Investors & Operators

Stephen Saunders is an Operating Executive and Head of Portfolio M&A at Trivest Partners. He has 30+ years of experience in M&A and corporate development. Before joining Trivest in 2026, he was Chief Development Officer at TurnPoint Services, a former Trivest portfolio company, where he also sat on the board and led 55+ add-on acquisitions. Before that, he spent two decades in investment b...

Sean Kelley is Managing Director and Head of Business Development at Gridiron Capital, where he has led origination efforts for the past decade. He also sits on the Investment Committee and serves on the board of portfolio company Vistage Worldwide. Beyond investing, Sean is passionate about mentorship, leadership development, and supporting the next generation through youth sports and community i...

Episode 159: John Koeppel, Partner and Team Leader, Private Equity and Independent Sponsors, Lippes Mathias LLP John is a Partner at Lippes Mathias LLP, where he sits on the Executive Committee and leads the firm's Private Equity and Independent Sponsor practices. In more than 25 years, he has led 250+ transactions, including M&A, fund and SPV formations, co-investments and financings, ranging...

Sean is President of the Eastern Operations Area at TurnPoint Services, a Trivest portfolio company, where he oversees a $640M P&L with about 2,200 employees across 27 brands and 33 locations. Four years ago, he served as a Marine Raider officer in special operations. He's also a member of 51 Vets. Topics: Hiring Veterans for Execution Marine Raider Selection The Military-to-Business Transitio...

Robin is the Head of Technology Investment Banking at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., where he leads a 50-banker team spanning 12 tech verticals. He has 30+ years of investment banking experience advising high-growth technology companies on M&A and capital raising. Topics: AI in Investment Banking Tech Market Outlook Strategically Hiring Senior Talent Building a Collaborative Culture ...and so muc...

Vern Davenport is a Partner at QHP Capital with 35+ years of experience building and transforming healthcare technology and services businesses. Vern is the author of Accelerating Growth , which lays out QHP’s approach to scaling companies through its Management System. Allison Crumpler is the former VP of People & Culture at Catalyst Clinical Research. A professional Certified Coach with 15+...

John Block is the Co-Founder and CEO of Unity Partners. He launched the firm in 2022 after nearly a decade as a Partner at HGGC, where he sat on the boards of more than ten services and software companies. A St. Louis native, John is a self-described grinder who runs most mornings and throws an annual paella party for the whole team. Topics: Employee Purpose Plans Narrowing a Five-Year Plan Buy-an...

Brandon Fix is a Division General Manager at Renuity Home, where he leads one of the company's largest operating divisions. A former U.S. Air Force Special Tactics Officer, he brings a systems-driven approach to leadership, translating military decision-making, operational discipline, and team development into managing complex businesses and P&Ls. Topics: Why Special Ops Make Elite Operators T...

Before leading value creation at Brightstar Capital Partners, Chris Nicolini served as an Army officer, ran large-scale manufacturing operations, and led transformation efforts at General Electric. Today, he brings those lessons to founder-led businesses navigating growth, talent challenges, AI adoption, and operational change. Topics: AI Implementation at PE firms Building a Repeatable Hiring Pip...

Alex Russ is the Head of Americas for Evercore’s Private Funds Group. He advises PE sponsors on fundraising strategy, LP positioning, and market navigation, with a focus on helping managers differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive capital environment. Hilary LaBrash is a Managing Director in Evercore’s Private Funds Group, where she works closely with emerging and established manage...

Andrew Nelson is Chief of Staff to the CEO at Waste Eliminator, where he helps drive strategic initiatives, operational execution, and growth across the company’s expanding footprint in the Southeast. Before entering the private sector, Andrew spent six years in the U.S. Army with 3rd Ranger Battalion, completing five deployments across Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He transitioned from the milita...

Mike Silva is an Investment Manager at CalPERS, where he has spent more than a decade leading the institution’s Emerging Manager Program across private equity, private debt, and real estate. He focuses on sourcing, evaluating, and advocating for emerging managers internally while helping shape CalPERS’ broader approach to middle-market and venture investing. Topics: Where Emerging Managers Should...

Topics: Why Fewer, Better Theses Win Integration Lessons from 100+ Acquisitions What LPs Look for in the First Meeting How to Win Trust in Controlled Deals ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Avoid overpaying, overlevering, and overconcentrating. Because Jarrett has seen firsthand how getting this wrong—even on a “good” business—can take down an entire fund. His rule: only buy what already makes se...

