Decision Makers
Board of Directors
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
President of Acosta Grocery Channel |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Acosta, Inc. |
|
Former |
| Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University |
Masters |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
JR. Chief Investment Officer & Senior Managing Director, Carret and Company LLC |
Current |
| Southern Methodist University |
B.S. in Economics and Finance |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Scimitar Global Ventures |
Cfo |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Cfo, CIO |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Scimitar Global Ventures |
Partner |
Current |
| PaineWebber, Inc. |
|
Former |
| NYU Stern School of Business |
MBA in Finance |
Former |
| Bucknell University |
BA In Accounting |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Vice President |
Current |
| Stonehenge Capital Company, LLC |
Associate |
Former |
| The Walnut Group |
|
Former |
| Provident Bank |
|
Former |
| University of Chicago Graduate School of Business |
MBA |
Former |
| University of Cincinnati |
BA degree in Finance and International Business |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Executive Director, Shearman & Sterling |
Current |
| Marketcore, Inc. |
Board Member, Founder and Investor |
Current |
| Wealthtrust, Inc. |
Executive |
Current |
| Wealthtrust, Inc. |
Chairman |
Current |
| Indexiq |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Shearman & Sterling Llp |
Executive Director |
Former |
| Management Group, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| Yale University |
B.A. |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| The Gerson Group |
Managing Director |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Managing Director and Co-Founder of the Gerson Group |
Current |
| The Gerson Group |
Founder |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Chemical Banking Corporation |
|
Former |
| Egon Zehnder International |
|
Former |
| College of William & Mary |
MBA |
Former |
| University of Illinois |
BS In Finance |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Columbia University Neurological Institute |
Assistant Prof of Neurological Surgery |
Current |
| Columbia-Presbyterian Spine Center |
|
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
|
Current |
| Pru-One Inc. |
|
Former |
| Columbia University |
MD |
Former |
| Columbia University Neurological Institute |
MD |
Former |
| Cornell University Law School |
LLB |
Former |
| Yale University |
BA |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Senior Associate |
Current |
| Consumer Growth Partners |
Investment Analyst |
Former |
| First Manhattan Consulting Group, Inc. |
Financial Analyst |
Former |
| Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania |
Degrees |
Former |
Mr. Brown joined Circle Peak as an Associate in October 2007. Mr. Brown was formerly an associate at Peter J. Solomon Company (PJSC), a boutique investment bank in New York City, where he spent more than 3 years. Prior to his experience at PJSC, Mr. Brown was an analyst at Wachovia Securities, working in their Consumer and Retail Investment Banking practice. He received a BA degree in Physics from Georgetown University and is a candidate for an MBA degree from Columbia University in 2009.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Associate |
Current |
| Mabank |
|
Former |
| Swarthmore College |
BA In Economics |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Senior Associate |
Current |
| Bear Wagner Specialists, LLC |
Vice President of Equity Derivatives |
Former |
| Bear, Inc. |
Vice President of Equity Derivatives |
Former |
| Spear Corporation |
Analyst |
Former |
| Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. |
|
Former |
| Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania |
MBA |
Former |
| Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania |
MBA |
Former |
| Cornell University |
BA degree in Economics |
Former |
| The London School of Economics |
|
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
|
Current |
| Focus Management Group |
|
Current |
| Spencer & Associates |
CEO |
Former |
| Sprout Group |
|
Former |
| Overseas Private Investment Corporation |
|
Former |
| Pepsi-Cola |
|
Former |
| Seton Hall University |
BA |
Former |
Mr. Malloy is a Founding Investor in, as well as the Director of Institutional Sales of WisdomTree is a pioneer in global Asset Management, Inc. WisdomTree has developed the first family of fundamentally-weighted dividend and earnings indexes and ETFs. Mr. Malloy was previously at Bear Stearns & Co. Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., and TAG Associates, Ltd. At TAG, Mr. Malloy was Senior Management Director and CIO of Alternative Investment Products.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Wisdom Tree, Inc. |
Director of Institutional Sales |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
Prior to ECCA, Bernie served as President, COO, and Director of Montgomery Ward and EVP ? Store Operations and Director at Circuit City Stores. Prior to Montgomery Ward and Circuit City , Mr. Andrews spent 20 years at Sears, Roebuck where he was National Marketing Manager ? Home Furnishings. Mr. Andrews is currently Chairman of the Board for Luxury Optical Holdings, a high-end eyewear chain owned by CPC in partnership with DLJ Merchant Banking and Goode Partners.
