SBIA Announces 2024-2025 Leadership

SBIA membership elects new Officers and Board of Governors

October 28, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – The Small Business Investor Alliance (SBIA), the leading association for lower middle market private equity funds and investors, today announced its new 2024-2025 Board of Governors, including our Board Officers, Regional Council Chairs, At-Large Board Members, and designated Industry Council Chairs. Ben Geis, a Managing Director of St. Louis-based Eagle Private Capital, is the incoming Chair. Ben is a General Partner of Eagle Fund II, III, III-A, IV, and IV-A and formerly served as Chief Financial Officer of the fund manager. Ben holds an undergraduate business degree from Rockhurst University and has previously served our association as a member of the Midwest Regional Council and as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chair and Chair-Elect.

The SBIA also would like to recognize the outgoing Board members who have given generously of their time and efforts to support the association: Ann Ferreira, Lake Country Capital; Gayle Hughes, Merion Investment Partners; Melinda Jackson, Skylark Private Equity Partners; Carl Kopfinger, TD Bank; Steven Lilly, FS Capital; and Brian Lueger, Konza Valley Capital.

“We’re pleased to welcome our new Board members, all of whom have shown a strong commitment to SBIA over the years,” said SBIA President Brett Palmer. “We are privileged to have at our helm a group of experienced small business professionals from diverse geographies and representing a range of investment strategies. The SBIA Board of Governors is a powerful component of our association’s success, and we rely on the dedication, service and guidance of our members.”

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Ben Geis
Eagle Private Capital, Missouri
Chair

Tyson Smith
Tecum Capital, Pennsylvania
Chair-Elect

Stacy Harmsen
NorthCoast Mezzanine, Minnesota
Vice Chair

Stacey Wittelsberger
Patriot Capital, Maryland
Treasurer

Heather Hubbard
Valesco Industries, Texas
Secretary

Caroline Ducas
Resolute Capital Partners, Tennessee
Immediate Past Chair

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Industry Council Chairs for 2024-2025

Jordan Bastable
LongWater Opportunities, Texas
Middle Market Council Chair

Sarah Busch
Argosy Capital, Pennsylvania
Women Investors Networking Council Chair

David Kocen
Bluehenge Capital, Louisiana
Small Business Investment Company Council Chair

Brian Model
TopMark Partners, Florida
Venture & Growth Equity Council Chair

Chris Sears
Truist Community Capital, Georgia
Limited Partner Council Chair

Ian Simmonds
Sixth Street Specialty Lending, New York
Business Development Company Council Chair

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Regional Council Chairs for 2024-2025

Steve Gord
Hidden River Strategic Capital, Pennsylvania
Northeast Regional Chair

Sean McGuire
Fifth Third Bank, Illinois
Midwest Regional Chair

John Pontius
Capital Alignment Partners, Tennessee
Southern Regional Chair

Rick Shuart
Caltius Structured Capital, California
Western Regional Chair

At-Large Members for 2024-2025

Alex Bean*
Plexus Capital, North Carolina

Jan Bergeson
Ally Bank, Utah

David Demeter
Davidson College, North Carolina

John Mickelson*
Midwest Growth Partners, Iowa

Tom Niehaus
Pivotal Capital Partners, California

Ken Saffold
o15 Capital Partners, Georgia

Patrick Weston
Route 2 Capital, South Carolina

Les Alexander
Jefferson Capital Partners, Louisiana

Jim Barra
Ironwood Capital, Connecticut

Scott Chappell
Barings, North Carolina

Doug England
The Riverside Company, Ohio

Andrew Panzo
NewSpring Capital, Pennsylvania

Kevin Sheehan
Multiplier Capital, District of Columbia

Gijs Van Thiel
747 Capital, New York

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