Eli is the Founder, Owner, and Operator of C5 Restaurants, a Lubbock, TX–based holding company and the top franchisee in the Fazoli’s system. The team has been operating across West Texas for more than 20 years and today runs 5 of the top 12 Fazoli’s restaurants nationwide, with an Average Unit Volume more than 50% above the brand average. Building on this foundation, C5 is expanding with a development agreement across West Texas, San Antonio and the entire state of Arkansas with Layne’s Chicken Fingers.

He is also a Co-Founder and Principal at Cohen Rojas Capital Partners, a private real estate investment firm specializing in value-add residential and mixed-use properties. Since 2010, Cohen Rojas has acquired more than $600 million in assets across the Western U.S., focusing on transit-oriented, infill markets and investments that deliver both profit and community impact. Earlier in his career, Eli worked in Real Estate Investment Banking at Citigroup and in Finance & Private Sector Development at the World Bank. He holds a B.S. in Economics from Trinity College (Hartford) and an MBA in Real Estate & Finance from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

James brings over two decades of multi-unit restaurant leadership to C5 Restaurants. Since 2022, he has served as Director of Operations for a portfolio of Burger King restaurants in West Texas that consistently outperform system averages by more than 50%. Earlier in his career, James held district and general management roles with Burger King, Raising Cane’s, Whataburger, and Fazoli’s, giving him a deep operational foundation across leading QSR brands. His experience in scaling high-volume units, driving profitability, and developing management teams makes him a key driver of C5’s Layne’s expansion.

Steve Lewis brings 30+ years of multi-unit restaurant operations experience to C5 Restaurants as Managing Director of the Arkansas region. Steve spent 14 years at Fazoli’s, rising from General Manager to Senior Area Supervisor and ultimately Franchise Business Consultant — supporting franchise operators across the system on performance, operations, and corrective action. Prior to Fazoli’s, he served nearly a decade as District Manager at Donatos Pizza and TRG Restaurants, overseeing multi-unit portfolios across the Midwest. Steve studied Accounting and Finance at Ball State University and Indiana University Indianapolis. His track record building and developing high-performance teams in multi-unit environments makes him ideally positioned to lead C5’s Arkansas expansion from day one.

As Co-Director of Operations for Fazoli’s at C5, Angie oversees the Lubbock and Amarillo markets and brings more than 30 years of restaurant leadership experience to the role. She has been with the business for over 20 years, serving as both Area Supervisor and Area Trainer, following a decade as a District Manager overseeing a Burger King portfolio in West Texas. Known for developing high-performing teams and delivering consistent operational excellence, Angie holds a BBA from Lubbock Christian University and plays a key role in C5’s continued growth across the region.