PROSPECT PARTNERS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Member of the Investment Team
- Partner
Brad joined Prospect Partners in 2009. As a Partner, he co-manages the firm's operations, sources and executes transactions, and manages select portfolio company relationships. He has more than 18 years of experience investing in and advising a wide range of lower-middle-market companies, including niche manufacturing, value-add distribution, and specialty services.
Brad was previously a Vice President with lower-middle-market private equity firm Silver Oak Services Partners and an Associate with Wills Stein & Partners. He began his career as an Analyst with Harris Williams & Co.
Brad holds a B.A. from the University of Richmond, and an M.B.A. from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. He lives in Kenilworth, IL with his wife, three kids, and, the most recent family addition, a dog named Daisy. Outside the office, he is a proud Green Bay Packers fan (at least until Aaron Rodgers retires) and also enjoys an afternoon game at Wrigley Field or a live music festival as much as anyone.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Investment Team
- Partner
Brett joined Prospect Partners in 2009. As a Partner, he co-manages the operations of the firm, sources and executes transactions, and manages select portfolio company relationships. He has more than 17 years of experience investing in and supporting entrepreneurial management teams across a wide range of industries, including niche manufacturing, value-add distribution and specialty services.
Brett was formerly an Associate in the Chicago office of the middle-market private equity firm American Capital, Ltd. He began his career as an Analyst in the Chicago office of the investment banking firm Bear Stearns & Co., Inc.
Brett holds a B.A. from Kenyon College, and an M.B.A. with distinction from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. He lives in Wilmette, IL with his wife and three kids. Outside the office, he enjoys family mountain bike rides, reading a good book and relaxing with friends by his backyard firepit.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Investment Team
- Vice President
Colin joined Prospect Partners in 2018. He sources and executes transactions, and is responsible for managing several portfolio company relationships.
Earlier, Colin was an Investment Banking Analyst at Lincoln International in the firm's Chicago and Amsterdam offices.
Colin holds a B.S. from the Indiana University Kelley School of Business. A Chicago resident, he's likely cheering on his beloved Chicago sports teams outside of work - as well as the Indiana Hoosiers (albeit with limited success). He enjoys traveling, playing golf, and being active whenever possible.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Investment Team
- Partner
Erik joined Prospect Partners at its inception in 1998. As a Partner, he co-manages the operations of the firm, sources and executes transactions, and manages select portfolio company relationships. He has more than 25 total years of experience in finance and small company investing, and is right at home in the niche manufacturing, value-add distribution and specialty service marketplaces advising companies and working with their entrepreneurial teams.
Beforehand, Erik was a Commercial Banking Officer at Northern Trust Company working with lower-middle-market clients in Illinois and Wisconsin.
Erik holds a B.A. from Stanford University, and an M.B.A. from the Northwestern University Kellogg School of Management. He lives in Pasadena, CA and is married with two sons. He loves to spend time with his family, especially playing golf (badly!) with his boys.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Administrative Team
- Office Manager
Heather joined Prospect Partners in 2016 and is an Office Manager. She is responsible for providing a wide range of administrative support to our Partners and Directors, making sure the day-to-day operations of the office run smoothly and helping manage banking and financial activities.
Previously, Heather spent 15 years at Deloitte, where she was Executive Assistant to the Chairman & CEO of the firm's U.S. Tax practice, and Executive Assistant to the Vice Chairman of Deloitte's U.S. Asset Management Services practice.
Heather moved to Chicago in 2008 after being born and raised in Cleveland, OH. She is passionate about health and wellness and is a former fitness instructor. In her free time, she enjoys fitness classes, being outdoors, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Investment Team
Job Titles:
- Chief Financial Officer
- Member of the Administrative Team
Kyle joined Prospect Partners in 2022. As our Chief Financial Officer, he is responsible for the firm's accounting, regulatory and financial reporting functions. He has more than 10 total years of experience in private company finance and accounting.
Kyle was previously the Controller at Winona Capital Management, a private equity firm focused on consumer brands, in Chicago. At Winona, Kyle was responsible for the firm's financial reporting, compliance, and investor relations. He also worked as a Senior Accountant in the family office group of Guggenheim Partners in Chicago.
Kyle holds a B.S. in Accountancy from Northern Illinois University and is a licensed CPA in Illinois. A Chicago resident, Kyle likes to travel, attempt to improve his golf game, and attend sporting events and stand-up comedy shows with his wife.
Lou is a Co-Founder of Prospect Partners, where he enjoys working with entrepreneurial teams and advising companies across a broad range of niche manufacturing, distribution, and specialty service markets. He has more than 32 total years of experience in finance and small company investing.
Lou was previously Principal of private equity firm Kenter and Co., and held positions at Marquette Venture Partners, McKinsey & Company, and Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.
Lou holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He lives in Winnetka, IL and Naples, FL, and is married with four children. Lou is very involved in philanthropic causes, and with his wife Leslie co-chairs the Parents' Committee of Middlebury College in Vermont, where three of their children are graduates.
Job Titles:
- Director
- Member of the Investment Team
Mike joined Prospect Partners in 2015. He is a Director of the firm, managing select portfolio company relationships and sourcing and executing transactions. He has more than 10 years of experience investing in and advising niche manufacturing, value-add distribution, specialty service and other fast-growing companies.
Before joining us, Mike was an Assistant Vice President with the private credit firm Antares Capital and an Associate with Lake Capital. He began his career as an Analyst in the New York office of Merrill Lynch.
Mike holds a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame, and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Born and raised in Chicago, Mike continues to live in the city. Outside of work, he's either plotting his next international adventure or pulling for the next Chicago championship sports team (it might be a while…).
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Member of the Investment Team
- in 2021 As an Associate
Pawel joined Prospect Partners in 2021 as an Associate. He sources and executes transactions and manages select portfolio company relationships.
Prior to Prospect, Pawel was an Investment Banking Analyst within J.P. Morgan's Diversified Industries Group in Chicago.
Pawel holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois Gies College of Business. A Chicago native, and self-appointed Chicago-style Hot Dog expert, Pawel spends his time supporting both local and Fighting Illini sports teams. He is also an avid skier and enjoys traveling whenever possible.
Rick is a Co-Founder of Prospect Partners, where he helps to source transactions and manage select portfolio company relationships. He has more than 33 total years of experience in finance and small company investing.
Previously, Rick was Executive Vice President of Corporate Development for Health Care & Retirement Corp., then a $4 billion healthcare services company (now HCR Manor Care.) Rick established and directed a corporate development program that resulted in over 40 acquisitions and created complementary lines of business that contributed to HCR's significant success. Prior to HCR, Rick was a Principal with Golder, Thoma & Cressey (now GTCR), worked as a Manager at McKinsey & Company and was Manager of Operations for a subsidiary of Occidental Petroleum.
Rick holds a B.A. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Hyatt Hotels Corporation. A third generation Chicagoan, Rick suffers with occasional moments of joy with Chicago's teams, especially the White Sox. He also loves to cook and eat, usually in that order, and will grill outside down to -5 degrees.