Brian Gustaitis. Mr. Gustaitis is currently Non Executive Chairman of Hill & Valley Inc., a No Sugar and No Sugar Added Baking Company, which is a portfolio company of Circle Peak Capital. Mr. Gustaitis is a senior executive with over 30 years of experience in the food industry. Most recently, Mr. Gustaitis was President and COO of Kozy Shack Enterprises, a $100 million dollar privately owned manufacturer of all natural refrigerated puddings. Under his leadership, the company enjoyed a financial turn-around, reversing declining sales trends, repositioning the brand and refinancing / reducing the company's debt. Prior to Kozy Shack, Mr. Gustaitis spent 5 years with Tetley USA, a well-known brand manufacturer and marketer of tea and coffee in the USA. He held the positions of President, Chief Operating Officer, and Vice President - Foodservice and Private Label. He was also responsible for the US interface of the worldwide Tetley group sale to Tata Tea of India. Prior to Tetley USA, Mr. Gustaitis spent 15 years with Pepperidge Farm Inc., a division of The Campbell Soup Company, where he was Vice President and General Manager of the $130 million Frozen Foods division and VP General Manager of the $90 million Foodservice division. Under his leadership, the Frozen Foods and Foodservice divisions enjoyed consistent sales and earnings growth fueled by new products and new segment penetration. Prior to Pepperidge Farm, Mr. Gustaitis was Group Marketing Manager of the Foodservice Division with The Nestle' Company. Mr. Gustaitis holds an MBA and a BS from the University of Bridgeport. He and his wife Patricia reside in Oxford CT.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Wealthtrust, Inc. |
Chief Executive Officer of Hsbc Asset Management North America |
Current |
| Wealthtrust, Inc. |
Vice Chairman |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| HSBC Asset Management Limited |
Chief Executive Officer |
Former |
| HSBC Bank USA, Inc. |
Executive Vice President |
Former |
| Republic National Bank |
|
Former |
| HSBC Auto Finance |
|
Former |
| Boothbay Harbor Yacht Club |
Treasurer |
Former |
| New York University |
Mba |
Former |
| Bates College |
Ba |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Tour Golf Group, Inc |
Chief Marketing Officer |
Current |
| Tour Golf Group, Inc |
Executive Vice President |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Diadora America, Inc. |
CEO |
Former |
| Callaway Golf Company |
|
Former |
| Nike, Inc. |
|
Former |
| University of Oregon |
BS |
Former |
Kerry Kramp, CEO of Let's Dish!, brings nearly 30 years of food industry experience to the fast-growing, Minneapolis-based retail meal preparation company. A nationally-recognized expert in operations with a passion for building national brands, Kerry was immediately drawn to the concept, brand, and business strategy put in place by Let's Dish! Co-Founders Ruth Lundquist and Darcy Olson. Kerry joined Let's Dish! in March 2006 to lead the company's aggressive national expansion plan and further refine its operational infrastructure. He works closely with the company's executive team to guide the growth and direction of the business, focusing heavily on franchise and corporate store development, to make Let's Dish! the national category leader. Kerry has spent his career helping to build early-stage concepts into successful national brands. In 2004, he founded Level 5 Ventures, LLC, a restaurant development and franchise company focused on creating high-quality consumer foodservice concepts. Before Level 5 Ventures, Kerry spent 12 years with Minneapolis-based Buffets, Inc., the parent company of HomeTown Buffet, Old Country Buffet, and Tahoe Joe's. He joined Buffets, Inc. as director of operations when it was just a two-location enterprise. Kerry was named chief executive officer in 2000, the same year the company topped $1 billion in sales and more than 25,000 employees. From 1986 to 1988, Kerry was co-founder and chief operating officer of Chicken By George, Inc., a retail product line developed and marketed in partnership with former Miss America Phyllis George. Initially sold at one local grocery store, the concept quickly grew and was acquired by the Hormel Foods Corporation in 1988, and Kerry became Hormel's director of specialty foods. In 1980, Kramp joined Chi-Chi's, Inc., when the Mexican restaurant chain had only seven locations. By 1985, his last year as the company's vice president of food and beverage, Chi-Chi's had grown to more than 180 locations. Kerry has also held management positions with Steak and Ale Restaurants. Kerry has received numerous awards during his career. Most recently, he received the 2003 Golden Chain award from Nation's Restaurant News, the 2002 Silver Plate award in Chain Full Service from the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association, and the 2002 Commitment to People award from the Council of Hotel and Restaurant Trainers. Under Kerry's leadership, Buffets, Inc. received the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation's 2002 "Employer of Choice" award for its manager training and development programs. Kerry is a member of the advisory board of Elliot Leadership Institute, a global center for developing and training the next generation of hospitality and foodservice industry leaders and serves on advisory boards for four food industry companies across the country. Kerry earned his bachelor's degree in restaurant management from Ohio State University, Columbus, and was named a distinguished alumni of the university in 2005. He also attended the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. and was inducted as a Fellow of the Institute in 2005. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Kerry lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and three children. He is an avid cook and enjoys coaching football and collecting cars.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Let's Dish |
