ABOUT

Troy is the founder and CEO of Rise Brands. Having a focused passion for branding, design and strategy, Troy excels at transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. He has extensive brand and creative development experience that can be seen across multiple industries. Prior to Rise, Troy founded ELEVATEthinking, a brand design and strategy agency focused on creating deep consumer engagements for its clients. Troy’s excitement for creating new and unique destinations can be seen throughout our development process – from the creation of a simple idea to our precise execution bringing that idea to life – his focus on every detail ensures each concept delivers an unparalleled experience.

Matt is a proven leader that gets sh!t done! He has a passion for elevating the guest experience, and understanding what is important to internal and external customers. As Integrator for the company, he turns creative vision into strategic direction within the home-office and on the front line. Prior to Rise, Matt had extensive multi-discipline business experience as an operator and consultant in industries including retail, finance, technology, and hospitality. He’s dedicated to working on growing Rise’s business and brands, but what really knocks his pins over is spending time with his wife and three kids, immersing himself in travel and enjoying a good bottle of Cabernet.

Crystal is a seasoned HR professional with 15+ years of experience as a leader in the hospitality industry. She joined Rise Brands in June of 2017 and has helped to establish and grow the Human Resources function across our portfolio. As Director of Human Resources, Crystal oversees all facets of the team member life cycle and is focused on fostering a culture where team members feel empowered to show up authentically. Prior to joining Rise, Crystal held various roles in human resources, operations, and training for large scale public and private hospitality organizations based in Ohio and California. Outside of work, you’ll most likely find Crystal sipping on a French Rosé, watching football or screaming her face off at a Harry Styles concert.

Phil oversees the Finance department and the related accounting, cash management and financial reporting functions of the company. When he’s not “crunch’n the nums," he’s working his magic to predict the future growth of the Rise portfolio. Prior to Rise, Phil held financial leadership positions with several growth oriented, multi-unit restaurant companies. He’s driven by a passion to make the numbers talk and a fresh cup of coffee.

Erin oversees the Marketing and Creative departments that help bring our kick-ass brands to life. When she’s not building brand identities or driving sales and engagement across the portfolio, she’s keeping track of how often her team uses “balls” in marketing copy. Prior to Rise, Erin held various marketing leadership roles at a Fortune 50 financial services company where she helped launch national advertising campaigns, develop multi-million dollar media plans, and build a first-to-market insurance product. She’s fueled by vanilla lattes, good chardonnay and a passion to uncover untapped insights.

George is responsible for the field team that fuels our daily operations. From the food and drinks we serve, to the experience we deliver, George and his team ensure every customer walks away smiling. Before he came to Rise, George oversaw the food and beverage operations for many well-known restaurants, hotels, and cruise lines in both the US and overseas. He brings a depth of experience in hospitality that has been curated with his broad international acumen. When he’s not at work, George enjoys traveling the seven continents, growing his own fruits and vegetables in his home garden, and staying in shape.

Todd is responsible for the machinery that helps our kick-ass brands run fast! Things like New Store Openings, Technology, Facilities, Training, and Operational Excellence. He has a passion for building scalable solutions that support our teams and enable our impressive growth. Prior to Rise, Todd held leadership roles for emerging, mid-market, and hyper-growth companies with industry experience in retail/ecommerce, real estate, consumer packaged goods, and management consulting. Away from work he is driven by a love of the outdoors, spending time with his family, supporting our military veterans, and enjoying an ice-cold Bud (heavy, not light!).