Team
CCG was built by operators who became investors. Our team brings over 100 years of combined experience building, scaling, and exiting consumer businesses—from single units to thousands of locations across global markets.
Christo Demetriades
Managing Partner
Christo is a Managing Partner at CCG focused on sourcing, structuring, and executing high-growth acquisitions.
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An entrepreneur and operator with three decades of experience across food, health and beauty, education, and entertainment, Christo has founded, led, and exited businesses on a global scale. Born in South Africa and based in Scottsdale since 2001, he has built and scaled companies across five continents. He has taken brands public, generating over a billion dollars in market cap, and engineered notable exits including Health and Racquet Club to Virgin Active and Lunchbox Wax to WellBiz Brands.
Named the 2022–2023 Doug Ducey "Entrepreneur of the Year" by EO Arizona, Christo is recognized for his leadership, deal-making, and ability to turn high-potential brands into institutional-scale platforms.
Heather Elrod, MBA
Managing Partner
Heather is a Managing Partner at CCG focused on identifying, scaling, and exiting high-growth brands.
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Heather is a proven executive and investor with nearly three decades of leadership and value creation across the wellness, beauty, and franchise industries in multi-billion-dollar and emerging organizations. A former CEO and private equity partner on various transactions, she is known for scaling businesses, driving value creation, and leading successful acquisitions and exits.
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Prior to co-founding Conscious Capital Growth, she served as CEO of the Amazing Lash Studio Franchise, leading the brand through rapid expansion to top industry rankings and its successful exit to KSL Capital, earning her the “Dealmaker of the Year” award.
Marco Born
Vice President, Investor Relations
Marco leads capital formation and investor relations at CCG, managing LP engagement across the firm’s investment pipeline and portfolio.
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He drives the full fundraising lifecycle — from prospecting and cultivation through closing and stewardship — while building relationships with LPs. Marco also leads deal sourcing, screening, and diligence, and serves as an observing member of the Investment Committee.
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Prior to CCG, Marco served as Athletic Director at Lamar University, where he led all fundraising and investor relations for an $18M program. His background in institutional relationship-building and capital communication translates directly to the private markets context.
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Marco has supported multiple successful capital raises and institutional fund initiatives across the firm’s portfolio, and brings a disciplined, competitive mindset shaped by his experience as a collegiate tennis player and national champion.
Dedria Ryan
Operating Partner
Dedria Ryan is an Operating Partner at CCG focused on driving growth, operational performance, and execution across portfolio brands.
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She partners with leadership teams to implement strategic plans, improve unit-level performance, and scale systems that increase revenue and profitability.
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Dedria brings decades of experience in Operations and Profitability, with leadership roles at Cold Stone Creamery, Dunkin’, Pinkberry, and Amazing Lash Studio, and served as CEO of I Love Juice Bar.
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Known for aligning operators, systems, and culture, Dee helps brands build scalable, high-performing organizations.
Chris Richards
Vice President, Technology
Chris leads technology at CCG, focused on building scalable systems and deploying AI solutions that drive operational performance across portfolio companies.
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He partners with brands to implement infrastructure, automate workflows, and advise on AI strategy — helping leadership teams identify practical applications that reduce friction and accelerate growth.
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Chris brings deep experience across franchise systems, including Massage Envy and Amazing Lash Studio, where he led initiatives spanning IT strategy, cybersecurity, and operations at scale.
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His expertise spans AI solutions, IT strategy, operations, and cybersecurity.
Gina Rossi
Outbound Sales Lead
Gina leads CCG’s outbound lead generation engine, driving deal flow and fueling the firm’s acquisition pipeline.
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She manages strategy and execution across the call center team, converting outreach into qualified opportunities.
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Gina brings experience in B2B sales, CRM optimization, and team coaching.
Roberta Maldonado Sistos
Analyst
Roberta supports CCG’s acquisition efforts through financial analysis, diligence, and deal evaluation.
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She works across financial modeling, opportunity assessment, and market analysis.
Roberta brings experience in investment banking and franchise development.
Advisory Partners
Empower
Growth
Ab Igram, MBA
Ever since his days as an Economics major at Northwestern University, and an MBA student in Entrepreneurship/Finance at Babson, Ab's been passionate about the world of entrepreneurship. That led him to his role as Executive Director of the Tariq Farid Franchise Institute at Babson College’s Arthur M. Blank School for Entrepreneurial Leadership. There the mission is to draw in the college's business and entrepreneurial expertise to create cross-disciplinary programming, combine it with the knowledge of franchising experts so students and life long learners can better understand franchising and the opportunities it can create.
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Prior to Babson, Ab was as managing director, head of franchise, food & beverage for Webster Bank’s Sponsor and Specialty Finance where he developed a specialty lending platform focused on Franchise, Food & Beverage and Health/Wellness and led a leveraged finance team providing senior debt capital solutions to private equity sponsors. Earlier in his career, Ab was VP of GE Capital Franchise Finance.
With over 25 years in a variety of finance, advisory and entrepreneurial roles, Ab also worked with GE Equity in Stamford, CT and was involved in identifying, negotiating, and structuring over $350 million in venture capital investments and served on the Board of Directors of several venture-backed growth companies. He has consulted for a variety of early and late stage companies in multiple industry sectors.
Alex Samios
Alex grew up in the franchise industry and became passionate about the model at an early age. He was introduced to franchising in 1978, when his father became the first franchisee for Jiffy Lube. After joining Papa John’s Pizza at store 300 in corporate operations, Alex became a franchisee with the brand in 1996, building and operating 34 restaurants. He was nominated ‘Franchisee of the Year’ for 3 consecutive years. Alex was also the first franchisee and board member for a mobile dog grooming concept, launching the brand's initial franchise development initiative in the US. That brand remains the category leader.
Additionally, for 15 years, Alex was a director and partner in BrandAmerica, a consulting firm which expanded U.S. brands throughout Asia. In 2010, he pioneered a unique alternative wellness studio utilizing infrared saunas and franchised it, spawning an entire industry. That brand is now the category leader. Currently, Alex is the Chief Growth Officer (and investor) in Dogtopia®, the leading and fastest growing franchise in the booming $120B+ pet industry. Under Alex, the brand has grown from 19 locations to 400+ by 2024. He is an active investor and strategic advisor to several emerging brands and is currently a Director in Zoom Room and Costa Oil, two high-growth franchises.