Mike joined Huron at its inception and is responsible for sourcing, evaluating, executing and managing investments made by the firm. Mike is a member of the firm’s Investment Committee.

Experience

He has extensive corporate development, operating and investment experience from a variety of companies in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Prior to Huron, Mike was Vice President, Finance & Investments for Duchossois Enterprises, a privately-held conglomerate of operating and private equity investment companies with controlling interests in consumer products, transportation and entertainment companies with aggregate revenues exceeding $2 billion. Prior to Duchossois, Mike was a Managing Director at Macam Corporation (affiliated with First Chicago Equity Capital) and a Principal with Japonica Partners jointly serving as Vice President, Strategic Planning for its portfolio company, Sunbeam Corporation.

Education

B.A. in Economics from the University of Michigan; M.B.A from the Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business (University of Pittsburgh); J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Board Affiliations

Mike has served on 19 Boards for Huron Capital portfolio companies, currently serving as a Director for IQ Brands, Aquamar Holdings, Drake Automotive, Valentus Specialty Chemicals and Brudner Polymer Corp. Mike is a member of the Economic Leadership Council for the Department of Economics at the University of Michigan.

Rob is the Co-Leader of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group at the WWRP law firm.

Experience

Rob has extensive experience in corporate, private equity and M&A law. During his thirty-two year legal career, he has completed hundreds of M&A transactions and has been involved in several high-profile matters, including the sale of the Detroit Pistons. Rob has represented clients of all sizes across a wide range of industries in corporate, private equity, M&A and business law matters.

For his accomplishments in the fields of corporate, private equity and M&A law, Rob is frequently honored by peers and ranking organizations, including being named the 2016 “M&A Attorney of the Year” by the Association for Corporate Growth Detroit Chapter.

Rob has been a speaker at presentations on corporate and M&A law matters. In addition, he has annually served as a judge or competition chair at case studies and M&A competitions at the University of Michigan Law School and at the Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

Education

B.B.A., with distinction, Stephen M. Ross School of Business

J.D., The University of Michigan Law School

Honors and Awards

“M&A Attorney of the Year” – ACG Detroit (April 2016)

“Deal Maker of the Year” – M&A Advisor, Co-recipient (September 2009)

“U.S. Cross-Border Deal of the Year” – M&A Advisor – Co-recipient (September 2009)

“Financing Transaction of the Year” – M&A Advisor – Co-recipient and finalist (June 2006)

“Top Lawyer” in categories of Corporate Law and M&A Law – DBusiness Magazine (2009 – present)

Michigan “Super Lawyers” in categories of Corporate Law and M&A Law (2007 – present)

“Superb Lawyer” 10.0/10.0 – AVVO

Rated “AV” (highest possible lawyer rating) – Martindale Hubbell

Chas has over 30 years of investment banking experience and completed more than 130 corporate finance transactions including the sale of closely held businesses, divestitures, and long term debt and equity capital formations. His client responsibilities center on leading transactional deal teams to strategically position companies for sale, properly structure the transaction, and negotiate key terms and conditions in order to optimize shareholder value. His experience has extended throughout North America and Europe in a variety of sectors including transportation, food processing, building products, metal fabrication, plastics, healthcare, distribution, and telecommunication software.

Previous to joining Amherst Partners, Chas served as a Director of KPMG LLP’s Corporate Finance practice. He was also Senior Vice President at McDonald Securities and a Vice President at The Ohio Company, two regional investment banking firms.

Chas earned his Bachelor’s degree from Hillsdale College and received an MBA in Finance from Miami University on full academic scholarship. He is a frequent speaker on merger and acquisition programs on popular topics such as “How to Maximize the Sale of a Business,” “What are the Common Mistakes in Selling a Privately Held Business?” and “How is a Privately Held Business Valued?” Chas’ other activities include serving on the Board of the Association for Corporate Growth, and he is a past Board member of the Detroit Athletic Club.

Bob started and currently leads the efforts at Greenwich Capital Group (GCG). GCG focuses on M&A, financial advisory and capital raising for privately-held and publicly-traded companies. In his role, Bob advises shareholders through transactions. He also provides financial advisory services including business valuation, strategic options and market assessments. Bob’s industry focus includes general industrial, consumer, business services and technology.

