Pat Doherty – President, Mariner Private Equity LLC
From 1993 through 2007, Mr. Doherty was employed by A.G. Edwards & Sons, most recently as Managing Director of the firms Mergers & Acquisitions Group and Group Head of the firm's Consumer and Industrial Investment Banking Group. Mr. Doherty received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University. Mr. Doherty is a board member of Nexxus Lighting, Inc. (NASD: NEXS).
Mr. Doherty received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago and his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Georgetown University.
George E. Hansen, III – Director of TGP Investments
George E. Hansen, III is a Director of TGP Investments. Mr. Hansen has more than 30 years experience managing businesses in multiple industries in both North America and Europe. In addition to managing for exceptional growth he has also been principally involved in a variety of transaction types, including acquisitions, demergers and exits in both the public and private markets. Immediately prior to joining TGP Investments, Hansen was the CEO and President of Corporate Lodging Consultants, Inc., a market leading business process outsourcing company serving Fortune 100 companies and the US government. Rapid growth and performance there lead to an exit for its investors in 2009. From 1999 to 2004, he was the CEO and President of CARSTAR, Inc. the nation’s largest collision repair aggregator. Hansen held senior positions at Thorn EMI, PLC from 1988 to 1998, where as Executive Vice President he helped lead the sale of Thorn Americas, Inc. to a strategic buyer. Hansen began his career in the food service business, holding senior positions at Denny’s, Inc. and Wendy’s International.
A graduate of the University of Maine he also holds a certificate in Management from Columbia University. Hansen has served on a number of charitable boards and currently sits on the Board of Advisors to the Business School at the University of Kansas, where he regularly lectures on strategy.
http://www.tgpinvestments.com/
Jené Popper Hong - Principal - Business Transition Specialist, LLC
Jene’ Popper Hong brings over 20 years of business strategy, mergers & acquisitions and problem solving to her role at Business Transition Specialist LLC (BTS). Jene’ is a seasoned executive leader, operator and deal maker having held multiple CFO roles in growth and turnaround situations. Her core skills focus on helping small and medium sized businesses raise capital and grow both organically and via acquisition. Jene’ collaborates with entrepreneurs and business owners to help define and execute vision and goals while navigating and overcoming financial and operational challenges.Tony Rock - Kansas Venture Capital, Inc.
Tony is an experienced executive and advisor for emerging growth and distressed companies. He has extensive financial, operational and technology consulting experience in serving nearly 100 operating units in various capacities, including the development of over 20 new business ventures. His professional background also includes senior consulting, planning and corporate development roles with BKD, Olsten Corporation and Andersen Consulting.
Tony is also a strategy advisor with KTM China Advisors, a provider of trade and investment support services for cross-border transactions between the U.S. and China. He has extensive experience in government relations, entity formation and due diligence activities in China. He is currently conducting seminal research on private equity, innovation and entrepreneurship in China through the University of Kansas.
Tony currently serves as a board member on a number of operating companies, the Kansas City chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and the Sunflower House, a child abuse prevention center serving Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas. He also serves as a co-instructor on venture capital finance for UMKC’s Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Tony holds a BA in Economics from the University of Kansas and an MBA from the Keller Graduate School of Management. In addition, Tony is a CFA charterholder.
C. Tyler Prochnow - Senior Partner at Think Big Partners
Tyler is a founding member of Think Big Partners and an active entrepreneur/investor with significant and varied business interests. As President and CEO of Premier Customer Solutions, he runs one of the nation’s largest direct marketing service companies, providing data management, data consulting, and call center and e-commerce services for domestic and international marketers. He is also President and Managing Member of ACS Properties, LLC where he manages the company’s varied business ventures, including its interest in Q Masters BBQ, Grade Genie.com and multiple real estate projects nationwide. Until 2007, Prochnow was the principal owner and President of the Kansas City Brigade (Arena Football League) and still serves as the Managing Partner of KC Arena Sports & Entertainment (“KCASE”).
Tyler’s professional career has included working on various political campaigns around the country with a short stint in the White House. In addition to his work on the national level, Mr. Prochnow also served as an assistant with the Appropriations Committee of the Colorado House of Representatives.
In 1995 began a successful law practice with Patton Boggs, LP in Denver. In 1997, he moved to Kansas City as an associate with the Lathrop & Gage law firm. Specializing in marketing and advertising law, Mr. Prochnow has been called to testify as an expert before congressional committees, federal agencies, state legislatures and in private litigation. Mr. Prochnow was also a frequent lecturer to national groups on marketing issues and a guest columnist for several trade publications.
In 2003, Prochnow left the practice of law and founded Golden Peak Sports, a full service sports representation agency that counts among its clients such notable athletes as Deion Sanders, Amy Van Dyken, Aly Wagner and Ed McCaffrey. Prochnow still serves as President of Golden Peak and is actively involved in managing the careers of the firm’s clients.
Tyler was a scholar-athlete, playing soccer while attending the University of Richmond and Oglethorpe University where he graduated with a degree in political science. Tyler holds a Juris Doctorate from the University Of Denver College Of Law.
http://www.ThinkBigPartners.com
Herb Sih - Managing Partner at Think Big Partners
Herb Sih currently serves as Managing Partner and is one of the founders of Think Big Partners. Think Big Partners (TBP) specializes in incubating, accelerating and maximizing business ideas, opportunities and entrepreneurs.
Prior to starting Think Big Partners, Herb was a Senior Vice President for Wachovia Securities (formerly A.G. Edwards & Sons), working with corporations, institutions and high net worth individuals. He also worked for Merrill Lynch early in his financial services career in the Kansas City market. Today, he still maintains a presence in the investment community, primarily through his role in private equity.
As an active entrepreneur, Herb has started numerous companies and assisted in the early stages in many others. These companies range from interactive marketing agencies, call centers, software companies, numerous internet / online businesses, consumer retail, consulting companies, database marketing organizations and more. Several of these companies have appeared in publications such as Inc. (Inc. 500 list), Entrepreneur, Ingram’s (Top 10 Fastest Growing Companies in Kansas City list), Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year competition, numerous newspapers, trade journals, online publications and more.
Herb has been actively involved in the internet business arena since 1998, and was formerly VP Sales for eScout. Prior to his business career, he was a helicopter pilot and officer in the military.
Herb attended the University of Kansas and holds a Bachelor of Science degree. Herb is a member of the National Business Incubator Association, National Veteran Owned Business Association and several other professional associations. Having served on different charitable boards, Herb is an active member in the Kansas City community.
http://www.ThinkBigPartners.com
Jeff Teeven - Partner at Consumer Growth Partners
Previously, Mr. Teeven spent five years as a senior consultant with KPMG in the Corporate Transaction Services Group. In this role, he focused on multiple buy-side and sell-side engagements for his clients with a focus on valuation and transaction structuring.
Mr. Teeven earned a BS in Finance from the Boston College Carroll School of Management. He also earned an MBA from the University Of Chicago Graduate School Of Business with a concentration in Corporate Strategy and Marketing Management.