Chris Nikic is the first person with Down Syndrome to complete an Ironman. He has also ran all SIX Global Marathon Majors, Won TWO ESPY's, and become a global Ambassador for the Special Olympics. He’s an Adidas-sponsored athlete, an author, and a public speaker. Topics: From Overweight to Ironman Inclusion Through Sport The 1% Better Philosophy Limiting Parenting Beliefs ...and so much more. Top T...

Topics: Venue Do’s & Don’ts Agendas for Emerging Managers Panels vs. Single Presenters Public LP Constraints AGMs as a Brand Opportunity ...and so much more. Brian Bank shares what actually makes AGMs stand out from an LP’s perspective—from venue and agenda to networking, speakers, and swag. It offers clear, experience-driven takeaways for GPs and emerging managers who want their AGM to feel d...

Liz Weindruch breaks down what makes an AGM work from an LP’s perspective. The result is a practical, no-fluff guide for emerging managers planning their first or next AGM. Topics: Comms Best Practices Use of Panels & Presenters AI & Technology Discussion Swag Strategy What Makes an AGM Memorable ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Design the AGM experience around LP value, not GP convenien...

Topics: “99% Right Is 100% Wrong” Mindset Maximizing Outcomes in a Sale Process Post-Close Seller Regrets ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Make your first deals your brand. Matt emphasizes that early deals define how the market sees you and become proof of your standards and the caliber of clients you can win. That’s why it pays to set a clear bar for what you’ll take on: deal quality, counterpa...

Topics: How Sponsors Communicate Efficiently What Investors Look For in First Calls Lower Middle Market Buy-and-Build Strategies ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Match your capital partners to your stage of maturity. Grant notes that choosing the right capital partner upfront prevents misalignment and speeds your path forward. For example, early sponsors gain the most by co-sponsoring with seaso...

Topics: Emotional Highs & Lows of Founders Why Hire Above Your Skill Set Learning to Spot Opportunities ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Founders: Build a culture of cheap experiments and fast iteration. The first version of BluWave was a platform people liked in theory but hated in execution. That’s when the team leaned on Jim Collins’ “bullets before cannonballs” approach: test small, vali...

Topics: Early Fundraising Mistakes Culture of Constructive Debate Using Data for Value Creation  ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Simplicity is a fundraising advantage. New managers often try to stand out with creative structures or mixed strategies. Instead, make it easy for investors to say “yes”: standard 2/20 terms, one defined strategy, three memorable differentiators, and an ongoing d...

Topics: How to Prepare for a Sale Customer Diversification as a Growth Lever Importance of Board Culture ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Keep leverage in check for stability. In the ImpactXM deal, David’s team held the company for 10 years and achieved a 21x ROI. When COVID hit, low leverage and a diversified service mix kept the business alive. The lesson for independent sponsors: don’t overex...

Topics: Thematic Sourcing for Better Deals How to Fortify the Foundation Post-Close People & Culture as a Value Driver ...and so much more.  Top Takeaways Build a data-driven foundation. Eliot and Jordan agree it’s impossible to manage what you can’t measure. In the first 120 days, Broadwing focuses on defining key KPIs, setting a reporting cadence, and creating a single source of truth for d...

Topics: Fundraising Lessons from a $1.6B Fund A Carve-Out Playbook That Scales Why You Need a One-Page Strategy ...and so much more.  Top Takeaways Keep strategy simple. Instead of 50-slide strategy decks, Chris insists on a one-pager with two to four clear priorities. Every team member, from associate to partner, should be able to recite them. Simplicity drives alignment and execution. 3 actiona...

Topics: What to Prioritize in Your First Deal How to Vet Founder-Led Companies Capital Trends for Independent Sponsors ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Bet on grit, not credentials. Dan jokes that both Jordan and Douglas had terrible business ideas when he first met them, but he backed them anyway for their grit and drive. Douglas echoes the same philosophy in his hiring practices. It’s not abou...

Topics: Hybrid Model: PE + Search Fund A Strong Operator Profile Equity & Structure in Operator Deals ...and so much more. Top Takeaways Succession is one of the biggest overlooked opportunities in the lower middle market. Over 50% of small business owners in the U.S. are nearing retirement age, but many lack a clear succession plan. For investors and operators, that’s an opportunity. Firms li...