Keith W. Pennell
Managing Partner
Keith joined DFW in 1998 as a Partner from First Atlantic Capital, a New York based middle-market LBO investment firm. He was with First Atlantic for six years, four years as a Partner. While at First Atlantic, Keith was responsible for sourcing, structuring, executing, and monitoring portfolio investments in a broad range of industries. Prior to First Atlantic, Keith spent several years arranging private equity and debt financing with the investment banking group of Dean Witter. Keith holds a BA in Economics and Art History from Middlebury College.
Brett L. Prager
Partner
Brett joined DFW in 2006 as a Partner from Theo Capital Partners. Brett founded Theo Capital in 1999, where he led the firm in a variety of service and technology company investments, as well as consulting and merchant banking activities. Prior to forming Theo, Brett was the founder and Chief Executive Officer for three separate private equity-backed business and healthcare service companies. Brett began his 15 year investment career with JP Morgan Partners’ private equity group. Brett received a BAS from the University of Pennsylvania’s Moore School of Engineering and a BA from the Wharton School. Brett also holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Douglas H. Gilbert
Partner
Doug joined DFW in 2011 as a Partner and brings over 25 years of private equity experience. Previously, he was a Managing Director with MCG Capital Corporation where he invested equity and debt in distribution, service, and technology companies. Prior to MCG, Doug was a Partner with Winston Partners, a lower-middle market focused private equity firm. He came to Winston from Thayer Capital Partners, a Washington, DC based private equity firm. Doug has also worked at Boston Ventures Management, The Bridgeford Group, and Lehman Brothers earlier in his career. Doug holds a BA in Political Economy from Williams College and received an MBA from Harvard University.
Brian C. Tilley
Partner
Brian joined DFW in 2009 as a Partner, and manages DFW’s Washington, DC office. Prior to joining DFW, he was the Founder and Managing Member of Wenzi Capital Partners, LLC. Brian previously spent ten years at AmeriChoice Corporation, and subsequently with United HealthGroup after United’s acquisition of AmeriChoice, in a variety of executive, operating, financial, and corporate development roles. DFW has worked closely with Brian since 2002 when DFW sold a portfolio company, Great Lakes Health Plan, to AmeriChoice in an all cash transaction. Brian received a B.S. in Finance from Ohio University and an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.
DeVer F. Warner
Partner
DeVer joined DFW in 2011 as an Associate before being promoted to Principal in 2015. Prior to joining DFW, DeVer held roles at Centripetal Capital Partners, a Connecticut-based growth capital firm investing in lower middle-market service and technology companies and Cape Venture Partners, a South African-based venture capital and advisory firm. DeVer received a B.A. in Economics from Union College and an MBA from The University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.
Donald F. DeMuth
Founder
Don co-founded DFW in 1983, after a 14 year career with Kidder, Peabody & Co. At Kidder, Don was a senior investment banker responsible for origination and execution of capital markets and M&A assignments for dozens of industrial and services companies, both middle market and Fortune 500 in size. Don served as head of the firm’s audit committee, a Director, and voting shareholder. During his tenure with Kidder, Don was also actively involved with the investment activities of KP Ventures, the firm’s private equity vehicle. Don began his career with IBM as a systems engineer. Don graduated from Rutgers University with a BA and BS in Electrical Engineering and received an MBA from Harvard University.
Andrew P. White
Principal
Andrew joined DFW in 2016. Prior to joining DFW, Andrew was a Vice President at Pulse Equity Partners, a private equity firm focused on lower middle market growth equity and buyout investments. Prior to Pulse, Andrew was an associate for two years with the middle market buyout firm CHS Capital, and its affiliates New Harbor Capital and Shorehill Capital. At CHS Andrew gained valuable transaction experience in various business services and healthcare related companies. Andrew began his investment career as an analyst with Credit Suisse in its Diversified Industrials and Services group. Andrew holds a Bachelors in Business Administration from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.
Ke Ding
Principal
Ke Ding joined DFW in 2019, and focuses on leading transaction execution efforts, post-closing value-creation initiatives, and deal sourcing. Ke joins DFW from CI Capital where he was a Senior Associate and a member of that firm’s investment team for nearly three years. Prior to CI, Ke was an Associate with Flexpoint Ford, a healthcare-focused middle-market private equity investment firm. Ke began his career with Lazard in its middle market Mergers & Acquisitions practice, where he joined as an Analyst following graduation with a BA in Economics and Spanish from Dartmouth College.
Patrick E. Fairfield
Vice President
Patrick joined DFW in 2017. Prior to starting with DFW, he was a Senior Associate with PwC’s Transaction Services group. During his time at PwC,Patrick worked with private equity and corporate clients, performing financial due diligence on acquisition targets in the healthcare and industrials sectors. Patrick began his career with Deloitte & Touche in the assurance practice, where he focused primarily on financial services. He received a Bachelors in accounting from Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business, and holds a Certified Public Accountant license.
