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Prior to joining Fidus Capital in 2016, Mr. Brown was Senior Vice President of Finance of a public REIT where he oversaw all aspects of debt and equity financing for the company’s development and joint venture activities. Previously, he was a Vice President with Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm, where he provided merger and acquisition advisory and related services to private equity firms, corporations, and private business owners. Mr. Brown earned a Master of Science of accountancy degree as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in finance, magna cum laude, from the Wayne Calloway School of Business and Administration at Wake Forest University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Mr. Culbertson has 9 years of experience investing in and providing advisory services to lower middle market companies. Prior to joining Fidus Capital in 2012, Mr. Culbertson was an associate with Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm, where he provided merger and acquisition advisory and related services to private equity firms, corporations, and private business owners. Mr. Culbertson has transaction experience within several industries including niche manufacturing, business services, and consumer / retail. Mr. Culbertson graduated in 2006 from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia with dual concentrations in finance and management.
Mr. Davis has over 25 years of private debt and equity investment and origination experience in middle-market companies. He leads originations within Texas and surrounding states for Fidus Capital and is based in Dallas. Prior to joining Fidus, Mr. Davis was a co-founder of Altacrest Capital, an independent sponsor private equity firm focused on acquiring lower middle-market companies. Prior to Altacrest, Mr. Davis spent more than 14 years in the Dallas office of Prudential Private Capital where he led a team making private middle-market debt and structured equity investments. Mr. Davis earned his B.B.A. in finance from Texas Tech University and his MBA from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin.
Mr. Grigg has over 25 years of experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions. Prior to co-founding Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm, in 2004, Mr. Grigg served as managing director and partner at First Union Securities, Inc. and its predecessor, Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co., from 1989 to 2000. Prior to joining Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co., Mr. Grigg worked in the investment banking group of Merrill Lynch & Co. Mr. Grigg earned a bachelor of arts from the University of North Carolina and a master of business administration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
Prior to joining Fidus in 2023, John was a shareholder at Robinson, Bradshaw & Hinson, P.A, a law firm based in Charlotte, NC, where he worked for approximately 29 years. He was the lead attorney and legal advisor for Fidus Capital since it was formed in 2005. He founded the Private Credit Practice Group of Robinson Bradshaw and chaired it for over 20 years until he joined Fidus. John regularly advised business development companies, SBIC funds, and other credit investment vehicles in the structuring, negotiation, documentation, and management of their debt and related equity investments, including the exercise of creditors rights and remedies. John also advised private funds in connection with their formation, capital raising and offerings, management activities, acquisitions, dispositions, and corporate matters. John earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Kenan-Flagler Business School, with a focus on finance. He also earned a Juris Doctor from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Law School, with honors, and was inducted into the Order of the Coif.
Mr. Hoesley has over 15 years of experience investing in lower middle-market businesses. Prior to joining Fidus Capital in 2008, Mr. Hoesley graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor of arts degree in politics, philosophy, and economics.
Mr. Lauer has more than 25 years of experience investing debt and equity capital in lower middle-market companies. Mr. Lauer was a managing partner of Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm, from 2008 to June 2011. Mr. Lauer was a managing director of Allied Capital Corporation, a publicly-traded business development company, from 2004 to 2008, where he was a member of the firm’s Management Committee from 2006 to 2008, Private Finance Investment Committee from 2005 to 2008, and Senior Debt Fund Investment Committee from 2007 to 2008. Prior to joining Allied Capital Corporation, Mr. Lauer worked with the Global Sponsor Finance Group of GE Capital, the financial services unit of General Electric, the Leveraged Capital Group at Wachovia Securities and its predecessor, First Union Securities, Inc., a retail brokerage and institutional capital markets and investment banking firm, and the Platform Components Division of Intel Corporation. Mr. Lauer earned a bachelor of business administration from the University of Notre Dame and master of business administration from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.
Prior to joining Fidus Capital 2013, Mr. Lesley was a partner at Chapter IV Investors, a $270 million middle-market hybrid investment fund. Chapter IV’s flexible investment charter allowed for investment in both the private (control and minority equity) and public markets. From 2003 to 2007, Mr. Lesley was a vice president with Blue Point Capital Partners, a private equity firm focused on lower middle-market companies. From 2000 to 2003, Robert was an associate in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group of Wachovia Securities and its predecessor, First Union Securities, Inc. Mr. Lesley earned a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a masters of business administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.
Mr. Miller has over 25 years of leveraged finance and corporate lending and origination experience. Prior to joining Fidus, in 2010, Mr. Miller served in various capacities, including managing director and head of business development, at Allied Capital Corporation from 2005 until 2010. Prior to joining Allied Capital Corporation, Mr. Miller spent more than 16 years with JPMorgan Chase and its predecessors where he worked in their middle market leveraged finance, asset based, and corporate lending groups. Mr. Miller earned his bachelor of science in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University and his master of business administration from The Stern School at New York University.
