Inductee

Mike Scanlon

CEO and Founder Thomas and King, Inc.

Mike Scanlon was the CEO of Thomas and King which he co-founded in 1988 at the age of 33. Thomas and King built and operated over 100 Applebee’s who served 500,000 people per week and employed over 5000 employees in six states. After over 25 years as a franchisee, he sold the Applebee’s franchise in 2014.

In his career, Scanlon has earned awards including INC magazines Entrepreneur of the Year 1996 for Kentucky, Applebee’s Founders Award 1991, Franchise of the Year 1998 and Business of Promise Award 1999 presented by the former Secretary of State, Colin Powell. He is also a Laureate of the Bluegrass Business Hall of Fame.

Scanlon served as the elected Vice Mayor of Lexington, KY from 2002 – 2006 as well as Chairman of the Board and Board Member of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bluegrass, member of the Board of Directors and Vice Chair of the Hope Center. He also served as a member of the Board and Executive Committee at Junior Achievement of the Bluegrass and 8 years on the Georgetown College Board of Trustees.

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