Team
CenterGate's team possess significant knowledge in a diverse number of industries with over 200 years of combined experience. The CenterGate team draws on a collective set of experiences and partners with management teams to identify and execute strategies to grow companies and deliver value for our partners.
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TIFFANY KOSCH
MANAGING PARTNER
Tiffany Kosch is a Managing Partner at CenterGate Capital. Tiffany has over 25 years of investment experience creating value in lower middle market companies. She was a Managing Director at H.I.G. Capital, where she invested in underperforming lower middle market companies for eight years. Her experience covers a broad range of investment structures and types, among them corporate spin-outs and orphans, turnaround equity and distressed debt. Sectors covered are also broad, including business services, consumer products and manufacturing. Tiffany received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S., cum laude, from Georgetown University.
LEWIS SCHOENWETTER
MANAGING PARTNER
Lewis Schoenwetter is a Managing Partner at CenterGate Capital. Lewis has over 25 years of experience investing in lower middle market companies across a broad range of industries including business services, manufacturing, distribution, telecom and healthcare. Prior to joining CenterGate, Lewis was a Managing Director at H.I.G. Capital investing in lower middle market companies where he was involved in all aspects of the investment process, including sourcing, transaction structuring, financing, and execution of post-closing strategies. While at H.I.G. Capital he served on the board of numerous portfolio companies. Previously, Lewis was a Director with Levine Leichtman Capital Partners. Prior to Levine Leichtman, he worked in the private equity group at ABN AMRO and in Bank of America's leveraged finance group. Lewis received an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a B.S. from Marquette University.
JASON APPLE
MANAGING PARTNER
Jason Apple is a Managing Director at CenterGate Capital. Jason has more than 25 years of experience in lower middle market M&A transactions, including sourcing investment opportunities across a broad range of industries. Prior to joining CenterGate, he was responsible for new deal origination, marketing and business development initiatives at Akoya Capital. Previously, Jason was a Senior Director with Riveron Consulting and a Senior Vice President at the investment banking firm Houlihan Lokey. Prior to Houlihan Lokey, he worked in a range of corporate development and business development roles at Deloitte, PriceWaterhouse and Commerce One. Jason also worked as an investment professional at Equity Group Investments. Jason has an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management and a B.A. from Northwestern University.
WILL BOULDIN
VICE PRESIDENT
Will Bouldin is a Vice President at CenterGate Capital. Will is focused on working with management teams to implement financial process improvements and reporting initiatives at portfolio companies, as well as financial diligence of acquisition opportunities. Prior to joining CenterGate, Will held M&A and corporate finance roles at CoolSys, a national commercial HVAC & refrigeration service company. He began his career in the Transaction Services Group at Moss Adams, focusing on financial due diligence for middle market financial sponsors, investment banks, and strategic acquirers. Will is a licensed CPA in the State of California. He holds a M.S. in Accountancy from Auburn University and a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Nevada, Reno.
GREGORY BOYER
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Gregory Boyer is a Managing Director at CenterGate Capital. Gregory has more than 25 years of experience across a broad range of industries. Prior to CenterGate, Gregory was a Principal at H.I.G. Capital's special situation fund where he invested in lower middle market companies and was involved in all aspects of the investment process, including sourcing, transaction structuring, financing, and execution of post-closing strategies. Previously, Gregory was a Managing Director and assisted in the founding of CDG Group. At CDG Group, Gregory provided advisory services to financially distressed companies and related creditor constituents. Gregory received an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a B.S., cum laude, in Accounting from The Ohio State University.
JIM BROWN
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Jim Brown has over 25 years of experience sourcing, leading, and actively managing investments in private companies across a broad range of sizes and transaction structures in several industries, including software, hardware, cybersecurity, fintech, telecommunications, SaaS, healthcare, and retail. Prior to CenterGate, Jim served as a General Partner at Arena Growth Partners, and as a General Partner at Polaris Partners, where he participated in developing firm strategy and fundraising activities. Jim’s private equity career began at J.P. Morgan Capital. Jim’s career began with service to the nation as a Captain and Aviator in the United States Army. Jim holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a JD from New York University, and a BS in Engineering and Political Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point.
