Investors & Operators

On this episode of Investors & Operators, Jordan sits down with Steve Cook, Executive Managing Director of LFM Capital based in Nashville. Together, they chat about:how a life-altering tornado is the best thing that ever happened to himeffective leadership plus emotional availabilitythe lessons (and the baggage) of growing up in an entrepreneurial family…and so much more.STEVE COOK co-founded LFM Capital and brings to the Firm over 29 years of operating experience, having served in a variety of senior executive and functional roles in manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, technology and sales.Prior to founding LFM, Steve was a Principal with TVV Capital (2010-2014), where he directed the portfolio value creation efforts of six portfolio investments, with a focus on operating improvements, management recruiting, leadership development training and performance. Steve also helped to identify investments and served in a leading role on deal negotiations. He also served on the boards of four TVV portfolio companies: INDCO, Critical Solutions International, Big 3 Precision Products, and Bigham Brothers.Prior TVV, Steve was Chief Operating Officer of MFG.com (2009-2010), the world’s largest global online marketplace for the manufacturing industry, where he directed all functions, excluding finance and HR, for a global six-office (U.S., Asia, Europe), 250-employee, fast-growing company.Prior to MFG, Steve spent 11 years as a Southeastern regional Senior Director with The Dell Corporation (1998-2009) serving in a range of executive roles that included GM Dell Nashville Consumer Business and Nashville Site Lead, Director of Manufacturing for Dell’s Nashville Campus, and Director of Dell’s Supply Chain Engineering and Demand/Supply Balancing.Prior to Dell, Steve served as a Lieutenant in the United States Navy (1989-1996), where he flew combat missions in support of Desert Shield and was selected to participate in test squadron flying test missions in all Navy/Marine Corps aircraft.Steve received a BS in Electrical Engineering from the United States Naval Academy, his MS in Electrical Engineering from MIT’s School of Engineering and his MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management where he graduated first in his class. He has served for over 21 years as a member of MIT’s Leaders for Global Operations Operating Committee where he speaks to classes annually on executive leadership and career management.Steve and his wife, Shannon, recently celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary and have three wonderful children, Alexis, Christian and Jackson. Steve and his family love to surf and water ski behind their boat, snow ski, SCUBA and kite surf. Steve also enjoys rowing and Crossfit.

The trailblazing panel of women from It’s Time: Women in Private Equity reassemble to answer questions, share stories, and dive even deeper. HOSTSJordan Selleck | CEO & Co-Founder, 51 LabsJing Li-Selleck | Co-Founder, Head of Creative, 51 LabsCaroline Young | Director of ESG, HKWPANELISTSMelanie Brensinger | Managing Partner, Anagenesis Capital PartnersAlexandra Lebenthal | Senior Advisor, Houlihan LokeyMichelle Noon | Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Clearhaven PartnersGretchen Perkins | Partners, Avance Investment ManagementIvelisse Rodriguez Simon | Managing Partner, Avante Capital PartnersAmy Weisman | Managing Director, Sterling Investment Partners

On this episode of Investors & Operators, Jordan sits down with Tyler Fair, CEO & Co-Founder of SourceScrub, a software platform for the M&A community. Together, they discuss:how to be a founder if you’re not Mark Zuckerbergchallenges of starting a tech platformimportant considerations for a smooth entrepreneurial journey…and so much more.

On this episode of Investors & Operators, Jordan sits down with Glenn Oken, Managing Director of Mangrove Equity Partners in Tampa, FL. Together, they discuss:the importance of identifying a nichesetting goals as an entrepreneurwork/life integration vs. work/life balance…and so much more.GLENN OKEN’s primary focus at Mangrove is originating deal opportunities and qualifying acquisition candidates.He also assists Mangrove portfolio companies with corporate development issues and is a member of Mangrove's Investment Committee. Prior to co-founding Mangrove, Glenn was the most tenured partner at Florida Capital Partners. Between Mangrove and FCP, Glenn has helped to build two of the most experienced and successful lower middle market private equity funds in the nation.Over the past 28 years as a private equity partner, Glenn is well known for his candid and effective "win/win" partnering with company owners, managers, and their advisors.Glenn is a firm believer in the power of internal operating partners in private equity, to bring more than just the commodity of cash to portfolio partners. Glenn worked in the southeastern headquarters of L.F. Rothschild and at NCNB National Bank early in his career, and holds a B.A. from the University of Virginia.

On this episode of Investors & Operators, Jordan sits down with Suzanne Yoon, Founder & Managing Partner of Kinzie Capital Partners in Chicago. Together, they discuss: the journey of starting a firm from scratchthe trajectory of women and POC in financehitting the right balance of family + career, and making it all work ...and so much more.SUZANNE YOON is the Founder and Managing Partner of Kinzie Capital Partners, a Chicago-based private equity firm that invests in lower middle market companies in the consumer, manufacturing and service industries. In 2017, she launched Kinzie as part of her long-standing vision to advance the use of technology, data analytics and innovation to help unlock value for companies. Her creative outlook on the use of technology in the Private Equity sector leads to improved operational efficiency and new avenues for growth within Kinzie’s diverse portfolio of companies and investors. Three years after its founding, Kinzie was recognized by the Private Equity Women’s Investor Network (PEWIN) as Female Founded Firm of the Year 2020.Suzanne has over 20 years’ experience investing in and advising middle market companies. Before founding Kinzie, she served as a Managing Director of Versa Capital Management, where she led transaction development throughout North America. Prior to that role, Suzanne was a Senior Vice President of CIT Group. She also co-founded LaSalle Bank/ABN AMRO’s Corporate Restructuring Group and held positions in distressed loan portfolio management and advisory at LaSalle Bank and Ernst and Young’s Corporate Finance group, respectively.A respected leader in both the business and civic spheres, she serves on several private company boards and civic boards such as: The National Philanthropic Trust (NPT), the largest independent Donor Advised Fund manager in the world with over $14BL under management, where she serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees; The Council of Korean Americans (CKA) where she co-chairs the Finance Committee; Chicago Public Library Foundation; and HFS Chicago Scholars, an organization that serves economically disadvantaged Chicago inner-city high school students. Additionally, Yoon serves on the Steering Committees of the Private Equity’s Women Investor Network (PEWIN) and Women’s Association of Venture & Equity (WAVE.) She is also a member of the Association of Asian American Investment Managers and the Economic Club of Chicago.Suzanne earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Economics from the University of Iowa and is an Executive Scholar of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Last year, Mergers & Acquisitions named her to the 2020 Most Influential Women in Mid-Market M&A and the Wall Street Journal recognized her as a top female deal maker shaping private equity’s present & future. Suzanne lives in Chicago with her husband and three children and is an outdoor and sports enthusiast who enjoys golfing and fishing with her family.