Joshua Hyatt
Vice President
Josh Hyatt joined DFW in 2020. Prior to DFW, Josh worked as an associate at Blue Sea Capital, a middle market private equity firm, where he focused on investments in the healthcare services industry. Before starting with Blue Sea, Josh was an analyst in the Healthcare group at Piper Jaffray. Josh graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a B.B.A. in Real Estate.
Ryan Uckert
Senior Associate
Ryan Uckert joined DFW in 2022 as an Associate. Prior to joining DFW, Ryan worked as an Associate at Blue Sea Capital, a middle market private equity firm, where he focused on investments in the healthcare services sector. Before joining Blue Sea, Ryan was an Associate in the Industrials group at BMO Capital Markets. Ryan received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School, with a concentration in Finance and Information Systems.
Hunter Ostad
Senior Associate
Hunter Ostad joined DFW in 2023 as a Senior Associate. Prior to DFW, Hunter worked as a Senior Associate at Northlane Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm, where he focused on investments in the healthcare and business services industries. Before starting with Northlane, Hunter was an analyst in the Healthcare & Life Sciences group at Harris Williams. Hunter graduated from the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce with a B.S. in Commerce and a concentration in Finance.
Patrick Lin
Senior Associate
Patrick Lin joined DFW in 2021. Prior to joining DFW, Patrick worked as an Analyst at Houlihan Lokey, in their Data & Analytics group, and at Raymond James, in their Defense & Government Services group. Patrick graduated with a BA in Mathematics from the University of Virginia.
David Perron
Associate
David Perron joined DFW in 2024 as an Associate. Prior to DFW, David worked as an Associate at LLR Partners, a middle market private equity firm, where he focused on industrial technology investments. Before starting with LLR, David was an analyst in the Healthcare group at Baird. David graduated from Lafayette College with a B.A. in Economics.
Cheri E. Lieberman
Chief Financial Officer
Cheri joined DFW in 2015 as its Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer from Charterhouse Group, Inc., a middle-market private equity firm. She was with Charterhouse for 31 years, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Compliance Officer. Cheri joined Charterhouse in 1984 and was responsible for all of the Firm’s financial and reporting activities. During her tenure, she developed and implemented procedures and controls for the Firm’s internal and external financial, tax, compliance, and treasuring activities, including processes which positioned the Firm to be an early adopter of consistent and transparent reporting to the Firm’s investors.
Adam Gardiner
Vice President of Finance
Adam joined DFW in 2019. Prior to joining DFW, he was the Managing Director for PEF Services where he oversaw the operations teams that were responsible for fund and investor reporting. Adam has more than 16 years of experience in the private equity and hedge fund administration including Vice President positions at JP Morgan Private Equity and Real Estate Fund Services and Citi Hedge Fund Services (formerly Bisys-RK Alternative Investment Services and Rothstein Kass). Adam received a B.S. in Accounting from Rutgers University.
Angela Nobre
Controller
Angela joined DFW in 2010 to manage all administrative and accounting functions at the firm. Angela has over twelve years of relevant experience, most recently with Nippon (USA) where she was responsible for a wide variety of administrative functions including preparation of financial statements, cash management, and monitoring of operating budgets.
Katie Leshinsky
Director of Investor Relations
Katie Leshinsky joined DFW in 2024 as the Director of Investor Relations. Prior to DFW, Katie worked as an Associate Director at Access Holdings, a Baltimore based middle market private equity firm, where she focused on investor relations, communications, and building out their ESG program. Katie graduated from James Madison University with a B.S. in Hospitality Management with a double minor in Economics and General Business.
Caryn Siminoff
Director of Finance
Caryn Siminoff joined DFW in 2024 as the Director of Finance. Caryn has over 25 years of private equity, hedge fund and mutual fund administration. Prior to joining DFW, Caryn was a Managing Director at CSC (formerly PEF Services), where she oversaw the team responsible for fund and investor reporting. Before starting with CSC, Caryn was employed as a Vice President with Citi Hedge Fund Services. Caryn graduated from Rutgers University with a B.S. in Accounting and Sociology.
Operating Partners
DFW maintains close working relationships with a group of highly experienced operating executives across industry segments in which the firm has investment interest. These adjunct team members work closely with DFW’s investment professionals in sourcing, evaluating and, in many instances, serving as executives and/or board members in DFW portfolio companies.
All of DFW’s Operating Partners are members of the General Partners of DFW’s managed funds.
