Our Team

Honesty, Integrity and Hard Work

Each member of our organization shares common principles and values. Furthermore, investment professionals at our firm have accumulated more than 70 years of private equity investing experience. We believe this familiarity with the industry and with one another enables us to define specific investment strategies, to attract top talent and to produce extraordinary returns for our management teams and investors.

Andrew B. Albert

Managing Director

Andy joined Svoboda Capital Partners (“SC”) as a Managing Director and Operating Partner in February 2007 after serving on SC’s Advisory Board since 1998. As Operating Partner, Andy works with SC’s portfolio companies as well as focusing on underperformance, operational improvements and supply chain efficiencies throughout SC’s portfolios and serves on the board of Reliable Parts Holdings, LLC and Cigars Accessories Holdings, Inc.

Andy was formerly CEO of Nashua Corporation, a $300 million publicly traded NASDAQ company that converted, coated and printed paper for a wide variety of business applications. He joined Nashua in April 2000 and became its Chairman/CEO in December 2000. Andy stepped down as CEO in May 2006 and remained Chairman of Nashua’s Board of Directors until September 2009.

Prior to April 2000, Andy spent 24 years at Rittenhouse, LLC as Chairman/CEO from 1976 to 2000. During his tenure at Rittenhouse, sales grew from $6 million to $150 million. Rittenhouse was sold to Nashua in April 2000. Andy spent seven years as a commercial banker (1969 to 1976) at Irving Trust Company in New York and American National Bank and Trust Co. of Chicago.

Andy serves on the Board of Directors of Lawson Products and Transco, Inc. He also serves on the Advisory Board of the University of Wisconsin’s Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship. Andy also serves on the Board of Directors for the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Andy graduated from Washington University with a BA in 1967 and received his MBA from the University of Wisconsin in 1969.

aalbert@svoco.com 312-267-8753

Thomas G. Brooker

Managing Director

Tom joined Svoboda Capital Partners (“SC”) as a Managing Director and Operating Partner in April of 2015. Tom worked as the President & CEO of GPA, a specialty substrates distribution company serving the printing industry which SC owned until its successful sale in April of 2015. As Operating Partner, his broad managerial and leadership skills is used to assist the SC team in the evaluation of potential acquisition candidates. Tom also works with the executive teams of portfolio companies to enhance results and create value.

Prior to joining GPA as CEO, Tom served as CEO of Nashua Corporation from 2006 until its successful sale in 2009, and as Group President of Forms, Labels and Office Products for Moore Wallace, which he joined as a sales representative in 1981.

Tom serves as a director of Reliable Parts, Strategic Marketing, Vision Integrated Graphics and Community Bank of Oak Park and River Forest. Tom is the Chairman of the finance committee for Ascension Church in Oak Park. He earned a BA in Business from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in 1981.

tbrooker@svoco.com 312-267-8740

David B. Rubin

Managing Director

David joined Svoboda Capital Partners (“SC”) in 2015 and is responsible for sourcing and evaluating potential investment opportunities, leading due diligence, structuring and negotiating transactions, and managing portfolio company investments. David serves as a board member at Marcus Thomas and Kenway Consulting and as a board participant at Sonoma Creamery. Previously, David was intimately involved with SWC Technology Partners and served on the board of One North Interactive.

Prior to joining SC, David spent a number of years in middle market private equity and beforehand was an Investment Banking Analyst with Harris Williams & Co. (“HW”) in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During his tenure at HW, David focused the majority of his time on mergers and acquisitions in the business services and consumer sectors.

David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance with honors from George Washington University and an MBA with concentrations in Accounting, Finance and Organizational Management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

drubin@svoco.com 312-267-8756

John A. Svoboda

Managing Director

John co-founded Svoboda Capital Partners (“SC”) in January 1998 with Michelle Collins. John serves on the boards of SC portfolio companies BPI Media, Sonoma Creamery, Kenway Consulting, Clarion HealthCare, Marcus Thomas and The Variable. Prior to co-founding SC, John worked in the Corporate Finance Department of William Blair & Company LLC (1983-1997), where he managed Business Development and became a Partner in 1988. John graduated from Williams College with a BA in 1979 and received his MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business in 1983.

John serves as a trustee of the University of Chicago Medical Center as well as for the Otho S. A. Sprague Memorial Institute. He is a Board member of the Pat Tillman Foundation and the Better Government Association, and is an honorary trustee of Marwen and a life trustee of the Francis W. Parker School. John previously served on the Advisory Council of Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, served on the Steering Committee for the Stanford Campaign, and recently served on the GSB’s Racial Equity Task Force. John is a member of the Commercial Club of Chicago, serves on the Global Council of the American Ballet Theatre and is former Board Chair of Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre.

jas@svoco.com 312-267-8751

William C. King

Principal

Will joined Svoboda Capital Partners (“SC”) in April 2018 and is responsible for investment evaluation, transaction execution, and portfolio management.

Prior to joining SC, Will spent two years as an analyst in the Investment Banking Division of BMO Capital Markets (“BMO”) in Chicago. During his tenure at BMO, Will advised clients in the consumer sector on a variety of transactions including mergers & acquisitions, as well as debt and equity financings.

Will is actively involved in his community and serves on the Board of Care for Friends and also volunteers with Big Shoulders Fund. Will holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Michigan.

wking@svoco.com 312-267-8744

Michael N. Mulroe

Vice President

Mike joined Svoboda Capital Partners (“SC”) in March of 2022 and is responsible for investment evaluation, transaction execution, and portfolio management.

