Team
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Philip Alphonse
Phil joined Sterling in 2002 and is a Principal. Prior to Sterling, Phil worked at KnowledgeFirst, Thomas Weisel Partners, and investment firms, McCown, De Leeuw & Co and Kingdom Holdings. He also worked as an investment banker with Morgan Stanley & Co. Phil received an AB with honors from Harvard University and an MBA from Stanford University.
- Portfolio Companies
- Infilaw
Javier Arrechea
Javier is focused on sourcing international investment opportunities in Latin America, primarily in the education sector. Prior to Sterling Partners, Javier was President of Advantya in Education, where he sourced education investment opportunities in the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. In this capacity, he identified and supported the diligence process for numerous add-on acquisitions at Laureate and Meritas. In addition, Javier has owned K-12 educational and language institutions in a number of Spanish-speaking countries.
- Portfolio Companies
- Laureate
- Meritas
Brennan Barthelemy
Brennan joined Sterling in 2007 and is a Principal. She currently leads our Talent Acquisition Team, where she focuses on sourcing world-class talent for portfolio companies and building Sterling's external network. Prior to Sterling, Brennan worked at Korn/Ferry International, Eastman & Beaudine, and DHR International. Brennan received a BA in Public Relations from Texas Tech University.
Fran Beard
Fran joined Sterling in 2008 and is a Director of Procurement. Prior to Sterling, Fran worked at Mesirow Financial in their commercial real estate division. She graduated from the University of Notre Dame.
Eric Becker
Eric co-founded Sterling in 1983 and is a Senior Managing Director. While at Sterling, Eric also served as Chairman and CEO of Tango Communications, a Sterling portfolio company, prior to its successful sale to a public company. He currently serves on the Boards of Port Discovery Children’s Museum and Business Volunteers Unlimited and is an advisor to the Teen Volunteering Initiative for The Associated. Eric is a member and past Chairman of the Washington-Baltimore Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization. He attended the University of Chicago.
- Portfolio Companies
- Connections Academy
- Foundation Partners Group
- GEM
- Livingston International
- Remedi SeniorCare
- Optimer Brands
- School of Rock
- SecureNet
Renee Berghoff
Renee joined Sterling in 1992 and is a Director of Events. Prior to Sterling, Renee worked at McCarthy & Levin, and a Chicago-based law firm. Renee graduated from University of Central Arkansas.
Steve Chang
Steve joined Sterling in 2008 and is a Principal. He currently leads Sterling's strategy practice, where he works closely with portfolio company management to design, build, and execute strategies to drive growth. Prior to Sterling, Steve worked at Prophet, a global marketing and branding consulting firm, and at McKinsey & Co. He received a BA from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
Andy Colmone
Andy joined Sterling in 2011 and is a Vice President. Prior to Sterling, Andy was an Accelerator for Sterling portfolio company Active Day. Prior to Active Day, he worked at American Capital Strategies and J.P. Morgan. He received a BSBA degree from Creighton University and a MBA from the University of Chicago.
- Portfolio Companies
- Educate
- Livingston
- Meritas
- School of Rock
Mike Drai
Mike joined Sterling in 2008 and is a Vice President. Prior to Sterling, he worked at GTCR Golder Rauner, LLC, Allen & Company, and Salomon Smith Barney. Mike received a BS in Finance from University of Illinois and an MBA from Kellogg School of Management.
- Portfolio Companies
- Foundations Recovery Network
- GEM
- I/O
- Paradigm
John Ebersole
John joined Sterling in 2010 and is a Principal. He currently works in Sterling's strategy practice, where he partners with portfolio company management to design, build, and execute strategies to drive growth. John has over 28 years of strategic consulting experience to C-suite executives. Prior to Sterling, he worked at Market Strategy Group, Diamond Management and Technology Consultants, CSC Index, and the Management Consulting Division of Arthur Andersen (now known as Accenture). He received an MBA and a BS from the University of Pittsburgh.
Jeff Elburn
Jeff joined Sterling in 2008 and is Director of Sterling's Finance Team. Prior to Sterling, Jeff was a Finance Principal at ABS Capital Partners, where he was responsible for fund reporting and analysis, fund formation, investment operations, information technology and human resources. Jeff received his BS in Business Administration from Salisbury University.
