Private Equity Fast Pitch

John Block is the Co-Founder and CEO Unity Partners, a Dallas-based private equity firm that partners investors and operators to build better together.

John Garcia Strategy, Driving Engagement Deliverables John’s diverse experience includes leading as an Executive and Entrepreneur in multiple start-ups, small and midmarket companies, and Fortune 500 businesses across energy, tech, life science,  food & beverage, and transportation/logistics industries. He has extensive experience in IP licensing,  corporate strategy, marketing, private equity, M&A, technology R&D, manufacturing, sales, operations, and board leadership. John currently leads Solyco as managing director and several companies as a strategy executive through management consulting engagements and others as a board member, investor, managing partner, and/or shareholder. John has been a keynote speaker on affecting strategy for Fortune 500 companies, Universities, and various leadership groups. John is a community contributor and leader through Gen Next Global Membership, participation in a symposium on energy and technology through the MIT alumni association, appointment as a Charter School Board Member by the State of Michigan, Advisory Board Member for the School of Engineering and Computer Science at Oakland University, selected as L.B.P. Elite 40 under 40, Big Brother in BBBS for over 10 years, and Leadership Detroit Graduate, among others.

Anthony Maniscalco, Managing Partner at Investcorp's Strategic Capital Group, shares his wealth of experience in private equity. He discusses the growing significance of GP staking and its multifaceted benefits for general partners. Maniscalco dives into strategic co-investing opportunities and emphasizes the importance of relationships and trust in business. He also provides insights into career development, highlighting adaptability and a proactive mindset as crucial traits for success in finance.

Ben is the Chief Investment Officer at Aspen Funds, where he combines his analytical nature with a passion for delivering outstanding client service and strong returns through out-of-the- box investments. Prior to joining Aspen, Ben served as a Commercial Lender at First Business Bank, one of the top SBA lenders in the nation. There, he specialized in government-backed loan originations, specifically SBA and USDA loans. Before that, he worked as a Commercial Credit Underwriter for Crossfirst Bank, where he personally underwrote over $125MM in C&I and CRE loans across various industries. Ben also has experience working in the asset management industry, having served as a key member of the team at Tortoise Capital Advisors. At Tortoise, he helped grow institutional managed accounts from ~$3BN AUM to ~$7BN AUM. Ben holds an MBA from Azusa Pacific University and a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the University of Kansas, where he graduated magna cum laude. Ben is the co-host of the “Invest like a Billionare” podcast where he joins his father, Bob and Aspen co-founder Jim Maffuccio, to dive into the world of alternative investments and speak with successful investors. The trio also discusses economic trends, including megatrends such as inflation, energy prices and deglobalization. Their goal is to empower others looking to explore less volatile investment opportunities improving their portfolio’s performance and enabling them to become more financially secure.

 In this highly anticipated annual episode of Northstar's Private Equity Fast Pitch, we bring together the industry's top leaders from the past year. Join us as we delve into the personal mantras and driving forces that fuel these prominent figures in the Private Equity and Invesment Banking arena. Guest Speakers: ·      [04:22] Jeff Armbrister, Hamilton Lane ·      [06:47] Caroline Stevens, MPK Equity Partners ·      [08:54] Stephen Vaccaro, Hirtle, Callaghan & Co ·      [10:21] Ganesh Rao, Thomas H. Lee Partners ·      [11:55] Jeff Eaton, Eaton Partners ·      [13:58] Arthur Hollingsworth, Texas Private Equity ·      [14:52] Dave Tayeh, Investcorp ·      [16:46] Brian McGee, New Water Capital ·      [18:52] Marc J. Leder, Sun Capital Partners ·      [20:06] Christiaan van der Kam, Schroders Capital ·      [21:39] Mark Sotir, Equity Group Investments ·      [22:53] Jeff Collins, Cloverlay ·      [24:19] Chris Burbach, Fundamental Income ·      [26:27] Rami Cassis, Parabellum Investments ·      [27:12] Christopher Merrill, Harrison Street ·      [28:26] Ross Jones, Berkshire Partners ·      [32:49] Jeffrey Stevenson, VSS Capital Partners ·      [35:15] Pardis Nasseri, Palm Tree LLC ·      [37:33] Michael Butler, Cascadia Capital ·      [40:01] Neha Champaneria Markle, Morgan Stanley ·      [41:40] Michael Bego, Kline Hill Partners ·      [43:03] Drew Maloney, American Investment Council (AIC) ·      [45:19] Chris Sznewajs, Pacific Avenue Capital Partners These top professionals will share their favorite quotes and mottos, offering insights into what motivates and drives them on a daily basis. Get ready for a captivating journey into the minds of these industry leaders Tune in to gain valuable insights and inspiration from these influential voices shaping the Private Equity landscape. Discover the mantras that power success in this dynamic industry.  

