As a true visionary, born entrepreneur and risk taker, Jim saw the potential in the pizza restaurant business and left the security of his position as an RCMP officer to become a Boston Pizza franchisee.

He opened his first restaurant in 1968 in Penticton, B.C. In the ensuing few years, he became friends with a local accountant, George Melville, who turned into his business partner in 1973. Today, the two men share responsibility as co-owners and co-chairmen of Canada's No. 1 casual dining chain.

Jim and his partner, George Melville, have invested in dozens of other businesses and provide guidance and support to their management teams to help them realize their full potential. They created T&M Management Services Ltd., a multi-faceted organization with a diversified group of businesses including: Boston Pizza International, Boston Pizza Royalties Income Fund, Boston's The Gourmet Pizza, Boston Pizza Foundation, Kitchen Partners Ltd., Mr. Lube, Global Entertainment Corp., S&T Holdings Inc., White Rock Commercial, The Naramata Benchlands, brand.LIVE and Dermal Laser Centre. Jim and George serve as chairmen and owners of T&M Management Services Ltd.

To Jim, one of the most important parts of running a successful business is creating and maintaining a strong culture of camaraderie. No matter where he is, Jim makes a point of stopping in to say hello at every Boston Pizza in town. When he visits a restaurant, he always shakes hands with the staff and thanks them for their hard work. According to Jim, "you take people in as franchisees and they become part of your family."

Jim has always had a vision for expanding the Boston Pizza chain, not only across Canada, but around the world. With more than 390 restaurants across North America, Jim is now looking towards expansion into Australia, the United Kingdom, and eventually Asia.

Jim manages the operation of the U.S. head office for Boston's The Gourmet Pizza in Dallas, Texas. He moved there in 2000 to ensure there was a solid infrastructure in place to support local franchisees and to demonstrate their long-term commitment to the American market. Jim is involved in a number of other business interests. He serves as Chairman of the Central Hockey League and Global Entertainment Corporation and is a director for the Hockey Canada Foundation. He is also a founding director of the Boston Pizza Foundation, which has raised more than $12.1 million for various Canadian charities including the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, Kids Help Phone and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

Jim currently stars as one of the five Dragon's in CBC's reality TV show, Dragon's Den. In Dragons' Den, aspiring entrepreneurs secure a financial investment from the Dragons to start their own business.

Jim resides in Dallas with his wife Sandi and two stepchildren, Daniel and Katie. The eldest of Jim's children are following in his footsteps. Daughter Cheryl obtained a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of British Columbia, is a Boston Pizza franchisee and the executive director of the Boston Pizza Foundation, while son Brad is the assistant general manager for the Phoenix Coyotes and also a Boston Pizza franchisee. Jim and Sandi are the proud grandparents of four grandchildren.

Bill Morrissey is the leader and a co-founder of Yes! Winnipeg: a private-sector lead, five-year initiative to grow and strengthen Winnipeg's private sector economy by assisting in the creation of jobs and investment.

Throughout his life Bill has lived in 3 other Canadian cities but he is a passionate supporter of Winnipeg, who believes that the path to the progress we all desire for our city is through a more vibrant and expanding business community, and he is committed to making that happen!

Before Yes! Winnipeg Bill held senior leadership positions with the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce, Standard Aero and Xerox.

He is a graduate of the University of Manitoba with a B.A. in Economics and B. Comm. in Marketing.

Bill was a member of the Premiers Council on International Trade and a past President of the Winnipeg Executives Association. He is a past Chair of Kidsport Winnipeg and has served on the Boards of Directors of the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce and Kidsport Canada.

Bill has been the recipient of Volunteer of the Year awards by Sport Manitoba, Wpg Chamber of Commerce and the Wpg Executives Assoc.

He is married with two children and he is dedicated to daily fitness, in addition to enjoying golf and hockey, and is proud to be a Winnipeg Jets season ticket holder!