Rick Elfman
Rick joined Sterling in 1987 and is a Senior Managing Director. Prior to Sterling, Rick worked at Goldman Sachs & Co., owned and operated a chain of pharmacies in the Boston area, and founded and operated a large nostalgia business in New England. He serves on the University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business Council and its Graduate School of Business Entrepreneurship Advisory Board. Rick is also a Trustee and sits on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Zoological Society. Rick received a BA in Economics and Political Science from Tufts University and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago.
- Portfolio Companies
- Ashworth
Avi Epstein
Avi joined Sterling in 2008 and is a member of the Office of the General Counsel. He currently operates as Vice President of Legal Affairs and Sterling's Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to Sterling, Avi served as General Counsel and Vice President of Business Affairs for Kaplan Professional, a division of Kaplan, Inc. As head of business affairs, he was responsible for all business and legal aspects of acquisitions for the business unit, along with forming and managing strategic relationships such as joint ventures and partnerships. He also worked as a corporate attorney with Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP. Avi received his BA in political science from The Ohio State University with distinction and summa cum laude and his JD from Harvard Law School.
Alberto Garcia
Alberto joined Sterling in 2011 and is a Director of Strategy. Prior to Sterling, he worked at McKinsey & Company and DiamondCluster (now a part of PriceWaterhouseCoopers). Alberto began his career at NascentWeb/ProcuraDigital, which is Groupo Santander's Latin American e-commerce incubation start-up. Alberto earned his BA in Economics from the Broad School of Business at Michigan State University and his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Scott Glickson
Scott joined Sterling in 2009 and is a Director of Sterling’s Portfolio Company Assessment Team (“PCAT”). In his role, Scott works with portfolio companies to ensure best-in-class financial reporting and accounting practices are in place as well as to support financing and exit preparation activities. Prior to Sterling, Scott worked with American Capital Strategies and Ernst & Young. Scott received his BS in Business and Accounting from Indiana University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Matt Hankins
Matt joined Sterling Partners in 2009 and is a Vice President. Prior to Sterling, Matt was a founder and Vice President of Business Development at Metropolitan Capital Bank. He also worked in Corporate Strategy and Business Development for JPMorgan and as a Management Consultant for Accenture. Matt received a BSE, magna cum laude in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA with honors from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
- Portfolio Companies
- MOSAID
- Foundations Partners Group
- Optimer Brands
- Prospect Mortgage
Chris Hoehn-Saric
Chris co-founded Sterling in 1983 and is a Senior Managing Director. Prior to re-joining the Sterling team, Chris operated as CEO of portfolio company Educate, Inc. and Chairman and Co-CEO of Sylvan Learning Systems, Inc. Chris is a member of the Boards of Trustees for Johns Hopkins University and Sheridan Libraries. He attended Johns Hopkins University.
- Portfolio Companies
- Connections Academy
- I/O
- Educate
- Infilaw
- Meritas
Dan Hosler
Dan joined Sterling in 2006 and is a Principal. Prior to Sterling, he worked at Activ Group and co-founded Microganics, where he designed the company’s suite of products and built a national distribution platform. He also founded an information technology and process engineering consulting firm. Dan received a BA from Rice University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
- Portfolio Companies
- Avectra
- Centerre
- First Choice ER
- Pacific Interpreters
- Rittenhouse
- SAVO
Jeff Keith
Jeff joined Sterling Partners in 2011 and is an Operating Partner. Prior to Sterling, he served as CFO and Senior Vice President with TCS Education System and was the CFO/COO of Transaction Technologies, Inc. Jeff, who was also the Executive Vice President and CFO of Sterks Corporation, holds a BS in economics and management and an MBA from Purdue University as well as an MS in finance from the Illinois Institute of Technology Stuart Graduate School.
Brandon Labrum
Brandon joined Sterling in 2008 and is a Vice President focused on business development. Prior to Sterling, Brandon worked at Marakon Associates, a management consultancy focused on long-term change strategy, and at L.E.K. Consulting where he focused on private equity due diligence. Brandon received his BS in Business Management and Finance from Brigham Young University. P: (847) 412-6230 E: blabrum@sterlingpartners.com
Mats Lederhausen
Mats joined Sterling in 2009 and is an Operating Partner. Currently, he serves as the Chairman of Educate, Inc. Prior to Sterling, Mats was a Managing Director of McDonald’s Ventures where he focused on a range of growth initiatives, including Chipotle Mexican Grill, Boston Market, RedBox DVD and Pret A Manger. As a Director and Chairman of Chipotle, Mats helped shape the strategy that ultimately led to one of the most successful restaurant IPOs in history. He joined McDonald’s Corporation in 1999 as head of global strategy and business development. He was named one of Crain’s Chicago Business’ “40 under 40” in 1999 and honored by the World Economic Forum as a “Global Leader of Tomorrow” in 2000.