CONNOR DAVIS
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Connor Davis is a Senior Associate at CenterGate Capital. Connor is responsible for the financial modeling, market analysis, and due diligence of acquisition opportunities, as well as the monitoring of existing portfolio companies. Prior to joining CenterGate Capital, Connor was with Farragut Capital Partners, a lower middle market private investment firm. While at Farragut, Connor completed numerous successful equity and mezzanine debt investments across several industries. Prior to Farragut, Mr. Davis began his career at Stout Risius Ross, where he provided advisory and valuation services primarily to employee-owned middle market companies. Connor received a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.
DERWIN FRIESEN
ASSOCIATE
Derwin Friesen is an Associate at CenterGate Capital. Derwin is responsible for the financial modeling, market analysis, and due diligence of acquisition opportunities, as well as the monitoring of existing portfolio companies. Prior to joining CenterGate Capital, Derwin was a senior M&A analyst at GI Alliance (a Waud Capital Partners portfolio company) executing a roll-up strategy. Prior to GI Alliance, Derwin was an investment analyst in the Power Group at Prudential Private Capital. Derwin received a BBA, Magna Cum Laude, in Accounting and a Masters in Accountancy from Baylor University.
VICTORIA HARDAWAY, CPA
CONTROLLER
Victoria Hardaway is a controller at CenterGate Capital. Victoria has over 8 years of experience in private equity accounting. Prior to joining CenterGate Capital, Victoria was a controller at MUFG Capital Analytics, a private equity fund administrator, where she was involved in fund reporting and investor relations. Victoria holds her CPA license from the State of Washington and received a B.B.A., summa cum lade, in accounting from Midwestern State University.
JILL HOLUP, CFA
MANAGING DIRECTOR, COO, AND CFO
Jill Holup is a Managing Director, COO, and CFO at CenterGate Capital. Jill has over 20 years of finance and investment experience, serving in roles that include CFO, COO, Director of Finance, and Portfolio Manager. Prior to joining CenterGate, Jill was Vice President, Finance at the Cumby Group, an Austin-based real estate developer/builder. Previously, she held positions with Callegro Investments, Kensington Investment Group, and John McStay Investment Counsel. Jill received an M.B.A. from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and a B.B.A.- Finance from the University of Texas – El Paso. Jill is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) charterholder.
KADY JOY
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT
Kady Joy is a Business Development Assistant at CenterGate Capital. Kady has a background in business development and marketing operations. Prior to joining CenterGate Capital, Kady was a marketing coordinator with a public accounting firm. Kady received a B.A. in English from Fordham University.
DAVID KATES
VICE PRESIDENT
David Kates is a Vice President at CenterGate Capital. Prior to joining CenterGate, David was a Senior Associate at The Anderson Group, a lower middle market private equity group, where he completed leveraged buyout transactions across a variety of situations and industries. Prior to The Anderson Group, David began his career in strategy and corporate development at PRGX Global, where he focused on shaping the long-term goals of the company and the execution of lower middle market acquisitions. David received both a B.S. and an M.S. in Finance from the University of Florida.
TYLER KINNEY
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ANALYST
Tyler Kinney is a Business Development Analyst at CenterGate Capital. Tyler is responsible for business development, identifying strategic opportunities, and cultivating relationships with key stakeholders. Prior to joining CenterGate Capital, Tyler worked as a private equity summer analyst at Two Roads Partners and The Riverside Company. He holds a B.A. in Business Informatics with a minor in Finance from Indiana University.
JEFF KOVICK
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Jeff Kovick is a Managing Director at CenterGate Capital. Jeff has over 15 years of lower middle market investing experience across a broad range of industries. Prior to joining CenterGate, he was a Principal with Nimes Capital, the internal investment vehicle of a prominent single-family office, where he helped create and lead the private equity strategy focused on direct investments and acquisitions of lower middle market companies. Before Nimes, Jeff held positions with Century Park Capital Partners and Houlihan Lokey. Jeff received a B.B.A in Finance from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School.
