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By Lookout Staff

November 14 -- A top official at Koo Koo Roo Restaurants has been tapped by Pacific Park to lead the two-acre amusement park’s seven restaurants and full-service catering operation on the Santa Monica Pier, park officials announced this week.

Effective immediately, Mitchell E. Katz -- who as senior director of operations at Koo Koo Roo spearheaded the opening of nine new stores -- will assume the post of director of food and beverage, park officials said.

“We are fortunate to have someone of Mitchell’s caliber join us in enhancing Pacific Park’s food and beverage operations,” said Mary Ann Powell, CEO and General Manager of Pacific Park.

“Brand partnership and operational enhancement has been a focus for Pacific Park over the last few years and Mitchell’s extensive experience will be a tremendous benefit to that effort,” Powell said.

As director of food & beverage, Katz will supervise the operation of seven restaurants in the oceanfront food plaza including Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Harbor Grill, Pizza Hut Express, Taco Bell, Carnation, Dippin’ Dots and Funnel Cake Factory, park officials said.

He will also oversee all catering activities for Pacific Park’s private events, picnics and birthday parties.

Prior to his work at Koo Koo Roo, Katz was district manager with C.G. Investments, Inc., overseeing the operations of a dozen Subway restaurants throughout Los Angeles County, where he improved service time and lowered labor costs, park officials said.

Katz began his career as executive general manager with Charley Brown’s / Rueben’s / Edie’s Restaurants overseeing sales, accounting, inventory management and customer service while supervising up to 150 employees.

He has a bachelor of science in restaurant, hotel and institutional management from Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana.

Katz lives in Thousand Oaks, Calif., with his wife and four children.