Chris Sznewajs is the Managing Partner, Founder and Investment Committee Member of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. Mr. Sznewajs is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm’s investment activities along with chairing the Boards of the active portfolio companies. Prior to founding Pacific in 2018, Mr. Sznewajs served as a Principal with The Gores Group where he focused on investing in special situations and corporate carve-outs in the industrials sector. Mr. Sznewajs also was a Manager at Bain & Company in the restructuring and turnaround practice. Mr. Sznewajs graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Finance and Accounting. He has an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sey5_87-XWY

Drew Maloney is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the American Investment Council (AIC), an advocacy and resource organization that represents the private equity and private credit industry. Maloney first joined the AIC in 2018 and has since played a critical role helping private equity and private credit tell its powerful story about creating jobs, growing businesses and strengthening millions of Americans’ retirement savings. During that time, he has educated policymakers, the media and the general public about the industry’s importance to the American economy and to American workers, testifying before Congress about the benefits of private equity and launching a sustained education campaign to highlight the industry’s role supporting the economic recovery from COVID-19. Under Maloney’s leadership, the AIC has almost doubled its membership and revenue.     Maloney is recognized as a leading government affairs expert, with more than 25 years of experience in both the public and the private sectors. Prior to joining AIC, Maloneyserved as the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Affairs, as a corporate officer and Vice President of Government and External Affairs for the Hess Corporation, and as CEO of prominent bipartisan government affairs firm Ogilvy Government Relations. Maloney began his career working on Capitol Hill and later advised several presidential campaigns and transition teams.  

Michael A. Bego is the Founder and Managing Partner of Kline Hill Partners, which he founded in 2015. Mr. Bego sits on the Investment Committee of all of the Kline Hill Partners funds and is a board member of organizations including the American Investment Council and the Greenwich YMCA. From 2005 through 2015, Mr. Bego was a partner at secondary firm Willowridge Partners, where he was instrumental in developing a focused strategy around small-deal secondary transactions. Mr. Bego was a consultant at McKinsey & Co. until 2005, conducted a turnaround at Vincent Longo in 2003, was in venture capital at LGP from 2000 to 2003, and ran projects and sold enterprise software at Numetrix (now part of Oracle) from 1993 through 1998. Mr. Bego founded and runs "THE Secondary Day" since 2006, an annual, collegial event that each year brings together executives across the secondary industry. Mr. Bego received a Bachelor of Science in Engineering from Cornell University in 1993 and an MBA (Beta Gamma Sigma) from Columbia University Business School in 2000.

Neha Champaneria Markle Head of Morgan Stanley Private Equity Solutions Neha Champaneria Markle is a Managing Director and the Head of Morgan Stanley Private Equity Solutions. Prior to joining the firm, Neha served on the investment teams at Apax Partners and Pomona Capital. She also served on the management team for Springboard Enterprises, Inc., a non-profit organization focused on improving female entrepreneurs’ access to venture capital. Neha started her career as part of the financial analyst program at Morgan Stanley. Neha received a B.S. magna cum laude in economics from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.  

Michael Butler is the Co-founder and Chairman of Cascadia Capital, one of the most active independent investment banks in the country. He has deep capital raising and M&A expertise having been involved in hundreds of transactions worth over $5 billion throughout his career on Wall Street and at Cascadia Capital.  For over twenty years, the firm has strived to deliver the best outcomes for its clients by providing entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses and private equity firms with trusted merger and acquisition advice, capital raising and strategic advisory services.