Kurt A. Brykman
Mr. Brykman is a proven healthcare executive who has built a career on business transformations and turnarounds along with a strong track record of achieving revenue and EBITDA growth. Mr. Brykman’s expertise spans product, service and consulting businesses in industries ranging from pharmaceutical healthcare to consumer OTC products. He has worked with DFW since 2018 and currently serves as board member of INSIGHT2PROFIT, a DFW IV portfolio service company focused on delivering EBITDA growth for clients through implementation and management of pricing strategies. Prior to his current board assignment, he served as a board member for Lotus Clinical Research, a current DFW V portfolio company that was merged with Evolution Reseach Group earlier this year and an integral board member of RQM+, a highly successful DFW VI portfolio company which was exited in 2021.
Prior to working with DFW, Mr. Brykman was the CEO of Kinapse, a London based life science company that specializes in worldwide regulatory affairs outsourcing for biopharma companies. Prior to Kinapse, he was the COO of Medpace, a specialty clinical research organization which provides expertise in executing scientifically challenging trials. Prior to that, he spent 9 years as an Officer and Divisional President of PAREXEL International, the 3rd largest CRO worldwide, where he successfully ran the PAREXEL Consulting, PAREXEL Medical Communications and PAREXEL Late Phase Clinicals business units.
Early in his career, Mr. Brykman spend over a decade at Schering Plough’s large over-the-counter medicines business where he ran the worldwide Coppertone franchise of sunscreens, sunblocks and dermatology-focused products. He received his MBA from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in Chicago and is a graduate of Michigan State University with a BS degree in Mathematics and Business.
Allen L. Finkelstein, DDS
Dr. Finkelstein is an experienced doctor, executive, and entrepreneur. Dr. Finkelstein is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Bedford HealthCare Solutions which provides quality and compliance services to both dental providers and dental insurers. Prior to founding Bedford, Dr. Finkelstein served as the Chief Dental Officer of AmeriChoice / United Health Group, insuring millions of lives. Dr. Finkelstein began his career as a Dental Officer in the US Army.
Dr. Finkelstein is a longtime proponent of integrated dental and medical care and has lectured at dental and medical schools and conferences on the subject of early childhood dentistry and the need for Medical/Dental integration to achieve holistic outcome based healthcare. Throughout his successful business career, Dr. Finkelstein has continued to see patients, is licensed in New York and New Jersey, and currently maintains a dental practice, specializing in Periodontal Prosthesis located in Great Neck, New York. In Addition, Dr. Finkelstein has been active in many community activities, including philanthropies and dental outreach programs for the underserved.
Dr. Finkelstein is currently an adjunct Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at the College of Dentistry at New York University, a Senior Advisor for Oral Health Strategies, and an adjunct facility member of the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health at Still University. He also serves as a member of the Harvard University School of Dental Medicine Dean’s Advisory Board, a member of the Drexel College of Medicine Student Advisory Board and a member of the Visitor’s Board of the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University.
Dr. Finkelstein is currently a member of the board of Children’s Dental Health Associates, a DFW V portfolio company focused on pediatric dentistry, and frequently reviews DFW opportunities in dentistry and more broadly in healthcare. Dr. Finkelstein received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with honors from Temple University School of Dentistry.
Jeffrey W. Kinell
Mr. Kinell is an experienced health care services executive. He has worked with DFW since January 2014, when he served as interim CEO and a board member of Evolution Research Group, a DFW IV portfolio company focused on clinical trials for special populations. Today, he serves on the Boards of Children’s Dental Health Associates, a DFW V portfolio company focused on pediatric dentistry, and Lotus Clinical Research, LLC, a DFW V portfolio company that specializes in science based clinical research for special populations.
Mr. Kinell is the former CEO of Bracket Global, which offers an integrated suite of e-clinical solutions. Prior to this, he was the CEO of CRI Lifetree, a leading clinical research company focused on special populations. He also served as the co-CEO of MedOptions, a provider of behavioral health services to nursing homes and assisted living centers. Prior to that, he was the COO of Comprehensive Neuroscience, which conducted clinical trials in neuroscience. He has also served as the CFO of Kelson Pediatric, a manager and operator of pediatric clinics, CEO of a dialysis center operator and the CFO of a publicly traded provider of post-acute care services. Mr. Kinell is a graduate of the University of Vermont.
Michael O’Donnell
Mr. O’Donnell is a talented operating and turnaround executive, with over 30 years of broad experience including business services, outsourcing, manufacturing and technology based companies. Today, Mr. O’Donnell serves as the CEO of Childen’s Dental Health Associates, a DFW V portfolio company focused on pediatric dentistry. He has worked with DFW in several portfolio companies as a due diligence partner, board member and CEO, including Keane, a DFW III portfolio company involved in the unclaimed property industry, and VersaTech Consulting (IT staffing) and Nurses 24/7 (medical staffing), both of which were separate operating entities of VersaTech Holdings, a DFW investment.
