Decision Makers
Board of Directors
Ms. Ghisletta was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley (B.S., Business Administration, 1988). After graduating from UC Berkeley, Ms. Ghisletta joined Deloitte & Touche, LLP in their San Francisco audit practice where she served financial services clients, including securities broker/dealers, investment partnerships and asset management companies. In 1997, Ms. Ghisletta joined Tucker Anthony Sutro (TAS), Inc. in Boston, Massachusetts. During her five years with TAS, Ms. Ghisletta served as a Financial Analyst for their Equity Capital Markets Division and, most recently, as Chief Financial Officer for TAS' asset management subsidiary, as well as Vice President in their Corporate Financial Analysis and Reporting group. Ms. Ghisletta is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Mr. Meyer was raised outside of Monterey, California. He is a graduate of California Polytechnic State University (B.S., Business Administration, 1993) and Golden Gate University (M.S., Taxation, 2001). After graduation from Cal Poly, Mr. Meyer joined a regional public accounting firm on the Monterey Peninsula where he provided audit and tax compliance services to a variety of industries. In 1996, Mr. Meyer joined the San Francisco Bay Area public accounting firm Jones, Schiller & Company, LLP where in addition to advising the predecessor firm since its inception, he provided audit and tax services as a partner focused primarily on tax compliance and planning. Mr. Meyer joined the predecessor firm in 2005 as the Vice President of Finance, and in 2008 was named Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Meyer is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Paine & Partners |
Chief Financial Officer |
Current |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Vice President of Finance |
Current |
| Mikunda, Cottrell & Co., Inc. |
Principal, Tax Department |
Current |
| Alaska Society of Certified Public Accountants |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| California Society of Certified Public Accountants |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| The Salvation Army |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| American Institute of Certified Public Accountants |
Member |
Current |
| California Society of Certified Public Accountants |
Member |
Current |
| California Polytechnic State University |
M.S., Taxation |
Former |
| Golden Gate University |
M.S. |
Former |
| California Polytechnic State University |
B.S. |
Former |
| The Cal Poly Co |
|
Former |
| University of San Francisco |
|
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Managing Director |
Current |
| Paine & Partners |
Partner |
Current |
| Icicle Seafoods, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Seminis Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| American Industrial Partners |
Team Member |
Former |
| Fremont Partners |
Team Member |
Former |
| The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. |
financial analyst |
Former |
| Goldman, Sachs & Co. |
Financial Analyst |
Former |
| University of Illinois |
B.S. in Accountancy |
Former |
| Seminis Inc. |
member |
Former |
Bruno Ferrari was born and raised in Mexico City. He received his B.S. from the Escuela Libre de Derecho in Mexico City, his M.S. with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Law, from the Laternance University in Rome, Italy, and a B.S. in Canonic Law and a Ph.D in Law from the Roman Academic Center of the Holy Cross in Rome. For over 15 years, he has enjoyed a successful career in a variety of industries and geographies with a focus on Agribusiness, transforming at-risk companies into thriving enterprises by focusing on the development of human capital. Dr. Ferrari previously served as the President and CEO of Seminis, Inc., a portfolio investment company of Fox Paine. Dr. Ferrari helped Seminis grow from a small company into the world's largest developer, producer and marketer of vegetable seeds through both organic growth initiatives and numerous mergers and acquisitions. Prior to his time at Seminis, Dr. Ferrari spent eight years in a variety of corporate positions at Grupo Pulsar, which was one of the largest corporations in Mexico. Dr. Ferrari has published several volumes on Marriage and Family Law. Since 1997, he has contributed columns to several magazines and newspapers, including El Financiero, El Observador, El Norte and 30 Giorni to name a few. He has also participated in several Executive Development programs at Harvard, Stanford University, and The Wharton School of Business, among others. He is a founding member of Mexicanos Primero, an organization determined to change the face of education in Mexico, and is on the board of the Fundacion Televisa. He is also a member of the Private Sector Committee of CGIAR, the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research of the World Bank. He has been a member of the International Seed Federation and the American Seed Trade Association. He was on the board of the Instituto de Fomento e Investigacion Educativa and Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon and founded DUXX, Escuela de Graduados en Liderazgo Empresarial. Dr. Ferrari has had the opportunity to live in Brazil, Spain, France, Italy and the United States. He speaks five languages and conducts business in several countries. He resides in California with his wife and four sons.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Operating Director |
Current |
| The World Bank |
|
Current |
| Seminis Inc. |
Producer |
Former |
| Universidad Autonoma |
|
Former |
| American Seed Trade Association |
Member |
Former |
Mr. Anton was raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (B.S., Chemistry). Mr. Anton has enjoyed a successful career as an operating executive and private investor in the food, consumer products and specialty ingredient industries. Mr. Anton began his career with Ralston Purina and later joined Nabisco Brands Corporation, spending nearly 20 years in various management and executive roles between the two companies. In 1983, Mr. Anton left Nabisco and founded Carlin Foods Corporation, a national food ingredient company serving the dairy, baking and food service industries, where he served as Chairman and co-owner from 1983 to 1990; and from 1990 to 1992 as Chairman of Carlin Investment Corporation, which was created to invest in food and specialty chemical firms. In 1992, Mr. Anton led the acquisition of Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. As Chairman, CEO and co-owner of Ghirardelli, Mr. Anton was responsible for revitalizing the company's brand, marketing programs and growth prior to transitioning Ghiradelli to its new ownership. In 2001, Mr. Anton joined Fremont Partners, a private equity management firm, as Senior Advisory Director, where he was instrumental in the acquisition and successful divestiture of Specialty Brands Inc. Mr. Anton served as an infantry officer in Vietnam, earning a Bronze Star for valor during combat operations. He serves on the CNF Inc. Board of Directors; the Advisory Boards of Notre Dame's College of Science and the University of San Francisco's Business School; as a Trustee to the Schools of the Sacred Heart, San Francisco; and as a past Trustee to the Allendale Association, a Chicago-based school for abused children. He is also a member of the World Presidents Organization.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Operating Director |
