 2010 at 10:57am | 2 Comments (Add) | 38 Views

You may have noticed that FohBoh is promoting and advertising the upcoming Restaurant Leadership Conference April 19-21. You may also have heard that FohBoh was selected by CSP (owners of the Restaurant Leadership Conference) as its exclusive partner for social media... more

Finding Influencers and Getting Your Social Media Game On

By Michael L. Atkinson on Jan 29, 2010 at 10:28am | 5 Comments (Add) | 76 Views

This can be a very long discussion, so I promise to keep it short, because I want this message to be concise, almost a mantra: The goal of all this discussion, energy and activity regarding social media is to do one thing and one thing well - find your key influence... more

Apple Tablet PC Think I-Pad

By Michael L. Atkinson on Jan 21, 2010 at 3:25pm | No Comments (Add) | 7 Views

Tablet PC's are not new. But for Apple to create one, well, that's news. I pray those ugly PC-type boxes sitting on host stands will be tossed in favor of something as cool, efficient and sleek as the proposed Apple Table. My only concern is how easy these devices wi... more

Great Start to 2010!

By Michael L. Atkinson on Jan 20, 2010 at 7:26am | 4 Comments (Add) | 52 Views

I sure hope your January is going as well as our January. Already, it seems to be just what we intended it to be - a fast start to a great year at FohBoh. It’s year three for us, and we are ready for action. And it seems others are too. It’s a new, fresh year and we ... more

Sign of a Bad Service Experience

By Michael L. Atkinson on Jan 19, 2010 at 4:16pm | 4 Comments (Add) | 50 Views

Ok, I couldn't wait to share this one. I am a service hound, so serve me over-cooked Salmon, but please, give me good service. Bad, or in this case, no service, is unforgivable. I guess this customer was just tired of waiting. more

Haiti; how you can help now, and help later too

By Michael L. Atkinson on Jan 19, 2010 at 3:02pm | 1 Comment (Add) | 22 Views

FohBoh intends to work with Share our Strength to help facilitate a foodservice industry response. Many of you, lead by Jeffrey Kingman, want to help with this disaster. Until this can be organized, I encourage you to visit SOS for information by clicking here. If y... more

What's on the Restaurateurs' Plate in 2010

By Michael L. Atkinson on Jan 10, 2010 at 6:33pm | 3 Comments (Add) | 26 Views

Re-post A friend forward this article and it deserves being re-posted with full credit to Rob Reuteman - FOXBusiness For more than 15 years, Denver-based restaurant consultant John Imbergamo has come up with a year-ahead trends-and-expectations list for the restaur... more

New Stanford Study Shows Posting Calories on Restaurant Menu Boards Lowers Customers’ Calorie Counts per Visit

By Michael L. Atkinson on Jan 8, 2010 at 9:13am | 3 Comments (Add) | 35 Views

I grabbed this off the SBS research site and found it both interesting and amazing how they conducted their research. FInd the site here. Starbucks’ customers purchased 6% fewer calories per visit at chain outlets that posted calorie counts without substantially aff... more

Ok, Back to Work

By Michael L. Atkinson on Jan 6, 2010 at 7:16am | 2 Comments (Add) | 37 Views

The Wall Street Journal says today that our economy is looking promising, based on a number of indicators. I like the odds so far, but that’s me. On the social media front, there’s a lot cooking. Even with Twitter membership leveling off and Yelp continuing to incre... more

2000 – 2009 R.I.P.

By Michael L. Atkinson on Dec 23, 2009 at 12:16am | 12 Comments (Add) | 77 Views

A lot is being written about the decade we are about to leave behind. And they are not generally glowing reviews. If Yelp was hosting this, it would probably receive 3 ½ stars...but don’t most reviews on Yelp get 3 ½ stars? The new millennium started off with fear.... more

My Rich Media

Restaurant Social Media Blog

FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER: Michael Atkinson on Twitter

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Profile

Title: President | CEO | Co-founder

Company: FohBoh, Inc.

