Chris Sznewajs
Managing Partner and Founder
Chris Sznewajs is the Managing Partner, Founder and Investment
Committee Member of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. Mr. Sznewajs is
responsible for overseeing all aspects of the firm’s investment activities
along with chairing the Boards of the active portfolio companies.
Prior to founding Pacific in 2017, Mr. Sznewajs served as a Principal with
The Gores Group where he focused on investing in special situations and
corporate carve-outs in the industrials sector. Mr. Sznewajs also was a
Manager at Bain & Company in the restructuring and turnaround practice.
Mr. Sznewajs graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Finance
and Accounting. He has an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg
School of Management and is also a Certified Public Accountant (CPA).
Jason Leach
Partner
Jason Leach is a Partner and Investment Committee Member of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. In addition to sourcing and leading platform acquisitions, Mr. Leach plays an active role in portfolio operations, add-ons, carve-out transition, financings, and divestitures.
With over 20 years of PE and operations experience focused on special situations, Mr. Leach has closed over 30 M&A transactions including 17 corporate divestitures and has deployed in excess of $500 million of capital. Prior to joining Pacific, Mr. Leach served as a Principal at Platinum Equity and Sun Capital Partners where he focused on carve-outs and led investments in the industrial and technology sectors. Mr. Leach graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Finance from Stetson University.
Allen Schaar
Managing Director, Operations
Allen Schaar is a Managing Director at Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. In his role at Pacific, Mr. Schaar focuses his efforts on acquisition due diligence, operations, and corporate strategy.
Prior to joining Pacific, Mr. Schaar served as CEO of several middle market companies (Eagle Hospitalist Physicians, Endeva, Marietta Corporation, and Niteo Products), as an Operating Partner with Highlander Partners, and as a Partner with Bain Consulting and Alix Partners. Mr. Schaar graduated with a B.B.A. in Finance from University of Texas.
Mike Shepard
Principal
Mike Shepard is a Principal at Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. As a senior member of the Pacific team, Mr. Shepard is responsible for sourcing and execution for new platform acquisitions as well as add-ons and financings. Additionally, Mr. Shepard is actively involved with portfolio company management.
Prior to joining Pacific Avenue, Mr. Shepard served as a Vice President at Sun Capital Partners where he focused on special situations and carve-outs and focused on investments in the industrial, manufacturing, and consumer sectors. He began his career in the Los Angeles office of JPMorgan’s Investment Bank. Mr. Shepard graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.
Chris Baddon
Principal, Head of Business Development
Chris Baddon is a Principal and Head of the Business Development Group at Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. In his role at Pacific, Mr. Baddon focuses his efforts on originating new investment opportunities.
Prior to joining Pacific, Mr. Baddon served as a Vice President at Transom Capital Group and OpenGate Capital. Mr. Baddon received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of San Diego.
Jonathan Sinnott
Vice President
Jonathan Sinnott is a Vice President at Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. In his role at Pacific, Mr. Sinnott focuses his efforts on transaction sourcing, execution, due diligence, and portfolio operations.
Prior to joining Pacific, Mr. Sinnott served as an Associate in the Special Situations group of Oaktree Capital Management, where he focused on M&A transactions in the healthcare and industrial sectors, and as an Analyst in the Financial Sponsors group at Credit Suisse. Mr. Sinnott completed his MBA from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and graduated with a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.
Jack Marut
Vice President
Jack Marut is a Vice President at Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. In his role at Pacific, Mr. Marut focuses his efforts on transaction sourcing, execution, due diligence, and portfolio operations.
Prior to joining Pacific, Mr. Marut served as an Associate at KPS Capital Partners and as an Analyst in the Industrials group at Nomura Securities International. Mr. Marut graduated with a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from Boston College.
Chris Nealey
Associate
Chris Nealey is an Associate at Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. In his role at Pacific, Mr. Nealey focuses his efforts on transaction sourcing, execution, due diligence, and portfolio operations.
Prior to joining Pacific, Mr. Nealey served as an Associate at Fertitta Capital and as an Analyst in the Investment Banking group at Wells Fargo. Mr. Nealey graduated with a B.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from Boise State.
Joseph Villanueva
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer
Joseph Villanueva is Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at Pacific Avenue Capital Partners. In his role at Pacific, Mr. Villanueva is responsible for the firm’s internal financial operations and compliance efforts.
Prior to joining Pacific, Mr. Villanueva served as Director of Fund Reporting and Accounting for Colony Capital and as Manager with Ernst and Young. Mr. Villanueva graduated with a B.A. in Economics from UCLA.
Select Operating Partners*
David Kreilein, Carve-out Specialist
Dave Kreilein has over 30 years of experience in private equity and operations, including the execution of over 20 carve-outs. Throughout his career, Dave has served as an operating partner for various middle market private equity and private debt funds while also serving as CEO, COO and CFO of numerous middle-market companies. Dave was most recently a Managing Director in Monroe Capital’s Equity Group. Prior to Monroe, Dave was a Managing Director at Centre Lane and operating partner at Monomoy Capital Partners.
Greg Anderson, Healthcare Services
Greg Anderson is an experienced CEO with over 30 years experience in the hospital and healthcare industry. Greg has served as President/CEO of Associated Laundry Management, Campus Laundry, and Encore Textile Services. Currently, Greg serves as Executive Chairman of Emerald Textiles and as Board Member of SPSA.
Tom Chieffe, Building Products
Tom has over 25 years of experience in the building products sector. He is currently Executive Chairman of Dayton Superior and served as CEO of RSI Home Products, the largest manufacturer of kitchen cabinets, vanities, and counter top products in North America.
Charles Veniez, Business Services
Charles Veniez has over 25 years of experience in leadership and operations. Charles was the former President and CEO of two private equity backed businesses, Norment Security Group and Industrial Container Services. Prior to that, Charles served as President, Regional Vice President, and General Manager of various United Technologies Corp. subsidiaries.
*Operating Partners assist in areas of due diligence, transaction support, and in portfolio company operations and other initiatives. Operating Partners are either employees of the respective portfolio companies that they work with, or are independent contractors/consultants, and are not employees of Pacific Avenue Capital Partners.
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