SBIA Announces 2025-2026 Board of Governors

SBIA membership elects new leadership

October 20, 2025 (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 2025-2026 Board of Governors, including our Board Officers, Regional Council Chairs, At-Large Board Members, and designated Industry Council Chairs. Tyson Smith, a founding Partner of Pennsylvania-based Tecum Capital, is the incoming Chair. In his role on the firm's Investment Committee, Tyson  is responsible for leading all aspects of transaction origination, analysis, structuring, underwriting, deal execution, and monitoring of subject private equity and mezzanine debt investments.

Tyson received a B.S. in Finance from The University of Notre Dame, where he was a member of the Applied Investment Management program, and holds a CFA Charter designation. He has previously served our association as Chair of the Small Business Investment Company Council, and as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice Chair and Chair-Elect.

SBIA also would like to recognize the outgoing Board members who have given generously of their time and efforts to support the association: Les Alexander, Jefferson Capital Partners; Jim Barra, Ironwood Capital; Scott Chappell, Barings; Caroline Ducas, Resolute Capital Partners; Doug England, The Riverside Company; Andrew Panzo, NewSpring Capital; Kevin Sheehan, Multiplier Capital; Rick Shuart, Caltius Structured Capital; Ian Simmonds, Sixth Street Specialty Lending; and Gijs Van Thiel, 747 Capital.

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Officers

Tyson Smith
Tecum Capital, Pennsylvania
Chair

Stacy Harmsen
NorthCoast Mezzanine, Minnesota
Chair-Elect

Stacey Wittelsberger
Patriot Capital, Maryland
Vice Chair

Heather Hubbard
Valesco Industries, Texas
Treasurer

John Mickelson
Midwest Growth Partners, Iowa
Secretary

Ben Geis
Eagle Private Capital, Missouri
Immediate Past Chair

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Industry Council Chairs

Sarah Busch
Argosy Capital, Pennsylvania
Women Investors Networking Council Chair

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

Matt Levenson
Kian Capital, North Carolina
Middle Market Council Chair

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

Chris Sears
Truist Community Capital, Georgia
Limited Partner Council Chair

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Regional Council Chairs

Brian Boorstein
Granite Creek Capital Partners, Illinois
Midwest Regional Chair

Seth Friedman
Abacus Finance, New York
Northeast Regional Chair

Simon Haidamous
Genesis Park, Texas
Southern Regional Chair

Todd Morris
True West Capital Partners, California
Western Regional Chair

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At-Large Members

Erin Andrew
Turning Rock Partners, New York

Jordan Bastable
LongWater Opportunities, Texas

Alex Bean
Plexus Capital, North Carolina

Jan Bergeson
Ally Bank, Utah

David Demeter
Davidson College, North Carolina

Christina  Emery
Barings, North Carolina

Steve Gord
Hidden River Strategic Capital, Pennsylvania

Wes Hampp
Holleway Capital Partners, Missouri

Brian McDaid
Spring Capital Partners, Pennsylvania

Sean McGuire
Fifth Third Bank, Illinois

Tom Niehaus
Pivotal Capital Partners, California

John Pontius
Capital Alignment Partners, Tennessee

Ken Saffold
o15 Capital Partners, Georgia

 

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