Paul J. McKenna

Paul McKenna was an Economics Major at Northeastern Illinois University in his junior year when he dropped out to open Starship Subs in 1977. With no prior restaurant experience, his only mantra was to sell food he liked to eat. He has been cooking professionally for 38 years, so in dog years that makes him an old accomplished chef.

Paul eventually went back to school to complete his degree. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Creative Writing from Columbia College, Chicago in 2001.

While still running what is now called Starship Restaurant & Catering, Paul also teaches as adjunct faculty in the Hospitality Department of Triton College. He lives in Brookfield, Ill.