- Portfolio Companies
- Educate, Inc.
Alan Macksey
Alan joined Sterling in 1986 and is a Managing Director on the investment team. Prior to Sterling, he worked at Alex. Brown & Sons, Inc. in equity research. Alan serves on the Board of The Young Victorian Theatre Company and is a former Board member of The Johns Hopkins Pediatric Oncology Friends. He previously served on the Selection Committee for the Maryland Incubator Company of the Year Awards and on the Board of the Association for Corporate Growth, Maryland Chapter. Alan received a BA in Economics from Yale University and an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School.
- Portfolio Companies
- Rittenhouse
- GEM
Richard Marks
Richard joined Sterling in 2010 as a Director of Operations. Prior to Sterling, he worked at Diamond Group LLC, an investment firm focused alternative assets, including real estate, hedge funds, and private equity. Richard has also worked at Velocity Asset Management, Castle Creek Partners, and Katten Munchin & Zavis. Richard is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and earned a JD from the University of Chicago Law School and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan.
Kevin McAllister
Kevin joined Sterling in 2008 and is a Principal. Prior to Sterling, Kevin worked at American Capital Strategies, Accenture, and Entrade. Kevin received a BA in Economics from Dickinson College and an MBA from the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
- Portfolio Companies
- Foundation Partners Group
- Livingston International
Bob Michelson
Bob joined Sterling in 2009 and is an Operating Partner. Prior to joining Sterling, he spent more than 20 years operating small to mid-sized companies that leverage technology to accelerate their positioning and optimize value to their customers and investors. Immediately before joining Sterling, Bob was CEO of GOLIATH Solutions, a marketing services company. He was also President of FastWEB, a web-based service that provides financial aid to high school and college students, and was Chairman of FunBrain, a web-based company that features the largest collection of elementary school quizzes to support teachers. Bob received a BS from Indiana University.
- Portfolio Companies
- Active Day
- Avectra
- SAVO
Todd Miller
Todd joined Sterling in 2011 and is a Vice President. Prior to Sterling, Todd worked at Tri-Artisan Capital Partners and was the founder and Principal of an investment firm in Brazil, launching a strategy to establish the first REIT-like structure in the country’s history. Todd also worked at Merrill Lynch and began his career in Bank of America’s Corporate and Investment Banking Division. Todd received a BA in Economics from University of Michigan.
- Portfolio Companies
- Centerre
- Remedi SeniorCare
- Rittenhouse
- SecureNet
Kim Vender Moffat
Kim joined Sterling in 1999 and is a Principal. She currently leads Sterling's internal strategy, investor relations, and marketing teams. Kim left Sterling to attend graduate school, after which she worked at McKinsey & Co. She rejoined the firm in 2008. Kim earned an AB, magna cum laude, from Harvard University, an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, and a JD with honors from the Northwestern University School of Law
P: (847) 412-6227
E: kmoffat@sterlingpartners.com
Sam Morasca
Sam currently serves as an Operating Partner with Sterling. He has been a director on the boards of a number Sterling investments over the years and has extensive general management experience. Prior to Sterling, Sam had a successful 30-year career with Shell, operating in both U.S. and International assignments in the areas of business management, strategic planning, sales and marketing, commodity trading, manufacturing, transportation and distribution. He received a BS from Penn State University and a MBA from the Carroll School at Boston College. He also served on active duty for four years as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force.
- Portfolio Companies
- GEM
- Cornerstone
Ricardo Prado
Ricardo joined Sterling Partners in 2009 and is a Vice President. Prior to joining Sterling, he spent ten years at Coca-Cola FEMSA in Mexico City and in Costa Rica. Ricardo was also an investment banker with Salomon Smith Barney’s Latin American Division. He received his BA in Mechanical Engineering and Management from Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey and his MBA from the Kellogg Graduate School of Business.
- Portfolio Companies
- Active Day
Beth Rahn
Beth joined Sterling in 2009 and is a member of the Investor Relations team. Prior to Sterling, Beth worked at Discover Financial Services, Motorola, and Uline. She received a BS in Finance and a BS in Business Administration from the University of Illinois.