Mr. Petrusha has more than 20 years of experience investing in lower middle market companies. Prior to joining Fidus Capital in 2013, Mr. Petrusha served as a principal with Golub Capital Corporation from 2010 to 2013, where he was responsible for transaction execution and portfolio management. Prior to Golub, Mr. Petrusha performed various investment related activities at Allied Capital Corporation, GE Antares Capital, Orchard First Source Capital, and Allstate Investments. Mr. Petrusha earned a bachelor of science in accounting from Indiana University and a master of business administration from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Mr. Rodriguez has 20+ years in principal investing and M&A covering the United States, Europe, Asia and Latin America. Prior to joining Fidus, Mr. Rodriguez served as a Managing Director at Millennium Global, SphereInvest and Bank of America Securities overseeing M&A, special situations and merchant banking. He has also served in leadership roles in industry, including tech and health care. Mr. Rodriguez earned a BA in Economics and Political Science from UCLA and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Edward H. Ross is the chief executive officer and chairman of our investment advisor’s investment committee. Mr. Ross has more than 25 years of debt and equity capital investing experience with lower middle-market companies. Mr. Ross co-founded Fidus Capital in 2005. Mr. Ross was a managing director and the head of the Chicago office for Allied Capital Corporation, a publicly-traded business development company, where he focused on making debt and equity investments in middle-market companies from 2002 to 2005. Prior to joining Allied Capital Corporation, Mr. Ross co-founded Middle Market Capital, a merchant banking group of Wachovia Securities and its predecessor, First Union Securities, Inc., a retail brokerage and institutional capital markets and investment banking firm. Mr. Ross earned a bachelor of arts from Southern Methodist University and a master of business administration from the University of Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business.
Mr. Ross has over 20 years of experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions. In 2004, Mr. Ross co-founded Fidus Partners, LLC, an investment banking firm. Prior to co-founding Fidus Partners, LLC, Mr. Ross served as a managing director at Wachovia Securities and its predecessors, First Union Securities, Inc. and Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co, from 1999 to 2002. Mr. Ross earned a bachelor of science from Southern Methodist University and a master of business administration from the Harvard Business School.
Ms. Sherard has more than 25 years of finance experience. Prior to joining Fidus Investment Advisors, LLC in 2014, Ms. Sherard was a financial officer at Prologis, Inc., a leading owner, operator and developer of industrial real estate, first serving as Chief Financial Officer, Americas, and then overseeing the U.S. tax department. Previously, she served as the Finance Director for Chicago Union Station Development Company, LLC, a real estate development company. From 2005 through 2006, Ms. Sherard served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Grubb & Ellis Company, a publicly-traded real estate services company. From 2002 through 2005, Ms. Sherard was the Chief Financial Officer and Senior Vice President of SiteStuff, Inc., a procurement solutions provider for the commercial real estate industry. Previously, Ms. Sherard held positions at Morgan Stanley, LaSalle Partners Inc. and Hewitt Associates, Inc. Ms. Sherard is a CPA and earned a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University, a master of business administration from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and a master’s degree in tax from the University of Illinois.
Mr. Worth has over 25 years of investment experience with the last 20+ years focused on providing debt and equity to companies in the middle and lower middle market. Andy focuses on all aspects of Fidus’ investment process including origination, underwriting and portfolio management; Andy is also a member of Fidus’ Investment Committee. Before joining Fidus Capital in 2008, Andy was a principal in Allied Capital’s Chicago office. Prior to Allied, Andy held various roles in Credit Suisse’s Global Industrials and Services investment banking group and First Union Securities’ Leveraged Finance Group. Andy earned a BA in Political Science from the University of North Carolina and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Mr. Bonas joined Fidus Capital in 2019 after graduating with a bachelor of science in finance from Wake Forest University. Prior to joining Fidus in 2019, he worked as a summer intern for Fidus Investment.
Mr. Clarke joined Fidus Capital in 2022 after graduating summa cum laude from Virginia Tech with a bachelor of science in finance. Prior to joining Fidus in 2022, he worked as a summer analyst for Fidus.
Mr. Dorros joined Fidus Capital in 2023 after earning a bachelor in business administration from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Prior to Fidus, Mr. Dorros worked as a summer analyst at Blackford Capital, a Private Equity firm specializing in lower middle-market investments.
Mr. Douthit joined Fidus Capital in 2022 after graduating with distinction from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School with a minor in management. Prior to joining Fidus full-time in 2022, he worked as a summer analyst at Fidus.
Mr. Flynne joined Fidus Capital in 2022. Prior to joining Fidus, he worked as an Analyst for Goldman Sachs. Mr. Flynne graduated with highest honors from Lehigh University with a bachelor of science in finance.
Ms. Gardner joined Fidus Capital in 2024 after graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Business from Wake Forest University. Prior to joining Fidus in 2024, she worked as a summer analyst for Fidus.
Mr. Marchese joined Fidus Capital in 2024 after graduating magna cum laude from Boston College with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and a minor in finance. Prior to joining Fidus full-time in 2024, he worked as a summer analyst for Fidus.
Mr. Messinger joined Fidus Capital in 2021 after graduating summa cum laude from Wake Forest University with a bachelor of science in finance. Prior to joining Fidus in 2021, he worked as a summer analyst for Fidus Investment.
