KINDERHOOK INDUSTRIES - Key Persons

Blake Cholost

Job Titles:
  • VP of Finance and Controller at Kinderhook
Blake is the VP of Finance and Controller at Kinderhook. Mr. Cholost's focus is on the Funds, Management Company and Treasury Functions. Prior to joining Kinderhook, Mr. Cholost was a member of PricewaterhouseCoopers' Assurance Services practice. Mr. Cholost earned his B.S. in accounting from the University of Connecticut.

Carney Mahon

Job Titles:
  • Senior Associate
  • Senior Associate at Kinderhook
Carney is a Senior Associate at Kinderhook. Prior to joining Kinderhook, Carney spent two years at Barclays in the Power & Utilities Group. Carney graduated from Harvard University with an AB degree in Germanic Languages and Literature.

Christian Michalik - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
  • Managing Director at Kinderhook
Chris Michalik is a Managing Director at Kinderhook. He has 25 years of healthcare services investing experience with a deep understanding of the trends and impact of government programs on the delivery of healthcare in the U.S. Chris was the Chairman of Wellcare Health Plans, one of the largest publicly traded managed care companies in the U.S., prior to its acquisition by Centene Corporation in 2020. Prior to Kinderhook, Chris was a partner at Soros Private Equity Partners, a multi-billion dollar leveraged buyout fund sponsored by George Soros. Chris started his investment career in the Investment Banking division of Salomon Brothers, where specialized in mergers & acquisitions. Chris graduated from Yale University and received his MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School. Chris serves on the Board of Directors of AbsoluteCare, ActiveRadar, Avita, Coleman Powersports, Life Line Screening, MCS / GlobalHealth, Physician Partners, Primeritus Financial Services, Trilogy Home Healthcare, and ZVRS.

Christopher Flood

Job Titles:
  • Senior Associate
Chris is a Senior Associate at Kinderhook. Prior to joining Kinderhook, Chris spent two years at Wells Fargo in the Financial Sponsors Group where he focused on leveraged buyouts. Chris graduated cum laude from the University of Notre Dame with a BBA in Finance.

Cor Carruthers

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director at Kinderhook
Cor Carruthers is a Managing Director at Kinderhook. He has over 20 years of business services investing experience with a particular focus on environmental services. Prior to joining Kinderhook, Cor worked at Thayer Capital Partners, a middle market buyout fund, where he sourced, financed and negotiated private equity investments. Cor started his investment career in the Investment Banking division of Merrill Lynch & Co., where he specialized in the energy and power industries. Cor graduated from Yale University with a BA in Economics.

Corwynne Carruthers - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director

Joseph Mayer

Job Titles:
  • Senior Associate
  • Associate at Kinderhook
Joe is an Associate at Kinderhook. Prior to joining Kinderhook, Joe spent two years at Rothschild & Co in the Industrials group where he focused on mergers and acquisitions. Joe graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.

Joshua Fontenot

Job Titles:
  • Senior Associate
  • Associate at Kinderhook
Josh is an Associate at Kinderhook. Prior to joining Kinderhook, Josh spent three years at Houlihan Lokey in the Industrials and Business Services groups where he focused on mergers and acquisitions. Josh graduated from Georgetown University with a BBA in Finance.

Kevin Gayhardt

Job Titles:
  • Senior Associate
  • Senior Associate at Kinderhook
Kevin is a Senior Associate at Kinderhook. Prior to joining Kinderhook, Kevin spent three years at Houlihan Lokey in the Financial Institutions group where he focused on mergers and acquisitions. Kevin graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a BA in Political Science with a concentration in Economics.

Kyle Dawson - VP

Job Titles:
  • Vice President
  • Vice President at Kinderhook
Kyle Dawson is a Vice President at Kinderhook and focuses on the light manufacturing / automotive vertical. Prior to joining Kinderhook, he was an Associate at Wind Point Partners, a middle market private equity firm. Kyle started his investment career in the Investment Banking division of UBS, where he specialized in Technology, Media and Telecommunications. Kyle graduated from Yale University with a BA in History. Kyle serves on the Board of Directors of Coleman Powersports.

Lisa Schmidt - CFO

Job Titles:
  • Chief Financial Officer
  • Chief Financial Officer of Kinderhook
Lisa has been the Chief Financial Officer of Kinderhook since inception. She joined Kinderhook after four years as the Corporate Controller for Geocapital. At Geocapital, Lisa was responsible for financial reporting, investor communications, internal budgeting and cash management. Before joining Geocapital, Lisa was a Senior Accountant with Deloitte & Touche and earned her Masters of Accountancy at the University of Florida.

Louis Aurelio - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Chief Administrative Officer
  • Managing Director
Louis Aurelio is a Managing Director and the Chief Administrative Officer of Kinderhook. Prior to becoming CAO, he was a Principal on the investment team. Louis started his investment career in the Investment Banking division of Merrill Lynch & Co., where he specialized in the energy and power industries. Louis graduated from Yale University with a BA in Economics. Louis serves on the Board of Directors of Trilogy Home Healthcare.