Garrick Rice
Garrick joined Sterling in 2001 and is a Managing Director. Prior to Sterling, Garrick worked at Bank of America, Einstein/Noah Bagel Corp, and Robert W. Baird. He has also worked for FOB Inc., a start-up enterprise software company. Garrick received a BBA with distinction from the University of Michigan Business School and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
- Portfolio Companies
- Ameritox
- Educate
- Optimer Brands
- Pacific Interpreters
- Paradigm
Sue Rockoff
Sue joined Sterling in 2010. As Chief Human Resources Officer, she is responsible for talent and performance management, resource allocation, employee relations, and HR policies. Prior to Sterling, Sue was Global Director of Human Resources with WCG, a healthcare public relations firm. Prior to that, Sue led HR for several marketing, media, and digital communications companies under Publicis Groupe, including Arc Worldwide, Starcom, and Giant Step. She received her BA from Indiana University and certificates in Human Resources Management and Organizational Development from DePaul University.
Danny Rosenberg
Danny joined Sterling in 1999 and is a Managing Director. Prior to Sterling, he worked at Vector Securities International and Heitman Financial. Danny is a founding member, former Chairman, and current Board Member of the Illinois Venture Capital Association. He received a BA from Duke University and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
- Portfolio Companies
- First Choice ER
- Foundations Recovery Network
- Livingston International
- Meritas
Jason Rosenberg
Jason joined Sterling in 2005 and is a Principal. Prior to Sterling, he worked at Found, Inc. and in the investment banking division of Lehman Brothers. Jason received a BA from Northwestern University, a JD from the Northwestern University School of Law, and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
- Portfolio Companies
- Ashworth
- Cornerstone
- The Leman International School - Chengdu
Jeff Schechter
Jeff joined Sterling in 2006 and is a Managing Director and firm's Chief Financial Officer. Prior to joining Sterling, Jeff spent 11 years at Grotech Capital Group and worked at Ernst & Young in their audit practice. Jeff received a BS in Accounting from the University of Maryland and an MS in Finance from Loyola College. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner.
Julie Stacey
Julie joined Sterling in 2009 and is a Director on the Talent Acquisition Team. She leads internal talent acquisition for Sterling as well as the Accelerator program. Prior to Sterling, Julie worked at Korn/Ferry, Accenture, Capgemini, and Andersen Consulting (formerly Arthur Andersen). Julie received her BBA, cum laude, in Human Resource Management from Ohio University.
Steven Taslitz
Steven co-founded Sterling in 1983 and is Chairman and Senior Managing Director of the firm. Steven has been active in a number of non-profit organizations and educational charities, including the Illinois Board of Higher Education, President of the Glencoe Educational Foundation and the Investment Committee of the Jewish United Fund. He received a BS in Accountancy with Honors from the University of Illinois.
- Portfolio Companies
- Ameritox
- Laureate
- Progressus Therapy
- Prospect Mortgage
- Continental Case Company
- I/O
Allen Tibshrany
Allen joined Sterling in 2011 and is a Director focused on portfolio company operations. Prior to Sterling, he worked at A.T. Kearney and Gregory Electric Company, an energy services company. Allen received a BS in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management.
Shoshana Vernick
Shoshana joined Sterling in 2003 and is a Principal. Prior to Sterling, Shoshana worked at One Equity Partners and at Razorfish, a digital solutions provider. She began her career at Merrill Lynch in the Global Industries Group. She received a BS with honors from Indiana University in accounting, finance and international studies.
- Portfolio Companies
- School of Rock
- SecureNet
- Progressus
Tom Wippman
Tom joined Sterling in 1992 and is a Managing Director. He leads the Office of the General Counsel, which is responsible for ensuring legal best practices are in place at the firm and throughout the portfolio related to risk management, contract review, policy generation, and mergers and acquisitions. Prior to Sterling, Tom was a Partner at Pedersen & Houpt, P.C. He received an AB in Economics with High Honors from the University of Illinois and a JD from the University of Illinois Law School.
- Portfolio Companies
- Ameritox
Jason Wyckoff
Jason joined Sterling in 2008 and is a Director of IT Applications. Prior to Sterling, Jason worked at Stericycle, JP Morgan Chase, Click Commerce, and Accenture, all in IT-related roles. Jason received his BS in Business Administration/Management Information Systems from the University of Illinois.