Current |
| San Francisco |
Trustee |
Current |
| Con-Way Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| Wire Rope Corporation of America, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Basic American Foods, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Fremont Partners |
Senior Advisory Director |
Former |
| Specialty Brands, Inc. |
Senior Advisory Director |
Former |
| University of Notre Dame |
B.S., Chemistry |
Former |
Stephan Kessel was raised in Aachen, Germany. He is a graduate of the Rheinisch Westfalische Technische Hochschule (University) of Aachen (Doctor's degree, Chemistry). Mr. Kessel has enjoyed a successful career as an operating executive and advisor for value-added industrial and manufacturing companies, with specific expertise in the automotive sector. Mr. Kessel began his career in a research and development capacity with Continental AG, the leading supplier of tires, brake and chassis systems to the automotive industry. In 1995, Mr. Kessel assumed responsibility of Continental's OEM tires business, successfully turning around its performance. In 1997 he became a Member of the Executive board and succeeded in leading the turnaround of Continental's truck tire business after 12 years of reported losses. Mr. Kessel became CEO of Continental in 1999. As CEO, he was responsible for the acquisition of the automotive electronic division TEMIC, the creation of a JV with Yokohama Tires and the turnaround of Contental's ContiTrade division.
Zina Vaysman is a graduate of Odessa University (B.S. Business Administration). Prior to joining Fox Paine in 2009, Ms. Vaysman was Chief Financial Officer of Guzik Technical Enterprises, Inc. Ms. Vaysman is a Certified Public Accountant and member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the California Society of Certified Public Accountants.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Treasurer & Controller |
Current |
| California Society of Certified Public Accountants |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Associate |
Current |
| Nomura Securities Co, Ltd. |
interned |
Former |
| The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. |
analyst |
Former |
| Claremont McKenna College |
B.A. in Economics and Government |
Former |
Mr. Smith was raised in Dallas, Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin (B.B.A., Finance, Cum Laude, 2003). During college, Mr. Smith served as an intern at J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in the Natural Resources group of the Investment Banking Division. After graduation in 2003, Mr. Smith joined Greenhill & Co., Inc. as an Analyst focusing on mergers & acquisitions and restructuring transactions, as well as investments for the firm's private equity fund. In 2005, Mr. Smith joined Fox Paine and is focused on new investment opportunities.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Principal |
Current |
| Byram Healthcare Centers, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Icicle Seafoods, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Paine & Partners |
Director |
Current |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Vice President |
Former |
| Ernst & Young |
Mergers & Acquisitions office |
Former |
| College of the Holy Cross |
B.A., History |
Former |
Mr. Glover was raised in Anchorage, Alaska. He is a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 2002). After graduation in 2002, Mr. Glover joined Goldman, Sachs & Co. as an Analyst in the Industrials and Natural Resources group of the Investment Banking Division. While there, he focused on mergers & acquisitions and strategic advisory for energy, power and chemicals companies. In 2004, Mr. Glover joined Fox Paine. His current and historic investment responsibilities include VCST Industrial Products BVBA, Erno Laszlo Inc., L'Artisan Parfumeur and Penhaligon's LTD.
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. |
interned |
Former |
| Goldman, Sachs & Co. |
|
Former |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Principal |
Current |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Vice President |
Former |
| The Blackstone Group L.P. |
analyst |
Former |
| Stanford Graduate School of Business |
MBA |
Former |
| Harvard University |
AB, Social Studies |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Associate |
Current |
| WJ Communications Incorporated |
|
Current |
| New York University |
B.S. In Finance and Economics, Cum Laude |
Former |
| Organization |
Position |
Status |
| Paine Corporation |
Co-Founder |
Current |
| Paine & Partners |
Partner |
Current |
| University of California |
guest lecturer |
Current |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Chairman |
Current |
| WAV, Inc. |
Chairman of The Board |
Current |
| Alaska Communications Systems Group, Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| Byram Healthcare Centers, Inc. |
Director |
Current |
| Capital Z |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| United America Indemnity, Ltd. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Wire Rope Corporation of America, Inc. |
Board of Directors |
Current |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
President |
Former |
| WJ Communications Incorporated |
Chairman |
Current |
| Robertson, Stephens & Company |
General Partner |
Former |
| Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C. |
Senior Partner |
Former |
| Bankers Trust Company Inc. |
Structured Finance Group |
Former |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
co-found |
Former |
| Kohlberg & Company, L.L.C. |
Team Member |
Former |
| Berkeley Haas School of Business |
Board Member |
Former |
| Fox Paine & Company, LLC |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| WJ Communications Incorporated |
Board of Directors |
Former |
| Williams College |
B.A. In Economics |
Former |
Mr. Haddock is a graduate of Fordham University (B.A. English, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa, 1967), the University of Wisconsin (M.A. Political Science, 1968), and Stanford University (J.D., 1972, M.B.A., 1978). After graduating from Stanford, Mr. Haddock worked for two years at Itel Corporation, where he arranged international financings for the acquisition and lease of commercial aircraft. In 1980, Mr. Haddock joined the hospitality group of Ramada Inc. and in 1987 was named Chief Financial Officer.