Ryan Smolkin

Ryan Smolkin attended Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario where he studied and participated in the Business Co-Op Program. As a student, Smolkin established several successful business ventures including a portfolio of rental property investments which he built to over $4 million in assets before selling off all properties in 2004.
After graduating with his Bachelor of Business Administration degree at WLU in 1995, his Entrepreneurial spirit could not be suppressed, and Smolkin established AmoebaCorp, a Graphic Design and Branding company in Toronto, Ontario. With Smolkin as its leader, AmoebaCorp emerged as a Nationally-recognized, industry-leading firm with a client list including Nike, Molson, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, Corus Entertainment, YTV, Sims Snowboards and Nelvana.

As its President and Chief Executive Officer, Smolkin spearheaded and negotiated the merger of AmoebaCorp with John Street Advertising in November 2006. Subsequent to the merger, Smolkin remained with the company for six months during which time he was directly instrumental in expanding the company well beyond all estimates and forecasts before leaving in May 2007.

After enjoying a year hanging out and bonding with his newborn twin boys, Nate and Sam, Smolkin began the development of the Smoke’s Poutinerie Franchise, building an entirely new QSR experience and a whole new food category. Smolkin is very proud to state that The World’s Original & Largest Poutinerie was the spark that ignited the Global Poutine trend!

As Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Smolkin’s primary goal has always been to bring Canada’s National Iconic dish to the rest of the World in an original and unique way and to ultimately achieve GLOBAL DOMINATION! With Smolkin at the helm, Smoke’s Poutinerie has been growing at an astounding fast pace and has been recognized within the industry by receiving a number of prestigious accolades, such as the Pinnacle Award for Company of the Year from Food Service & Hospitality Magazine, the Hospitality Award for Fastest Growing Company in Canada and the CFA Franchisees’ Choice Designation and Award of Excellence.

There is absolutely no slowing down this exceptionally devoted Entrepreneur! Smolkin takes pride in all of his achievements; leading the Smoke’s Poutinerie Brand into its success as a Global Poutine Empire and opening over 100 locations Coast to Coast in Canada in just 6 short years, definitely tops his list to date! Smolkin and his team have been primarily focused on Smoke’s Poutinerie’s expansion into the US and International Markets as well as building upon the newly introduced Sports & Entertainment Division. What’s up next for Ryan Smolkin?! He’s been secretly researching and developing multiple possible brand extensions, two of which he recently launched – Smoke’s Weinerie and Smoke’s Burritorie.