As part of the founding team at Stride, I’m highly energized by our own entrepreneurial adventure. We spend our days helping entrepreneurs and founders build the next great consumer brands while building a next-generation investment firm.
Prior to Stride, I was a Managing Partner at Castanea Partners, which I joined in 2002 soon after the firm launched. I joined Castanea because I wanted to work with entrepreneurs at a critical stage in their companies’ development to help them build their businesses. And, importantly, I believe in an investment strategy that develops and deploys its own operating capabilities to support companies.
Prior to Castanea, I worked in the private equity group at Bain Capital, where I was involved with larger consumer and retail brands.
I’ve had the privilege of working with many fantastic brands and alongside incredible founders. My involvement with past investments includes Fuze Beverage, Hanna Andersson, Urban Decay Cosmetics, First Aid Beauty, and Tatcha. I’m currently working with dryBar, MacKenzie-Childs, and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams.
I received an MBA from Wharton but am a Wolverine at heart: I grew up outside Detroit, studied engineering at the University of Michigan, and married a fellow Wolverine. We have three teenage sons who keep us guessing, laughing, and humble.