On the episode of Investors & Operators, 51 Labs assembles a panel of BD professionals to demystify the business development profession for those starting out. We cover:- key considerations of a BD career- compensation trends- common mistakes in BD- how to be an efficient BD professional…and so much more.HOSTJordan Selleck, CEO & Co-Founder, 51 LabsPANELISTSJeremy Holland, Managing Partner, Riverside CompanyLuke Johnson, Partner, Arcline Investment ManagementScott Erickson, Principal, Head of BD, Aurora Capital Matt Moran, Principal, Head of BD, Inverness GrahamSheila Dharmarajan, Partner, Head of IR & BD, ZMCErin Carroll, Partner, BraddockMatthews

On this episode of Investors & Operators, Jordan sits down with Ryan Parker, Director of Marketing at Trivest Partners. Trivest has one of the most dynamic marketing schemes in the M&A industry. On this episode, Jordan and Ryan talk about:measuring marketing-led dealshow to think about content in PEthe viability of LinkedIn vs. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter--and so much more.RYAN PARKER joined Trivest in 2019 as its first Director of Marketing. He leads the integration of systems and processes to modernize firm communications, set strategy, improve design facility, and drive data-enabled decision making at the firm level and across the portfolio. Ryan has extensive experience leading creative production and brand development initiatives within real estate, technology, and sports initiatives. Prior to joining Trivest, Ryan held multiple roles in brand marketing, including Group Creative Director of CAA's golf division, a leading sponsorship consulting agency with clients including Bose, CDW, Farmers Insurance, Zurich and the PGA tour. He holds a BA in Economic Geography and an MS in Real Estate, both from the University of Florida.

On this episode of Investors & Operators, Jordan sits down with Jay Jester, Partner at Plexus Capital in North Carolina. In addition to proving that Jay is the most well-read person in history, this episode talks about:the power of a relationship in today’s markethow to make memorable, meaningful connectionslessons learned from entrepreneurial families—and much more.JAY JESTER is a Partner at Plexus Capital. Jay is a member of the senior leadership team and works alongside the other team members to chart the strategy and vision for Plexus. In addition, Jay interacts with investors, assists with sourcing new investment opportunities, and helps oversee the portfolio.Jay is a graduate of the University of North Carolina where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and Interdisciplinary Studies. After UNC, Jay was an investment banking analyst with Bowles Hollowell Conner & Company in Charlotte, NC. After BHC, Jay spent eight years as a Partner at Florida Capital Partners, in Tampa where he helped to lead the firm and to build the firm’s business development engine.In January of 2000, Jay joined Audax Group. During his 19 years with the Audax, he served as senior member of the leadership team of Audax Group and Audax Private Equity. Jay focused on deal sourcing and business development, but also served on the investment committee and played an active role in charting the strategy and direction of the firm, contributing to recruiting, training, investor relations, professional development, financing and portfolio operations.Jay is an active member of several M&A and business networking organizations, including YPO and ACG.Jay is originally from Greensboro, North Carolina. Jay and his wife live in Raleigh.

PE has made great strides in the name of D&I—but there’s still so far to go. 51 Labs assembled a panel of incredible women in the M&A industry to share their experiences, reflect on the state of the industry, and offer advice to women at any stage in their private equity career.HOSTSJordan Selleck | CEO & Co-Founder, 51 LabsJing Li-Selleck | Co-Founder, Head of Creative, 51 LabsCaroline Young | Director of ESG, HKWPANELISTSMelanie Brensinger | Managing Partner, Anagenesis Capital PartnersAlexandra Lebenthal | Senior Advisor, Houlihan LokeyMichelle Noon | Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Clearhaven PartnersGretchen Perkins | Partners, Avance Investment ManagementIvelisse Rodriguez Simon | Managing Partner, Avante Capital PartnersAmy Weisman | Managing Director, Sterling Investment Partners

On this episode of Investors & Operators, Jordan sits down with Leon Brujis, Partner at Palladium Equity. Born in Mexico and raised in Argentina by a Peruvian family, Leon has a number of fresh takes on:feeling like an outsiderthe importance of meeting pressure head-onhow to make an impact on your community—and so much more.LEON BRUJIS joined Palladium in 2007 and serves as a Partner. Previously, he worked for the mergers and acquisitions group at Lehman Brothers. Mr. Brujis serves on the Board of Directors of Palladium portfolio companies Daniel's Jewelers and TransForce and has served on the Board of Directors of Palladium portfolio companies Cannella, Del Real, Pronto Insurance, Raben Tire, Teasdale and Celeritas. Mr. Brujis serves on the Board of Directors of the New America Alliance. Mr. Brujis earned a M.S. in Finance, Economics & Cost Engineering and a B.S. in Operations Research (magna cum laude) at The George Washington University.