Matt Bubis

Job Titles:
  • Principal
  • Principal at Kinderhook
Matt Bubis is a Principal at Kinderhook. He has over 10 years of investing experience in healthcare services. Prior to re-joining Kinderhook, Matt was a Senior Associate on the Direct Investment Team at Roundtable Investment Partners, a leading multi-family office. Matt started his investment career in the Investment Banking division Bank of America Merrill Lynch and then as an Associate at Kinderhook. Matt graduated from Vanderbilt University with a BA in Economics and received his MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Matt serves on the Board of Directors of Avita, MCS / GlobalHealth, and Physician Partners.

Michael Zoch - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
  • Managing Director at Kinderhook
Michael Zoch is a Managing Director at Kinderhook. He has 15 years of investing experience in the automotive and healthcare services industries. Michael started his investment career in the Financial Advisory Services division of Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin. Michael graduated from Georgetown University with a BS in Finance and Accounting. Michael serves on the Board of Directors of AbsoluteCare, ActiveRadar, All States Ag Parts, Automotive Keys Group, Life Line Screening, Primeritus Financial Services, Repairify, and ZVRS.

Nate Druckenmiller - VP

Job Titles:
  • Vice President
  • Vice President at Kinderhook
Nate Druckenmiller is a Vice President at Kinderhook and focuses on the light manufacturing / automotive and business services verticals. He started his investment career in the Investment Banking divisions of KeyBanc Capital Markets and Harris Williams & Co. Nate graduated from The Ohio State University with a BS in Finance. Nate serves on the Board of Directors of REIC and Vehicle Accessories.

Paul Cifelli - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
  • Managing Director at Kinderhook
Paul Cifelli is a Managing Director at Kinderhook. He has over 25 years of automotive investing experience. Prior to joining Kinderhook, Paul was a Managing Director at Madison Investment Partners, Inc., a lower middle market private equity fund where he sourced, financed and negotiated private equity investments. Paul started his investment career in the Emerging Market Private Equity division of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, where he assisted in the acquisition, structuring, and management of direct investments in the People's Republic of China, through an affiliated investment company, ASIMCO. Paul graduated magna cum laude from the University of Notre Dame. Paul serves on the Board of Directors of All States Ag Parts, Automotive Keys Group, Bestop, Coleman Powersports, Leonard, National Truck Protection, Primeritus Financial Services, REIC, and Repairify.

Robert Michalik - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
  • Managing Director at Kinderhook
Rob Michalik is a Managing Director at Kinderhook. He has 25 years of business services investing experience with a particular focus on environmental services. Prior to Kinderhook, Rob was a Managing Director at Thayer Capital Partners, a middle market buyout fund, where he sourced, financed and negotiated private equity investments. Rob started his investment career in the Investment Banking division of Morgan Stanley, where he specialized in mergers & acquisitions. Rob graduated from Yale University and received his MBA with Distinction from Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar. Rob serves on the Board of Directors of Capital Waste Services, Circon Environmental, EcoSouth Services, Gold Medal Environmental, Mersino, and VESTA Modular.

Sam Keenan

Job Titles:
  • Principal
  • Principal at Kinderhook
Sam Keenan is a Principal at Kinderhook. He has over 10 years of investing experience in the automotive and environmental services industries. Sam started his investment career as an Analyst and a Senior Associate at Kinderhook prior to attending business school. Sam graduated from Denison University with a BA in Environmental Studies and received his MBA from Goizueta Business School at Emory University. Sam serves on the Board of Directors of Capital Waste Services, Mersino, National Truck Protection, and VESTA Modular.

Sarah Cruz

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant at Kinderhook
  • Executive Support
Sarah is an Executive Assistant at Kinderhook. Prior to joining Kinderhook, she worked in financial development and event planning at a New York City non-profit organization. Sarah graduated from Southern Connecticut State University with a degree in Economics.

Taiyin Richardson

Job Titles:
  • Executive Assistant at Kinderhook
  • Executive Support
Taiyin is an Executive Assistant at Kinderhook. She has worked with the Kinderhook principals since 1997. Taiyin graduated from FIT with a degree in Accessories Design.

Taylor Cosme

Job Titles:
  • Associate
  • Associate at Kinderhook
Taylor is an Associate at Kinderhook. Prior to joining Kinderhook, Taylor spent two years at Macquarie Capital in the Industrials Group. Taylor graduated from Brown University with a BA in Business, Entrepreneurship, and Organizations.

Thalia Rey

Job Titles:
  • Associate
  • Associate at Kinderhook
Thalia is an Associate at Kinderhook. Prior to joining Kinderhook, Thalia spent two years at Wells Fargo in the Industrials Group where she focused on Transportation & Logistics. Thalia graduated Cum Laude from the University of Florida with a BSBA in Information Systems and Operations Management as well as a Master of International Business.

Thomas Tuttle - Managing Director

Job Titles:
  • Managing Director
  • Managing Director at Kinderhook
Tom Tuttle is a Managing Director at Kinderhook. He has 25 years of manufacturing and automotive investing experience. Prior to Kinderhook, Tom founded GEM Investment Advisors, an investment advisory firm specializing in control private equity investing. Tom started his investment career in the Investment Banking division of Morgan Stanley, where he specialized in the chemicals industry and managed Morgan Stanley's investment banking operations in Indonesia. Tom graduated from Princeton University and the Woodrow Wilson School and received his MBA with Distinction from the Harvard Business School, where he was a Baker Scholar and Henry Ford II Scholar. Tom serves on the Board of Directors of Bestop, Leonard, Primal Pet Group, and Vehicle Accessories.