Website: http://fohboh.com

Email: michael@fohboh.net

I work for the foodservice industry and my profession is: Media Co. / Editorial / Sales

In which categories do you purchase, or specify the purchase of products for your organization?: Systems (technology), Other

Interests: Consulting, Finding Investors, Learning, Making Friends, Networking

Other Interests: Restaurants, investment banking, private equity, travel and business, boutique wineries, cooking, skiing, cycling, gadgets and consumer-facing technologies and social media.

My goal is to help FohBoh become a great success as the interactive voice for the global restaurant industry.

Personal Quote: Money is a Renewable Resource, Time and Opportunity Aren't

Biography: Restaurateur, entrepreneur and investment professional with over 25 years of progressively complicated experience resulting in a fair amount of gray hair. Some winners; others, not so much.

I love to combine online social media with my passion for the restaurant, food and beverage industries. This has resulted in an interesting career spanning over 25 years.

As a restaurateur, I've developed dozens and dozens of concepts, owned five, managed many and sold a few. I have advised chains, CEO's, CFO's, COO's, celebrity chefs and entrepreneurs on matters relating to growth, investment, development, franchising and finance.

As investment banker, I have over 150 transactions under my belt working in Asia, Europe and the U.S. Whew!

As manager, I've held C-level operations and finance positions at fast growing, high-profile chains and as the chief-cook-and-bottle-washer at a few of my own restaurants too. I understand what it takes to make a payroll, work the line, serve customers, make a perfect Martini and close a restaurant at 4 AM.

Years in the Industry: 25+

Michael L. Atkinson's Groups

FohBoh Eat Across America Tour Photo Contest (7 members)
Random Acts of Kindness (32 members)
Oregon Restaurant Association 2009 Convention (22 members)
Vegetarian-Friendly Menu Items (11 members)
Pizzaiolo - Pizza Chefs (7 members)

State Restaurant Associations (16 members)
Dunkin Donuts (12 members)
Cheese (104 members)
Franchising (9 members)
locavore (15 members)

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Michael L. Atkinson's Videos

Shopping and Cooking with Evernote Added by Michael L. Atkinson
Added by Michael L. Atkinson
FoodCalc San Francisco Lucy Needham, CEO Added by Michael L. Atkinson

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Michael L. Atkinson's Photos

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Comment Wall (509 comments)

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At 3:49pm on January 29th, 2010, Julie Hill said…: It has been a long time. I am living in Denton, TX, just north of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. MN keeps threatning to drop by the next time he is in town.

At 12:55pm on January 29th, 2010, Mia Anzola said…: Hi Michael:
Thank you for the welcome note.
I am glad to be part of this group.
Cheers,
Mia

At 7:45pm on January 26th, 2010, Julie Hill said…: Hi Mike, I spoke to MN in Austin and he told me about the website so I thought I would check it out. Lookin' Good!

At 10:06am on January 26th, 2010, Ed Bartell said…: Thank You Michael,
We look forward to be part of your group. You have an outstanding website.

Best Regards,
Ed

At 1:28pm on January 23rd, 2010, Nicolas Francois said…: Thanks for welcoming me! I am glad to be on board.

At 12:10pm on January 22nd, 2010, philippe bodart said…: thanks for the welcome michael

At 7:47am on January 21st, 2010, Wes Stone said…: Sounds good, I will talk to you then, thanks.

At 3:50pm on January 18th, 2010, Wes Stone said…: Thanks for the welcome, I would love to talk to you at some point about this site. I have one very similar also using Ning. Any chance we chat?

At 10:59am on January 18th, 2010, Larry Miller said…: Michael,
Thanks for the welcome and congratulations on your partnering with CSP, David, Paul, and the entire staff at there. The events they produce are truly high quality learning and networking events! I look forward to meeting you there!