Experience

Professional Affiliations

Education & Certifications

University of Michigan: MBA, Finance

Jay J. Hansen is co-founder and Managing Partner of O2 Investment Partners, LLC, a private equity investment group that seeks to acquire majority interests in manufacturing, business services, niche distribution, and select technology businesses in the lower middle market (EBITDA $2 - $10 million). Prior to forming O2 Investment Partners in 2010, Mr. Hansen served as a senior executive (COO and CFO) of a publicly traded automotive supplier; a senior executive of private and PE owned manufacturing and distribution businesses, as Vice President for a privately held merchant bank with holdings in a variety of business segments; and served in commercial banking in various commercial lending and special asset capacities. Mr. Hansen has served on the board and as audit committee chairman of two publicly traded companies, including currently serving as a member of the board and the audit committee chair for Flagstar Bancorp (NYSE: FBC), a $17 Billion Michigan based bank providing commercial, small business and consumer banking services.

Dave has more than fifteen years of private equity, mergers & acquisitions consulting and auditing experience. During his career he has coordinated numerous private equity transactions and, prior to becoming a private equity investor, worked on over one hundred due diligence, financial advisory, and audit engagements.

Before joining Peninsula Capital Partners, Mr. Hiemstra was a Partner at Strength Capital Partners, a middle-market, private equity firm where he focused on deal evaluation, acquisition due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio monitoring. Prior to Strength Capital, Dave worked in the Transaction Services practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, focusing on buy-side and sell-side due diligence. In that role, he supported strategic and financial buyers in evaluating and negotiating acquisition transactions in various industries. Dave also worked in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ middle-market audit practice prior to graduate school.

Dave earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, where he also earned his Masters of Business Administration degree with high distinction. Dave teaches an MBA course at Ross titled “Entrepreneurship via Acquisition”. He is a registered certified public accountant in the State of Michigan.

Rajesh Kothari is the founder and managing director of Cascade Partners LLC, a leading investment bank and private investment firm serving middle market companies with offices in Detroit (Southfield), Cleveland and Chicago.

With nearly 30 years of experience, Raj and his team provide guidance, analysis and resources that are critical when navigating the complexities of acquisitions, divestitures, mergers, financing and other strategic initiatives. This work builds on a long history of impacting people’s lives whether through transactions, investments, youth development and daily life.

Raj has helped companies such as TriMas, NSF International, Grand Raids Ophthalmology, Emergency Medicine Specialists and many more. His board and committee service includes Priority Health, St. John Providence Health System, MedBio, Active Health, the Civil Air Patrol Foundation and several other corporations and non-profit organizations.

His career has included leadership roles in investment management, private equity and investment banking. He helped found Seneca Partners and Cranbrook Capital Management and two private equity funds. He served as a senior manager and director at Masco Corporation and Beringea, respectively.

Raj’s service also includes his role as a Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol, a volunteer auxiliary of the United States Air Force, in which he has served for over 35 years. Additionally, Raj is an Adjunct Instructor at the University of Notre Dame at the Gigot Center for Entrepreneurial Studies.

He is a Chartered Financial Analyst, earned both a Bachelors of Arts and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Michigan. He currently holds the Series 7, 79, 24, and 28 licenses from FINRA.

As one of the firm’s leaders in the National Tax Office, I specialize in advising clients on complex tax planning and the tax implications of mergers and acquisitions. I work with private equity funds, portfolio companies, and owner operated, privately held corporations and partnerships. I have nearly 20 years of tax experience working with a variety of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, construction, and franchises.

My clients appreciate that I’m decisive and results‐oriented, allowing me to deliver tax‐savings ideas and opportunities. I’m known for saving them millions of dollars on taxes by utilizing creative tax planning‐and structuring techniques.

I belong to the AICPA, where I’m a tax division member, the MICPA, and ACG Detroit. I have a B.B.A. from Davenport University and an M.S. in taxation from Walsh College.

Outside of work, I spend time with my wife, two daughters, and our two dogs. One daughter is in competitive cheerleading and the other is in competitive volleyball, so we stay busy keeping up with them. Beyond that, my hobbies are classic cars, particularly first‐generation Camaros, U.S. coins, handgun shooting, sporting clays, and travel.