Aluminum trays filled with breakfast foods including waffles, fruit salad with grapes and melon, scrambled eggs with herbs, ham sandwiches, wraps with lettuce and turkey, muffins, and breakfast burritos.
HomeBreadcrumb Icon
Leadership
Franchise Executive Team

Meet Our Franchise Executive Team

John Gelastopoulos – Executive Team
President

John Gelastopoulos

Once a successful San Diego restaurant broker, John made a career pivot in 1993 when the Broken Yolk Cafe, then a standalone Pacific Beach breakfast staple, went on the market. Three decades later, he’s taken the hometown favorite and spearheaded its development into a category leader in the franchise space - with 42 locations across 5 states, and growing fast!

Franchise Strategy and Brand Stewardship
Valerie McCartney – Executive Team
VP of Franchise Development

Valerie McCartney

Valerie has spent the last 30 years in franchise development, growing the footprints of such brands as Pizza Hut, El Pollo Loco, and Johnny Rocket’s. Now with Broken Yolk Cafe, she plays a leading role in connecting experienced operators with the concept’s top-tier franchise opportunity. Her direct guidance and first-hand knowledge are largely to thank for Broken Yolk Cafe’s category-leading AUV and regional expansion.

Franchise Development, Real Estate, and Legal
Dimitra ORourke – Executive Team
VP, Tech & Franchise Support

Dimitra O'Rourke

Having started her journey with Broken Yolk Cafe as a teenager running food and interacting with guests, Dimitra brings a lifelong familiarity with the brand to her role. Today, she helps manage Broken Yolk Cafe’s evolving tech stack, supports the development of off-premise channels, and provides hands-on support to franchise partners around the country. Her work ensures that franchisees have the tools, systems, and support they need to succeed.

Technology, systems, and operational support

Operational Leadership

Leaders responsible for execution, standards, and day-to-day franchise support.
Ed Powers – Executive TeamEd Powers – Executive Team

Ed Powers

Director of Operations

After 30 years with Brinker International, where he most recently served as the Director of Operations for Chili’s, Ed Powers decided to reacquaint himself with the neighborhood breakfast cafe he’d grown up visiting decades prior - Broken Yolk Cafe. Now, as Director of Operations for the San Diego staple, his focus is squarely placed on cementing the brand’s position as a category leader in the restaurant space.

Maria Gelastopoulos – Executive TeamMaria Gelastopoulos – Executive Team

Maria Gelastopoulos

Director of Culinary & Menu Innovation

For 30 years now, Maria has been a part of the Broken Yolk Cafe story. She began working in the restaurant. In her leadership role, she fosters partnerships with leading food brands, spearheads menu development, and advises on marketing strategies, all while leveraging consumer and industry trends for new culinary confections.

Conner Gossel – Executive TeamConner Gossel – Executive Team

Conner Gossel

Director of Marketing

Before taking over as the head of Broken Yolk Cafe’s marketing team in 2024, Conner spent the majority of his career on the agency side of the franchise landscape; supporting the media relations and branding initiatives of well-over 50 concepts. These included such brands as Smoothie King, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, Wing Zone, Famous Toastery, and Capital Tacos.

Crystal Ortiz – Executive TeamCrystal Ortiz – Executive Team

Crystal Ortiz

Director of Training

With nearly 20 years of restaurant experience and a decade at Broken Yolk Cafe, Crystal has played a key role in building the brand’s training department to where it now stands. She’s the force behind BYC’s AI-driven, micro-learning modules - designed to onboard and support everyone from line cooks and hostesses to general managers and corporate staff. Her approach emphasizes retention, consistency, and team connection. As the brand grows, her systems ensure that culture and operational excellence scale right along with it.

MEET THE TEAM THAT PICKS UP THE PHONE

Start Now