TIM LIU
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Tim Liu is a Managing Director at CenterGate Capital. Tim has over 20 years of investing experience across a broad range of industries, company sizes, and transaction structures. After investment banking at Morgan Stanley, he began his private equity career at H.I.G. Capital focusing on lower middle market transactions across the business services, industrial services, and healthcare industries. Tim then joined Brentwood Associates, where he focused on the consumer industry. Most recently he was a Vice President at Platinum Equity. Tim received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S., magna cum laude, in Economics from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
ADAM MILLER
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Adam Miller is a Managing Director at CenterGate Capital. Adam is focused on working with management teams to implement operational improvements and growth initiatives at portfolio companies, as well as operational diligence of acquisition opportunities. Prior to joining CenterGate, Adam was Vice President of Operations at Ketra, an Austin-based tech startup. Adam is an alumnus of the Leaders for Global Operations program at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he received both an M.B.A from the Sloan School of Management and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He holds a B.S. in Engineering Technology, with Distinction, from Purdue University.
JAZARY OLVERA
VICE PRESIDENT
Jazary Olvera is a Vice President at CenterGate Capital. Prior to joining CenterGate, Jazary was a Vice President at Rubicon Technology Partners where she focused on enterprise software investments. Before that, Jazary was a Senior Associate at ICV Partners, where she worked on executing middle market private equity transactions across the business services and healthcare sectors. Jazary began her career as an investment banking analyst in the leveraged finance group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Ms. Olvera holds a B.S. in Business Administration, high honors, from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
ELIZABETH ROMERA
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Elizabeth Romero is an Executive Assistant at CenterGate Capital. Elizabeth has over eight years of experience in executive administration. Prior to joining CenterGate Capital, Elizabeth served as an Administrator and Executive Assistant for venture capital and startup organizations including Khorus Software and Meaningful Ventures. Elizabeth received her B.S. in Secondary Education from Louisiana Tech University.
MICHAEL SMITH
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Michael Smith is a Managing Director at CenterGate Capital. Michael has over 13 years of experience across a broad range of industries. Prior to joining CenterGate, Michael was with Five Points Capital, a lower middle market private investment firm. While at Five Points Capital, Michael completed numerous successful equity and debt investments in a broad range of industries. Prior to Five Points Capital, Mr. Smith began his career in investment banking at Lazard, focusing on M&A advisory to middle market clients. Michael received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
JEFF STEFANUCCI
ASSOCIATE
Jeff Stefanucci is an Associate at CenterGate Capital. Jeff is responsible for the financial modeling, market analysis, and due diligence of acquisition opportunities, as well as the monitoring of existing portfolio companies. Prior to joining CenterGate Capital, Jeff was an investment banking analyst at Piper Sandler, focusing on M&A advisory and debt and equity offerings across the financial services space. Prior to Piper Sandler, Jeff was a credit risk analyst in the financial institutions group at JP Morgan. Jeff received a B.B.A., Cum Laude, in Finance from Texas A&M University.
CHRIS THOMAS
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Chris Thomas is a Senior Associate at CenterGate Capital. Chris is responsible for the financial modeling, market analysis, and due diligence of acquisition opportunities, as well as the monitoring of existing portfolio companies. Prior to joining CenterGate Capital, Chris was an investment banking analyst at Deloitte Corporate Finance, a middle-market investment bank. Chris received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
ERIK ZENTNER
VICE PRESIDENT
Erik Zentner is a Vice President at CenterGate Capital. Erik is responsible for the financial modeling, market analysis, and due diligence of acquisition opportunities, as well as the monitoring of existing portfolio companies. Prior to joining CenterGate Capital, Erik was with Aldine Capital Partners, a lower middle market private investment firm. While at Aldine, Erik completed numerous successful equity and mezzanine debt investments across several industries. Prior to Aldine, Mr. Zentner began his career at KPMG in the Deal Advisory Group, focusing on financial due diligence for middle market financial sponsors and strategic acquirers. Erik received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is a CPA (inactive).