About Us

Drew French didn’t know great pizza until he experienced the brick oven style baking on the island of Ischia while on his honeymoon. Instead of a simple Italian souvenir, Drew was inspired to bring back the entire rustic and delicious method to the United States. Drew put his love of gourmet food and his business degree from the University of Georgia to work and opened up his first Your Pie location in Athens in 2008. We love him to pizzas for it. When he’s not rooting for the UGA Bulldogs or winning pizza competitions, Drew likes spending time with his wife Natalie, his daughters Anna and Scarlett, and their three dogs. He’s also an amateur bongo enthusiast.

Ken Caldwell, one of franchising’s best known and most successful leaders, leads the Your Pie team as Chief Executive officer. Caldwell formerly served as Your Pie’s Vice President of Development, and brings over 25 years in franchising and a documented track record of success to the fast-casual brick-oven pizza brand.. He began his career in corporate banking, but quickly caught the entrepreneurial bug with Heavenly Ham, and helped take the then-startup ham retailer from 10 to 230 units before the brand was sold to competitor HoneyBaked Ham. Caldwell then managed the HoneyBaked Ham Co.’s franchise division, taking the brand from 35 units to over 150 during his 7 year tenure. When not eating pizza (10 inch build your own, half mozz/half feta, pep, green pep, spinach, and peppadews) Ken loves to coach youth baseball, play golf, and spend time with his wife Keri, two sons Ben and Charlie, and golden retriever Tucker.

Justin Patterson brings a unique perspective to Your Pie as both a former multi-unit franchisee and a leader on the franchisor team. Justin joined Your Pie in 2015 when he and his brother, Jacob, purchased their first location in North Atlanta. Over the next seven years, they more than doubled the sales of their original restaurant and expanded to three locations. Through that experience, Justin developed a deep understanding of restaurant operations, team development, financial management, and the realities of franchise ownership. In 2023, Justin joined Your Pie Franchising as Vice President of Operations & Support, where he helps lead operational strategy and franchisee support. His firsthand experience as an owner continues to shape his approach to helping franchisees build strong teams, operate successful restaurants, and grow their businesses. Justin is a University of Georgia graduate and lives in the Atlanta area with his wife, Kristin, and their four children. Outside of Your Pie, he enjoys serving in his local church, spending time outdoors, and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs.

Cristina Tuohy – Sr. Director of Finance and Accounting – Cristina is the Sr. Director of Finance and Accounting at Your Pie. In her day to day, she handles all Your Pie Franchising accounting, HR, and finance functions at Your Pie Franchising. She’s a big foodie and loves trying out new and different cuisine.

Leah Arp DiStefano serves as Senior Marketing Director for Your Pie, leading brand strategy, menu innovation, and marketing programs that help franchise owners grow their businesses and connect with their communities. Her experience spans new restaurant openings, digital ordering, catering, and franchise support, giving her a practical understanding of what it takes to bring a great idea to life in a restaurant. Named one of QSR’s “35 Young Leaders to Watch” in 2022, Leah brings creativity, curiosity, and a hands-on approach to Your Pie’s continued growth. She loves the mix of food, people, and creative problem-solving that makes restaurant marketing anything but predictable. Outside of work, Leah enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her husband Ray, young son, Soren, and their French bulldog, Spud.

Courtney Clark is the Director of Brand and Loyalty for Your Pie, and brings nearly two decades of Your Pie experience along with a unique perspective shaped by growing alongside the brand to the Marketing Team. As one of the first employees at Your Pie’s original location, Courtney joined the company in 2008 as a team member and has since served in restaurant management, Operations & Training, and Franchise Development, before finding a home in Marketing. A graduate of the University of Georgia with a degree in English, she combines a passion for storytelling with a deep understanding of the franchise business and guest experience. Today, Courtney leads brand marketing and loyalty initiatives designed to strengthen guest engagement, support franchise owners, and drive long-term growth across the Your Pie system. Her broad experience across multiple areas of the business helps bridge strategy and execution, ensuring marketing programs are both impactful for guests and practical for operators. Outside of work, Courtney enjoys reading, painting, and tagging along when her husband and son go fishing.

When you open a Your Pie, Pearson Clark is one of the first people in your corner. Over more than 13 years with the brand, he has started as a general manager in our Athens restaurants and gone on to personally direct 86 restaurant openings from the East Coast to California. That experience gives new owners a guide who has seen nearly every site, lease, permit, and build-out challenge. Pearson leads real estate, design, and construction for the system. He helps franchisees evaluate locations, negotiate leases and contracts, and bring their restaurant to life through proven floor plans that balance guest experience with smart project economics. That includes non-traditional formats such as college campuses, arenas, and food courts. As Director of Technology, he also makes sure every owner opens with a modern, fully integrated toolkit: POS, online ordering, catering, loyalty, and AI-powered data insights that turn daily numbers into clear direction for growing your business. A four-time Your Pie Franchising Employee of the Year, Pearson is known for his hands-on, partnership-first approach. His goal is simple: to help every franchisee open strong and keep thriving long after the doors open. Outside of Your Pie, he lives to spend time on the sea with a fishing rod in his hand.

Brooke Ridings is a Franchise Support Manager with Your Pie Franchising, where she coaches franchise owners and their teams on operations, profitability, training, guest experience, and building strong restaurant leaders. After nearly nine years with Your Pie, Brooke has worked her way up through the brand from team member to shift manager, general manager, and now Franchise Support Manager. Her firsthand restaurant experience gives her a practical perspective on the challenges franchisees face and the routines, accountability, and hospitality that help restaurants grow. She is passionate about developing people, strengthening operations, and helping each location deliver a great guest experience every day. Outside of work, Brooke enjoys traveling and exploring new places. She is also drawn to all things entrepreneurial and loves learning how people build businesses and create opportunities.

My name is Alex Samples, and I am the Director of Operations at Your Dough Co. I oversee the day-to-day operations of a manufacturing plant that produces frozen pizza dough balls, par-baked pizza crusts, finished pizzas, and naan dough. My role includes managing production, maintaining product quality, ensuring operational efficiency, and working directly with customers to support sales and grow our business. I enjoy being involved in both the manufacturing and sales sides of the business to help deliver high-quality products and build strong customer relationships. Outside of work, I enjoy supporting my local minor league hockey team, the Athens Rock Lobsters, and catching a game whenever I get the chance!