ACG Atlanta - M&A Update: Access to Capital

Mr. Crevello is a seasoned financial professional with a strong background in investment banking, private equity, and private debt.

Prior to MSouth Capital, Mr. Crevello was a Managing Principal at Forefront Capital Partners, LLC, an Atlanta based investment firm providing debt and minority equity to closely held businesses.

Prior to Forefront, Mr. Crevello was with Stellus Capital Management (and its predecessor, D.E. Shaw & Co.) in Washington, DC., since 2006. There he originated, diligenced and executed middle market debt and equity investments.

Prior to Stellus, Mr. Crevello held roles as an Associate with Blackstone Group’s Restructuring & Reorganization practice (New York City), an Associate at Thayer Capital Partners (Washington, DC) and as a Financial Analyst in Merrill Lynch’s Merger and Acquisitions group (New York City).

Mr. Crevello holds a BA in Political Science from Duke University and an MBA from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania.

Scott J. Saunders joined Farlie Turner Gilbert & Co., LLC, a boutique middle market investment bank based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, as a Managing Director in 2006.

Since 1992, he has served as a financial and strategic advisor to middle market companies across a variety of industries, including companies primarily in the healthcare industry as well as those in financial distress. In addition, he advised companies in the media and communications, business services, industrial, and consumer products industries. The majority of transactions consummated during this period have been divestitures for companies with enterprise values of $25 million to $350 million, but have also included debt and equity private placements and buy-side advisory work. Throughout his career, he has developed relationships with key executives of leading middle market private equity, mezzanine capital, commercial banking, and private credit firms, including BDCs, hedge funds, and commercial finance companies. He is part of a team that has won seven national awards for M&A advisory work on behalf of companies in financial distress. Prior to joining Farlie Turner Gilbert & Co., Mr. Saunders operated a private financial advisory practice in New York City and Miami, Florida.

He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Florida and Florida International University. In addition, he co-taught a class in management consulting to undergraduates and graduate students in the Management Department at the University of Miami. He is a frequent panelist at industry conferences on topics in healthcare M&A and financing.

From 1989 to 1991, Mr. Saunders was an investment banker at Lazard Frères & Co. in New York City. From 1984 to 1985, he was a Legislative Assistant to U.S. Representative Harry Reid, later Senate Majority Leader, in Washington, D.C. He received his B.A. degree from Wesleyan University and his M.P.P.M. degree, later designated an M.B.A. degree, from the Yale University School of Management. He is registered with FINRA and has Series 7 and Series 63 licenses.

Russell is the founder/CEO and Managing Partner of Nperspective, and is responsible for overseeing the Florida market. He combines over 20 years of experience in Accounting, Information Systems and Taxation. He takes a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves approach in working with business owners both large and small. Since founding Nperspective, he has provided solutions for clients in healthcare, manufacturing, construction, distribution, real estate, retail, mortgage banking, insurance, software development (SaaS) and internet based companies.

His services include providing interim and on-going CFO services, business and strategic planning, profitability analysis, budgeting/forecasting, job costing and work in process reporting systems, cash flow management, internal staff management and training, assistance with obtaining financing for growth, merger and acquisition due diligence, tax research and planning, software conversions and implementation, financial internal control review and implementation, and SEC reporting and audit work paper preparation.

Russell has been at both a regional and Big 4 firm working with a diverse client base including not-for-profit, government, travel, automotive and timeshare companies. He has also been involved in financial software applications for a leading reseller of business solutions where he performed due diligence, evaluation of client needs, and mapping client business processes against functional software requirements. He is experienced in cash management, risk management, financial reporting, initial public offerings, SEC reporting, internal controls, business development, auditing services and merger and acquisition accounting. Mr. Slappey also has a depth of experience in corporate taxation including limited liability entities, compliance, uniform capitalization rules, and business valuations.

Mr. Slappey is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a current member of the FICPA. Mr. Slappey holds a BBA and Master of Accountancy from Stetson University. He currently serves on the board of Directors for Orlando, Inc. (Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce) and was recently named to the National Small Business Association (NSBA) Leadership Council. He is also currently serving on the statewide Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) Florida Board which oversees the Florida Capital Connection and is a board member and Past President of the ACG, Orlando Chapter. Russell is also an active participant in Vistage Florida and CEO Nexus, peer-to-peer CEO organizations. Mr. Slappey serves on the Finance Committee for the Florida Hospital Foundation board and the board of the Walt Disney Pavilion at Florida Hospital Children’s Hospital. Mr. Slappey has served in the past on the Disney Entrepreneur Center Advisory Board and is also a volunteer advisor on the Small Business Development Council (SBDC) – Advisory Board Council. Russell truly understands the challenges of the entrepreneur having been recognized as the United States Small Business Administration Southeastern U.S. Regional winner of the 2008 Financial Services Champion of the Year award.

Carling Arundel is the Director of Business Development for Nperspective based out of Atlanta. Prior to joining the firm, she was an internal wholesaler with Angel Oak Capital covering the Southeast. She previously ran business development for a handful of companies across various industries including accounting consulting, IT, commercial development, and international advertising.

Kristen Schmidt recently joined TD Bank as a Managing Director, Senior Middle Market Relationship Manager, bringing with her 19 years of experience from her previous banking institution.  Throughout her career, Kristen has developed a strong background in serving mid-sized businesses, focusing on understanding their complex needs and providing effective financial solutions.  

At TD Bank Kristen applies her expertise to support clients and grow the Bank's presence in Georgia.  She is dedicated to building meaningful relationships and delivering tailored banking services.

Kristen holds a Bachelor of Science from the College of Management at Georgia Tech.  Outside of work she enjoys running, biking (indoors) and chasing around her three daughters with her husband Kyle.

David R. Yates advises clients on international and domestic public and private mergers and acquisitions, investments, divestitures, joint ventures, and strategic transactions, including those involving cross-border complexities. He also counsels private equity funds and their portfolio companies on a wide range of middle-market complex business transactions. David’s clients include a broad range of publicly owned and privately held U.S. and foreign companies.

David regularly represents foreign clients regarding U.S. acquisitions, as well as domestic companies in relation to their international expansion and divestitures.