CRAFTSMAN CAPITAL PARTNERS - Key Persons
Barrett Dean is a co-founder and Partner of Craftsman Capital. At Craftsman Capital, Mr. Dean participates in both the transaction process for potential acquisitions and the daily operations of existing portfolio companies.
Prior to co-founding Craftsman Capital, Mr. Dean helped deploy a $40 million equity allocation in distressed middle-market companies at Renovo Capital. During this time Mr. Dean not only facilitated transactions, but also served as an interim operator for portfolio companies requiring operational turnaround during the implementation of new management and best practices. Before joining Renovo Capital, Mr. Dean worked in the Capital Advisory and Business Services group at Montgomery Coscia Greilich, where he focused on transaction services, quality of earnings analysis and operational modeling. Previously, he managed the operational turnaround and eventual sale of a distressed door manufacturer in the Midwest and successfully demonstrated the viability of a car dealership slated for termination by General Motors through statistical analysis and lobby work in Washington D.C. Mr. Dean began his career as an Associate at Covalent Capital, a private equity firm focused on early-stage to mid-size companies across a number of industries, where he helped facilitate over $320 million of transaction value.
Mr. Dean holds a Series 3 license and received his degree in Finance and Economics from Southern Methodist University. He actively volunteers in the Dallas community through both the Dean Learning Center and the YMCA.
Job Titles:
- PARTNER
- Co - Founder and Operating Partner
Paul Thompson is a co-founder and Operating Partner of Craftsman Capital. At Craftsman Capital, Mr. Thompson works directly with portfolio company management to realize operational efficiencies and improvement.
From 1999-2009, Mr. Thompson worked with Dallas-based private equity firm Transition Capital Partners (then BPCY) as an Operating Partner. In this capacity, Mr. Thompson worked with the management of numerous portfolio companies driving results and increasing stakeholder value. In 2004, Mr. Thompson parachuted into a Transition Capital Partners portfolio company as CEO until its successful sale in 2009 which returned over 50x the original shareholders' investment. In 2004-2005 he started investing significant amounts of his own capital in private equity, real estate, and start-up ventures. In 2008 he began adding oil and gas exploration and production investments to his portfolio. From 2010-2013, Mr. Thompson dedicated the majority of his time and effort to his personal investments.
Mr. Thompson began his career by spending six years flying fighter aircraft in the United States Air Force. His business career began at Recognition International, a high tech manufacturing firm with significant international sales. During four years at the company he held various positions of increasing responsibility culminating with the title of Manager of International Headquarters Operations. From there he went on to hold various senior management operational positions in direct response, insurance, and decision support industries that included a Managing Director stint while living and working in Asia for three years.
Mr. Thompson holds a Bachelor's Degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas Tech University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.
Will Walters is a co-founder and Partner of Craftsman Capital. At Craftsman Capital, Mr. Walters is involved in all facets of the firm's investment activities with particular emphasis on acquisition origination, diligence, and execution.
Prior to co-founding Craftsman Capital, Mr. Walters was a Vice President with private equity firm Lone Star Investment Advisors from 2007-2014, where he helped grow the firm from $77 million in assets under management to over $600 million. At the time Mr. Walters left Lone Star he was managing five portfolio companies with an employee count of over 3,000 and EBITDA of $32 million. Prior to Lone Star, Mr. Walters was an Associate with Covalent Capital, a Dallas-based private equity firm. Before joining Covalent Capital, Mr. Walters worked as a Senior Analyst at JPMorgan Chase.
Mr. Walters maintains leadership positions within the Dallas community including serving as Chairman and steering committee member of the DFW Private Equity Forum, board member of the Southern Methodist University (SMU) Cox MBA Venture Fund, graduate of Leadership Dallas, graduate of Leadership Arts, and mentor to SMU MBAs and BBAs. Mr. Walters graduated from SMU where he received a BBA in Finance and an MBA in Finance, Financial Consulting and Strategy.