Prior to joining SC, Mike worked as a senior associate at Tilia Holdings (“Tilia”), a food and beverage-focused private equity fund in Chicago. During his tenure at Tilia, Mike was responsible for leading diligence on new investment opportunities. Previously, Mike was an investment banking analyst in the Industrial group of Robert W. Baird (“Baird”) in Chicago. Prior to Baird, Mike co-founded and operated a healthy snack food business.

Mike holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

mmulroe@svoco.com 312.267.8741

Ryan M. Smith

Senior Associate

Ryan joined Svoboda Capital Partners (“SC”) in March of 2022 and is responsible for investment evaluation, transaction execution, and portfolio management.

Prior to joining SC, Ryan spent three years as an associate at CapX Partners (“CapX”), a Chicago-based alternative debt provider for private equity sponsored companies. During his tenure at CapX, Ryan evaluated and executed debt financing transactions and managed a portfolio of companies across the consumer, technology, and industrial sectors.

Ryan serves on the Auxiliary Boards of One Heart Uganda and Christ the King College Prep. Ryan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Illinois.

rsmith@svoco.com 312-267-6292

Ryan P. Clark

Analyst

Ryan Clark joined Svoboda Capital Partners (“SC”) in August of 2023 and is responsible for investment evaluation, transaction execution, and portfolio management.

Prior to joining SC, Ryan interned for Shore Capital Partners, a microcap private equity firm based in Chicago. Previously, Ryan interned for Select Equity Group, RCP Advisors, and NextGen Growth Partners in their Chicago offices.

Ryan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance with honors from DePaul University.

rclark@svoco.com 312-267-6382

Ana Padilla

Executive Assistant

Ana joined Svoboda Capital Partners (“SC”) in March of 2017 and manages the daily office operations while also providing high-level support to the SC team. In addition, Ana is responsible for fund-related communications to investors and assisting with Compliance and IT projects.

Ana has over 20 years of administrative professional experience working for large organizations such as the University of Chicago Crime Lab, Discover Financial Services and Deloitte & Touche, LLP. Ana holds a BS degree in Business Administration from Lewis University.

apadilla@svoco.com 312-267-8750

Advisory Board

Keith Bishop

Managing Director at Huntington Private Capital.
Served as a Principal with Wincove Private Holdings.
Keith received his BA in Mathematics and Economics, magna cum laude, from Denison University.

Brian Branca

CFO of Dot Foods.
Dot Foods is the leading master distributor of food and ingredients in the U.S.
Prior to joining Dot Family Holdings in 2023, Brian held numerous financial leadership roles throughout his 16+ year career with Bayer / Monsanto, including serving as US CFO, US Treasurer, CFO for the Climate Corporation, and multiple, global finance functional leadership roles.
Brian holds a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an EMBA from Washington University (St. Louis) Olin Business School.

Michelle Collins

Co-Founder and Managing Director of Svoboda, Collins LLC, 1998-2006
President of Cambium LLC, a business and financial advisory consultancy.
Active board directorships include CIBC and CIBC US, ULTA Beauty Inc., and Ryan Specialty Holdings, Inc. Former director on the board at CDW Corp.
Michelle holds a B.A. in Economics from Yale University and an M.B.A. in Finance from Harvard Business School.

Carl Jenkins

Managing Director and Group Head of Community Capital Solutions for BMO Financial Group.
Chair, Board of Directors for BMO Private Equity (U.S.), Inc.
Serves on the board of directors for several organizations, including the Disability Opportunity Fund, Enterprise Community Investment, the Goodman Theatre, and also serves on the advisory board of multiple lower middle market private equity funds.
Carl holds an B.A. from Washington University (St. Louis) and an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina.

Mike Krasny

Chairman – Sawdust Investment Management.
Founder & Former Chairman/CEO of CDW Corp.

Sean McGuire

Managing Director at Fifth Third Bank (previously MB Financial).
Currently heads up the Private Equity Investments team at Fifth Third Bank.
Sean is a Summa Cum Laude graduate of St. Louis University and received his MBA from the University of Chicago with a concentration in Accounting, Economics and Finance.

Patrick Norton

Former EVP and CFO and currently a Director of The Scotts Company
The Scotts Company is the world’s leading producer and marketer of products for do-it-yourself lawn care and gardening and professional horticulture
Former CEO and President of Barefoot, Inc., a leading professional lawn care service company

John Raitt

Partner, President and the Chief Executive Officer for Harris Associates, and President of The Oakmark Funds
Joined Harris Associates in 1986 where he served as a research analyst, became Director of Research in early 1998
Former Investment Officer at The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company responsible for private equity and fixed income investments
B.A. in Economics from Williams College (1978), a M.B.A. from Northwestern University (1980)
Over twenty-three years investment experience and is a CFA charterholder

John L. Simpson

CEO of Convert IT Marketing, an entrepreneurial digital agency focused on the legal sector.
Co-founder and former CEO of One North Interactive, a digital marketing agency and SC Fund III portfolio company.
John holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a BA from Vanderbilt University.

Our Team

Our Team

Honesty, Integrity and Hard Work

Andrew B. Albert

Andrew B. Albert

Managing Director

Thomas G. Brooker

Thomas G. Brooker

Managing Director

David B. Rubin

David B. Rubin

Managing Director

John A. Svoboda

John A. Svoboda

Managing Director

William C. King

William C. King

Principal

Michael N. Mulroe

Michael N. Mulroe

Vice President

Ryan M. Smith

Ryan M. Smith

Senior Associate

Ryan P. Clark

Ryan P. Clark

Analyst

Ana Padilla

Ana Padilla

Executive Assistant

Advisory Board

Keith Bishop

Brian Branca

Michelle Collins

Carl Jenkins

Mike Krasny

Sean McGuire

Patrick Norton

John Raitt

John L. Simpson

Team Photos

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