Mr. Moore joined Fidus Capital in 2023. Prior to joining Fidus, he worked in PricewaterhouseCoopers’ assurance practice focusing on financial services and in the Transaction Advisory Services group at Grant Thornton. Mr. Moore earned a Bachelor of Science in accounting from the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina as well as a Master of Science of accountancy from the Daniels College of Business at the University of Denver. Mr. Moore is a Certified Public Accountant.
Ms. Hannah joined Fidus Capital in 2017 after graduating with a bachelor of arts in economics from the University of Notre Dame. Prior to joining Fidus, she worked as a Summer Analyst for Robert W. Baird as a generalist in the Investment Banking Division.
Mr. Rogalski joined Fidus Capital in 2023. He started his career at Lazard Middle Market in Chicago supporting sell-side M&A transactions. Prior to joining Fidus Capital, he served as a Vice President at Owner Resource Group, an Austin-based private equity firm, where he focused on evaluating, executing and supporting investments in middle-market companies across a variety of industries. Mr. Rogalski received his bachelor of business administration in finance and economics from the University of Notre Dame and his master of business administration from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Mr. Turner joined Fidus Capital in 2022. Prior to Fidus, he worked as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Technology, Media & Telecom Group at Wells Fargo Securities and in the Equity Capital Markets Group at Truist Securities. Mr. Turner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science from Boston College. He was also a member of the BC men’s tennis team.
Prior to joining Fidus Capital in 2017, Mr. Vander Wyst was an analyst at ShoreView Industries, a Minneapolis-based private equity firm, where he focused on evaluating and executing investments in middle-market companies across a wide range of industries. Mr. Vander Wyst earned a bachelor of business administration in finance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Mr. Won leads West Coast originations for Fidus Capital and is based in the greater Los Angeles area. Prior to Fidus Capital, he worked in leveraged finance and sponsor coverage at several commercial banks where he had increasing responsibilities during his tenure. Mr. Won earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Science, Technology and Society at Stanford University and was a member of the men's varsity golf team.
Mrs. Armstrong joined Fidus Capital in 2022. Prior to joining Fidus, she worked at Northern Trust Hedge Fund Services as a relationship manager on the Bridgewater account. Mrs. Armstrong began her career at KPMG, LLP in audit, servicing clients in the banking and insurance industries. Mrs. Armstrong is a CPA and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Accountancy from University of Illinois at Urbana/Champaign.
Mx. Beaman joined Fidus Capital in 2019. Prior to joining Fidus, they worked as a Senior Tax Associate for the Minnesota based Opus Group from 2018 through 2019. They also formerly worked for RSM US, LLP from 2016 through 2018. Their experience includes tax compliance, consulting, and general accounting in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, real estate, and financial services. Mx. Beaman is a CPA and earned a Master of Accountancy from DePaul University and holds Bachelor’s degrees in Accountancy from DePaul University as well as Economics and Philosophy from Hope College.
Ms. Gaston joined Fidus in 2022 as the Office Administrator of the Charlotte office. Prior to joining Fidus, Ms. Gaston was the client services director for a law firm. Ms. Gaston graduated from Manhattanville College, where she received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management and minor in Psychology.
Ms. Gross joined Fidus in 2019 as Administrative Coordinator and is now the Operations and Marketing Manager for the New York City office. Prior to Fidus, Ms. Gross worked in business operations and client service while also performing as a professional actor and dancer in film and television roles. Ms. Gross earned a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics with a minor in applied physics, summa cum laude, from Stockton University. In addition, she was one of sixteen scholars selected from across the country to participate in a rare iteration of the Summer Program for Women in Mathematics at George Washington University.
Ms. Kochanowski joined Fidus Capital in 2007 and assists in managing the day to day operation of the firm. Prior to joining Fidus, she worked at Mesirow Financial, John Hancock Bond & Corporate Finance Group, and David Hale Global Economics.
Mr. Labatore joined Fidus Capital in 2021. Prior to joining Fidus, he worked in public accounting at Clifton Larson Allen, LLP as an Audit and Tax Associate. He primarily served private clients in the retail and manufacturing/distributing industries. Mr. Labatore earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance from Carthage College.
Prior to joining Fidus Capital in 2013, Ms. Lind was the Finance Manager at BlueCrest Capital Finance. Prior to that, she was an associate at ABN Amro Bank. Ms. Lind graduated from Bentley University with a bachelor of science in finance.
Ms. Mankala joined Fidus Capital in 2024. Prior to joining Fidus, she worked as an Audit Associate for KPMG, LLP, where she worked with private clients within the healthcare industry. Ms. Mankala earned her bachelor’s degree in Accounting, and Digital Technology Management, with a minor in Mathematics from Indiana University.
Mr. Wilfong joined Fidus Capital in 2020. Prior to joining Fidus, he worked in public accounting at Ernst & Young, LLP as an audit manager. He primarily served public and private clients in the wealth and asset management industry including private credit, venture capital, hedge fund and mutual fund asset managers. Mr. Wilfong is a CPA and earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting and master’s in business administration from the University of Lynchburg.