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Triumph Together

Boots on the Ground Engagement

MEET OUR TEAM

Our Intellectual Capital =

Over a combined 150 years of

 restaurant experience and a combined 60 years plus of franchising experience.

Sam G. Ballas

Sam G. Ballas, CFE

Founder/Managing Director

Mark Lyso

Mark Lyso, CFE

Partner/President
Tom Scalese

Tom Scalese, CFE

Partner/Supply Chain

Sammy Gianopoulos

Sammy Gianopoulos

Partner/Culinary

Ashley Mitchell

Chief Marketing Officer

Gregory Ballas

Gregory Ballas

Senior Director, Real Estate & Construction
Whitney Mann

Whitney Mann

Senior Director, Brand Operations & Platform Integrations
Join Our Team

Sam G. Ballas, CCIM, CFE Founder/Managing Director

Sam G. Ballas is the visionary Founder and Managing Partner of ZorAbility, Inc., as well as the President and Chief Executive Officer of East Coast Wings + Grill (ECW+G). With over 40 years of experience in the restaurant industry and 31 years in financial markets and retail real estate development, Sam has cultivated a deep understanding of building successful franchise models. His leadership is grounded in blending traditional methods with innovative, proprietary strategies to create enduring brands.

 

As the founder of ECW+G, Sam has pioneered a focus on Unit Level Economics (ULE), making it the core of the brand’s identity. His expertise in this area has earned him widespread recognition, including authoring articles for top restaurant and franchise publications between 2015 and 2019 on ULE-driven strategies. Under his leadership, ECW+G has achieved numerous accolades, such as being named a Top 50 Restaurant Franchise by Franchise Business Review (2012–2018), a Top 500 Franchise System by Entrepreneur Magazine, and a Top 50 Brand to Watch by Restaurant Business Magazine.

 

Sam’s proprietary innovations include the Unit Level Performance Index (ULPI), a tool designed to optimize performance and achieve key benchmarks, resulting in consistent double-digit EBITDA averages across units. This approach now serves as the foundation for ZorAbility’s advisory and investment strategies, driving results for emerging and established franchise brands.

 

In addition to his work with ZorAbility and ECW+G, Sam is an active industry leader. He serves on the Board of Directors of the International Franchise Association (IFA) and holds the designations of Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). He has held licenses in investment securities, investment advisory, and real estate brokerage and remains an engaged advocate through his work on the Government Affairs Committee for the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, as well as various franchise supplier advisory boards.

Mark Lyso, CFE Partner/President

Mark Lyso is a Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) with the International Franchise Association and brings over 30 years of franchising expertise. With a doctorate in healthcare, Mark combines academic rigor with real-world insights to identify and address gaps within business models, enhancing the systems, processes, and procedures critical for franchise growth and scalability.

 

Throughout his career, Mark has worked with seven brands across the casual dining, fast casual, and family dining sectors. His contributions span franchise development, unit-level operations, training, and marketing. Mark has been instrumental in the startup phase of several companies, overseeing the successful opening of more than 80 restaurants and even facilitating the public listing of a franchise model.

 

Known for his strategic leadership, Mark has revitalized underperforming units, managed restaurant acquisitions and sales, and ensured the scalable growth of franchise systems. His dedication to improving operations and driving results has consistently delivered sustainable success for the brands he has supported.

Tom Scalese, CFE Partner/Supply Chain

Tom Scalese is a seasoned leader with over 35 years of experience in the restaurant industry and more than a decade in senior roles with distribution companies. As a Partner at ZorAbility, Tom drives strategic initiatives in supply chain management and provides expert guidance to emerging and re-emerging franchise owners, helping them optimize costs and enhance menu offerings. His extensive network of manufacturers, producers, and GPOs ensures efficient and effective solutions tailored to franchise success.

