Paul Wilhide - Partner
Paul was born in Washington, D.C., and spent most of his childhood in Annapolis, Maryland, and around the shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Subsequently, his family moved to Atlanta, Georgia, where he finished high school, completed an Associates Degree Program at Clayton College in Atlanta, and went on to the University of Georgia where he studied Landscape Architecture and Business Administration. During the late '70s, Paul worked in various fields while searching for his professional calling. He spent time in the food and beverage industry, opening and managing several new restaurants in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia; worked in the Sports Entertainment Business doing sales and marketing for the Atlanta Chiefs Professional Soccer Team, then owned by Ted Turner; and operated in the residential real estate industry, working with property investors.
In 1980, Paul relocated to the Dallas, Texas area to run a marine refrigeration manufacturing company (Sailor Boy Products Inc.). No doubt, his exposure to boats and sailing, while living in Annapolis, Maryland and Savannah, Georgia set the stage for his venture into the marine industry. During this same year, Paul started another manufacturing company that specialized in automotive air conditioning replacement parts (Evap Inc.). Over the next 18 years, under Paul's leadership, this company grew into a multi-million dollar operation, distributing both nationally and internationally, and employing upwards of 150 people. Although the company was extremely successful, it was clear to Paul that in order to grow the company to the next level it would be necessary to partner with a larger complementary entity. In 1998, he merged the company with a larger publicly traded firm, effectively selling off all of his interest. He stayed on to oversee the newly created division (Ready-Aire Division of TransPro Inc.) until the end of 2000, at which time he departed to pursue other interests.
Since the year 2000, in addition to overseeing his family's personal investments and helping his wife Sue raise two sons, serving his local YMCA as past chairman, working with The Miracle League to build and operate a baseball field for handicapped individuals and coaching youth soccer, basketball and baseball, Paul has partnered to form a film production company (Sting Productions, LLC.) and completed a short film titled Midnight Expression. The film has been viewed and received favorably in many film festivals throughout the United States. Currently Paul is partnering with Chef Brian Olenjack to form Culinary Enterprises, LLC. for the initial purpose of creating an Olenjack's Grille. The vision is for Olenjack's to serve as a stepping-stone to other culinary enterprises.