Mr. O’Donnell began his career in the audit practice of Deloitte, with subsequent financial, operating and executive leadership positions with The Ultimate Corp., Wechsler Coffee, Sara Lee Corporation, Eastek Corporation and the Food & Beverage Information Exchange. Mr. O’Donnell has a B.S. in Business Administration from St. Francis University (Pennsylvania) and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Louis H. Ray
Mr. Ray has an extensive operating background in the technology and government contracting arena, and works with DFW in sourcing, evaluating and managing companies in the outsourced services field. Mr. Ray previously served as CEO of MATCOM International, a Fund II portfolio company providing IT and engineering services to agencies of the U.S. Federal Government. Mr. Ray grew MATCOM from $14 million to $80 million in revenue, through organic and acquisition efforts, ultimately leading to a successful sale to SI International for a significant gain to DFW’s Limited Partners. Previously, Mr. Ray was a senior operating executive with ManTech International, a global U.S. Federal Government IT services provider, responsible for managing that company’s information technology design and deployment services to the Intelligence community. Mr. Ray studied physics at Yale University.
Mr. Ray was actively engaged with DFW in connection with Information Innovators, Inc. (“Triple-I”) –a Fund IV portfolio company, and currently advises on Envocore, a DFW V portfolio company that provides lighting and water retrofit services for federal government and municipal, University, school and hospital facilities. He also serves on the board of Sev1Tech, Inc., a DFW V portfolio company that provides information technology and other services to the federal government.
Lori Wright
Ms. Wright is a Board Member of WorldCare Clinical and co-Founder, former Chief Executive Officer and current Chairman of the Board of Evolution Research Group, LLC (“ERG”). DFW formed ERG in 2014 by merging the consulting firm she founded in 1998, Thievon-Wright Consulting Group, with St. Louis Clinical Trials, Woodland International Research Group and Woodland Research Northwest. ERG became the platform for what is now the largest, independent clinical research site company in the U.S. with a neuroscience and early phase focus. Ms. Wright led the M&A strategy and completed the acquisition of seven additional clinical research site companies between May of 2015 and March of 2019. DFW exited its investment in ERG in 2018.
Marc Roston
Since 2009, Marc has advised financial institutions large and small on a diverse range of investment activities, with a particular emphasis on hedge funds, private equity and insurance related investments. From 2004 to 2008, Marc was a Managing Director at Silver Creek Capital Management, a $7 billion alternative investment firm based in Seattle, WA. While at Silver Creek, Marc held many roles, including chair of the investment committee, head of risk management and portfolio manager of a financial services private equity pool. He served as a director of several portfolio companies.
Previously, Marc served as Investment Manager at MIO Partners, the investment subsidiary of McKinsey & Company. At MIO, he led the equity investment team, developed numerous special situations investments, and designed novel products and asset allocation strategies for various retirement plans. Marc began his career in quantitative research and long/short equity portfolio management at J.P. Morgan.
Marc holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago and an undergraduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Marc is currently a Research Fellow and the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance at Stanford University.
Jarrod Davis
Mr. Davis is a highly experienced corporate development professional with decades of experience in mergers and acquisitions. He has held VP of Corporate Development roles at JELD-WEN, Inc., Ply Gem Industries, Foundation Building Materials, and Impact Group where he was responsible for leading and executing numerous transactions. He has worked with DFW as an Advisor starting in 2020 in corporate development, sourcing numerous add-on acquisition and platform investment opportunities. In addition, he supported corporate development initiatives at AQUALIS, a Fund V company, as well as Epic.IO, WorldCare Clinical and American Track Services, all Fund VI companies.
Mr. Davis originally started his career as a corporate attorney and corporate general counsel. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Oregon School of Law and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Gonzaga University, where he was also a member of the Men’s Basketball team. Mr. Davis will continue to source investment opportunities for DFW and DFW portfolio companies.
Brad Almond
Mr. Almond is a successful and experienced finance executive with extensive expertise in all traditional aspects of the CFO role for public and private corporations plus tenured leadership in critical operational areas in high-growth, stable and distressed corporate environments. He has years of experience in hands-on building of start-up operations, restructuring and re-engineering, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, debt and equity offerings, systems and process design and corporate administration. He also has a track-record in both domestic and international settings, building and leading high-performance finance and operations teams, including leadership of multiple equity exits to both strategic and financial buyers.
Mr. Almond has almost twenty years’ experience in the Chief Financial Officer seat in both public and private companies and thirty years in technology, primarily SaaS based offerings. He is currently a Board member of Vertex Business Services and Epic.IO, both Fund VI portfolio companies. Mr. Almond was also previously CFO and Executive Vice President of Vertex Business Services from 2013 to 2019.