 

Tom’s career began in family-owned restaurants and later expanded to a culinary leadership role with a major hotel chain. Since joining East Coast Wings + Grill (ECW+G) in 2008 as Vice President of Operations, Tom has been instrumental in supporting franchisees to achieve unit-level economic success. He led the development of a proprietary commissary for the brand, streamlining the distribution model to reduce costs and maximize efficiency.

 

For Tom, franchising is more than replicating a business model; it’s about fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement. His dedication to refining operations and delivering scalable solutions makes him an invaluable partner to the brands he serves.

Sammy Gianopoulos Partner/Culinary

Sammy Gianopoulos is a highly accomplished culinary professional with over 30 years of experience in culinary innovation, menu engineering, and research and development. Renowned for his expertise in driving culinary excellence, Sammy has made a significant impact across a variety of dining establishments, blending creativity with operational success.

 

A graduate of the esteemed Johnson & Wales University, Sammy honed his craft in the kitchens of several North Carolina restaurants before opening his first restaurant in High Point, NC. In 2022, his achievements were recognized with the prestigious IFMA Gold & Silver Plate Awards, earning him the title of Independent Restaurant & Multi-Concept Category Winner—one of the food service industry’s most iconic honors.

 

Sammy brings a unique blend of advanced culinary training, deep expertise in menu engineering, and a meticulous approach to gross profit analysis. His comprehensive understanding of restaurant operations, combined with his business acumen, has enabled him to successfully own and operate multiple restaurant concepts. Sammy’s dedication to innovation and his ability to balance creativity with profitability make him an invaluable partner in elevating culinary and operational excellence.

Ashley Mitchell Chief Marketing Officer

Ashley Mitchell brings a wealth of expertise in marketing and communication, cultivated over an impressive career dedicated to driving growth and innovation. Her leadership journey has included pivotal roles at globally recognized brands like The Walt Disney Company, as well as franchise organizations focused on child services. In these roles, Ashley has successfully created and executed marketing strategies, led high-profile events, and contributed to executive leadership teams shaping company-wide strategic planning.

 

With a deep understanding of how to protect and enhance a revered brand, Ashley excels at translating broad brand messages into impactful regional and local campaigns. Her experience spans consumer marketing, franchise development, and mergers & acquisitions, including working with private equity firms.

 

Ashley’s industry expertise covers youth enrichment, beauty concepts, quick-service restaurants (QSR), and B2B services. In addition to her role at ZS, she currently leads marketing for East Coast Wings + Grill and Sammy’s Sliders. Recognized as a thought leader in franchising, Ashley was recently named a Top Franchise Influencer and a Top 50 Franchise CMO Gamechanger.

Gregory Ballas Senior Director, Real Estate & Construction

Gregory Ballas is a seasoned professional specializing in real estate and construction, with a strong foundation in both franchisor and franchisee operations. A graduate of the University of North Carolina Charlotte’s Belk Business School, Gregory earned his North Carolina Real Estate License in 2020 and is currently a candidate for the Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) designation.

 

Gregory’s expertise spans investment properties, retail centers, tenant representation, and franchise system site growth analysis. His ability to bridge the franchisor-franchisee perspective enables him to deliver tailored strategies that drive expansion and maximize operational success. With a commitment to excellence and a deep understanding of the franchise landscape, Gregory plays a pivotal role in supporting sustainable growth for ZorAbility’s partners.

Whitney Mann Senior Director, Brand Operations & Platform Integrations

Whitney Mann is a seasoned franchise professional with a deep understanding of operations, training, marketing, and unit-level economics. Since joining the National Franchise Service Center in 2008, Whitney has played a key role in the growth of East Coast Wings + Grill, contributing to the successful opening of 29 locations.

 

In 2021, Whitney was elevated to the role of Senior Director of Brand Operations, where she leverages her extensive knowledge to align company visions and drive operational excellence. Her commitment to continuous improvement is reflected in her personal and professional mantra: “Never Be Satisfied.”

 

With a proven track record of integrating platforms and streamlining processes, Whitney is dedicated to fostering growth and success for both franchisees and the brands she supports.