CEO |
Current |
| Food Service Inc. |
President |
Current |
| Food Service Inc. |
Founder |
Former |
| Home Town Buffet Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| Home Town Buffet Inc. |
Vice President of Operations |
Former |
| Chi-Chi's |
Vice President of Food and Beverage |
Former |
| The Ventures |
Founder |
Former |
| Hormel Corporation |
Director of Specialty Foods |
Former |
| Buffets Inc. |
Director of Operations |
Former |
| Chi-Chi's |
Director |
Former |
| The Ohio State University |
Bachelor's Degree In Restaurant Management |
Former |
Mr. Michel is on the Board of Directors of GVP and is the founder and President of Michel Capital, LLC, a hedge fund that invests in public companies using a private equity approach to the market. Mr. Michel was formerly a Managing Director and Group Head at TD Capital (USA) in New York, responsible for the Toronto Dominion Bank investment subsidiary's $500 million private equity portfolio, and has over 18 years of private equity experience. Mr. Michel has led or participated in over 45 private equity investments and while Mr. Michel was at TD Capital, approximately $415 million was invested or committed across 25 investments. Mr. Michel served on the boards of several of the portfolio companies and was a member of the fund's investment committee. Prior to joining TD Capital in 1998, Mr. Michel was a managing director of EOS Partners, L.P., a private investment firm. Prior to joining EOS Partners in 1994, Mr. Michel was a Vice President of Merrill Lynch Interfunding, a $1.3 billion subsidiary focused on middle market buyouts. He began his private equity professional experience as an analyst at Merrill Lynch Interfunding in 1984 and returned in 1987 after business school as an Associate. From 1983 to 1984 Mr. Michel worked for A.G. Becker Paribas, which was acquired by Merrill Lynch, in its Corporate Finance Department. Mr. Michel earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Emory University in 1983 and an MBA from Wharton School of Business of the University of Pennsylvania in 1987.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Gersh Venture Partners, LLC |
Director |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| TD Capital, Inc. |
Managing Director |
Former |
| TD Capital, Inc. |
Group Head |
Former |
| Eos Partners |
|
Former |
| Emory University |
Bachelor's Degree In Business Administration |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Water-Jel |
CEO |
Current |
| Water-Jel International |
CEO |
Current |
| Latex International |
CEO |
Current |
| Latex International |
President |
Current |
| Water-Jel International |
Director |
Current |
| Vemics, Inc |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Water-Jel |
Director |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Purple Beverage Company, Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| New York University |
Bachelor of Engineering Degree In Industrial Engineering |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Gilbert Global Equity Partners |
Team, Member |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Schroder & Co. |
Chief Executive Officer |
Former |
| Schroder & Co. |
President |
Former |
| Schroder & Co. |
Co-Head |
Former |
| City College of New York |
Graduate |
Former |
Victor K. (Tory) Kiam, III is the President of Kiam Ventures LLC, a holding company consisting of diversified investments as well as five operating divisions: The Franzus Company, a leading travel appliance and accessory distributor; PIC Design, a manufacturer and distributor of precision industrial components; Cirrus Healthcare Products, a manufacturer and distributor of patented or proprietary consumer health products; Lia Sophia (formerly Lady Remington), a party plan jewelry company; and FamilyTLC, a provider of parenting and educational activities. Mr. Kiam began his career in 1982 in the corporate finance department with Drexel Burnham Lambert but has spent most of his career at Remington Products, a leading appliance manufacturer. At Remington, Mr. Kiam was a factory worker, a salesman, a product manager and eventually Vice President of both Marketing and Corporate Development. During that time, he oversaw many new product launches. He was also actively involved in the financial restructuring of Remington during the 1990s. Mr. Kiam is currently President of Lia Sophia and serves as a director of: Creations Manufacturing, a furniture manufacturer; and ITI China Holdings, a holding company with diversified investments in China. Mr. Kiam lives in Manhattan with his wife, Elena, and their three children. He serves on the boards of Trinity School and the New York Junior Tennis League and is a member of the Young Presidents Organization. A native of New York City, Mr. Kiam graduated from Trinity School and holds a BA in Government from Harvard College and an MBA from Stanford University. In his spare time, he enjoys sports, particularly tennis and running.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Young Presidents' Organization |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| The Trinity School |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Circle Peak Capital LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Stanford University |
MBA |
Former |
| Harvard College |
BA In Government |
Former |
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