Professional Position: President & CFO
Company: JEM Restaurant Group/Southeastern Pizza Group
Location: Palm Harbor, FL

A promise to a co-worker-turned-friend impelled Warren Nelson to become involved in the fight against ALS.

The Palm Harbor, Florida resident became “immersed” with Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 2006 after a colleague named Tina Rodriguez was diagnosed with familial ALS.  “I really did not know Tina well at that time, but she and I became close friends over the next two-and-a-half years until she passed away,” said Nelson.  Prior to Rodriguez’ death in 2008, Nelson assured her that he would continue her commitment to find a cure for ALS.  “Tina was a warrior and activist until the end,” he said.  “She was the sixth of seven family members with the disease.” 

His commitment to vanquish ALS started with his joining The ALS Association’s Florida Chapter Board of Trustees in 2006.  Nelson has served as trustee, treasurer, financial operations chair, vice chair and chair for the chapter.  Since 2010, he has been the Florida Chapter’s Board of Representatives (BOR) voting representative, secretary and vice chair of the BOR and vice chair and now chair of the finance committee for the National Board of Trustees.

Nelson has adeptly applied his three decades in finance to the aforementioned positions.  He currently works at Southeastern Pizza Group, LLC (JEM Restaurant Group) as chief financial officer where his duties include directing all fiscal and treasury functions of multiple restaurant operating companies.  Companies where he has been previously employed include Shells Seafood Restaurants, Eckerd Corporation and Darden Restaurants.

A graduate of Missouri State University, Springfield and the University of South Florida, Tampa, Nelson holds a B.S. in accounting and an MBA.