User
:
Deskpops/sandbox

Anthony Zolezzi

Anthony Zolezzi
is an
entrepreneur
,


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CEO
,


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author


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and
public speaker
.


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In 1995, Zolezzi licensed the rights to the name ”
Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
” from
Paramount Pictures
in an attempt to turn around a financially troubled seafood company, Meridian Products.


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The Bubba Gump Shrimp Company line of packaged shrimp products was sold in supermarkets across the US and in international markets.


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Zolezzi was approached by a friend in the seafood restaurant business about licensing the name. Zolezzi consulted with Paramount and the Rusty Pelican restaurant chain to launch the first Bubba Gump Shrimp Company restaurant in
Monterey, California
in April of 1996.


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In November 2010,
Landry’s, Inc
. acquired Bubba Gump Shrimp Company for an undisclosed amount.


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Zolezzi founded GreenOps LLC, an
emissions reduction currency system
.

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GreenOps LLC later partnered with
Waste Management
,


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creating Greenopolis Recycling Rewards.


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Greenopolis gave
rewards points
to users from 2008-2012 through
social media
websites,
Facebook Games


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and bottle and can
recycling
via
PepsiCo
Dream Machines.


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The Dream Machines were placed on college campuses,


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grocery stores
and
military bases


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across the US and collected more than 4 million
plastic bottles
in their first year of use.


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Oceanopolis, a Facebook game created by Greenopolis to make the recycling habit fun and engaging,


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was recognized by
Al Gore
at the 2011 Games for Change Festival at
New York University
, saying “I’ve been encouraged by recent developments like
Trash Tycoon
and Oceanopolis, and both have spurred my thinking in this area.” Eventually,
Recyclebank
and Greenopolis merged,


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following an investment in Recyclebank by Waste Management.


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In 2019, RecycleBank was purchased by
Recycle Track Systems
(RTS).


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In 2013, Zolezzi purchased the assets of
S&H Greenstamps
with plans to relaunch it.


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Earlier in his career, Zolezzi co-founded Pet Promise Natural Pet Food, which he sold to
Nestle/Purina
.


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Zolezzi is the author of numerous books including
How Dog Food Saved the World


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and
Chemical-Free Kids: How to Safeguard Your Child’s Diet and Environment
.


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He served as an advisor to the
Culinary Institute
and
Harvard
School of Public Health in the Menus of Change Initiative.


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Zolezzi also mentored students at
UCSD
through their Ignite Innovation initiatives.


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