Tim McEnery ’94

Founder and CEO Tim McEnery’s passion to enrich lives set him on a course to create one of the fastest-growing, highest affinity brands in the United States, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants. Founded in 2005, the brand has since grown to over 70 restaurants and tasting rooms across 12 states and is home to the largest wine club in the world.

Cooper’s Hawk, an experiential brand, includes multiple elements: an upscale casual dining restaurant, full-service bar, private dining space, and Napa-style tasting room with retail gift store – all under one roof. The 60-varietal collection of proprietary wines has garnered over 600 wine awards and is the official wine of the Screen Actors Guild Awards.

McEnery’s vision is anchored by the wine club – a 750,000-member community that has seen precedent-setting growth since its inception. Wine club members enjoy exclusive perks, themed events, world travel, and members-only wines. The brand frequently collaborates with food and wine luminaries including Francis Ford Coppola, Jean-Charles Boisset, John Legend, Zac Brown, Padma Lakshmi, and Katie Lee Biegel, and features chefs and TV personalities such as Tom Colicchio, Tyler Florence, Amanda Freitag, and Carla Hall.

In 2022, McEnery partnered with Luca Issa to bring Piccolo Buco, a Neapolitan pizza concept from Rome, to Chicagoland. His mission of bringing innovative guest experiences continues with a community of 8,000 employees, all contributing to a culture built on his vision of “Enriching Lives.”

Notable awards include Nation’s Restaurant News’ “Hot Concept,” “Breakout Brand,” “#9 Fastest Growing Restaurant in the US” and “#126 Largest Restaurant Chains”. McEnery himself has been named among the “Most Influential Restaurant CEOs in the Country”, recognized with the Pacesetter Award by Restaurant Business, the LEAD Award, and the Golden Chain Award, and was a global finalist for Wine Enthusiast’s Innovator of the Year. He has also been honored in Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 and named Ernst & Young’s Midwest Entrepreneur of the Year.

McEnery has earned countless awards in wine, entrepreneurship, and business leadership, cementing his place as one of the most dynamic and visionary figures in the restaurant and hospitality industry.