BLUEJAY ADVISORS - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Managing Director
- Investment Banker
Don Devendorf is a seasoned investment banker with an impressive record built over his 17 years in the investment banking division at Morgan Stanley. His investment banking experience centered on the transportation, logistics, and infrastructure sectors. Don's leadership was instrumental in guiding transaction deal teams across several transportation and logistics subsectors, including trucking, asset-light logistics, railroads, and infrastructure. His ability to strategize and execute complex buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions, as well as manage debt and equity capital raises, including 11 transportation IPOs, underscored his pivotal role at Morgan Stanley. Don earned a Bachelor of Arts in Physics from Middlebury College, a Master of Arts in Mathematical Finance from Columbia University, and an MBA with a concentration in Finance from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Don lives in New York with his wife and two children. Don will be critical in continuing the growth and excellence at Bluejay Advisors in our service to the transportation and logistics industry.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of Business Development, North America
Don Lynn is a transportation veteran with over 30 years of experience leading transportation companies and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) with a consistent track record of revenue growth and expense management. His transportation career began at Roadway Express where he spent 13 years in Sales and Operations Management during which he won the Vice President's Club award as the top selling manager, Terminal Manager of the Year, and led the highest producing sales team in the Southern Division. Mr. Lynn also has a deep M&A background as Executive Vice President of AMX Transportation where he successfully led two acquisition teams-more than doubling the company's size in each acquisition. In Mr. Lynn's role as Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing with the ATA, his responsibilities included overseeing membership, conventions revenue, sponsorships, Transport Topics advertising, and marketing of ATA Business Solutions products. His focus on overall revenue growth led to a strategic reorganization of the Sales and Marketing department to combine all sources of revenue into one operating group. Mr. Lynn is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Sciences and resides in Jacksonville, Florida, with his wife Anne-Marie. They have four grown children.
Job Titles:
- Senior Associate, Bluejay Capital Partners
Job Titles:
- Manager of Grants
- Manager, Grants and Communications
- Manger, Grants and Communications
Ms. Bower is Manager of Grants and Communications for Bluejay Advisors. As a professional writer, she has produced numerous published works in a variety of categories and topics. Her strong writing and research skills will help Bluejay continue to grow its Grants business. Ms. Bower worked in education for more than eight years. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Professional Writing from Purdue University and a Master's Degree in Education from the University of West Florida.
Eric Heath is a seasoned M&A professional with more than a decade of experience specializing in the transportation and healthcare sectors. His impressive track record includes more than 20 successful transactions that created industry-recognized impact. With a keen eye for efficiency and execution, Eric is adept at process improvement and workflow enhancement. This expertise allows him to streamline M&A processes and ensure smooth transactions and optimal outcomes for all parties.
In addition to his M&A advisory experience, Eric is an entrepreneur-having founded his own company, a socially responsible used car dealership providing affordable financing and reliable transportation for credit-challenged individuals. As a former operator, Eric has demonstrated exceptional skills in raising capital, leading corporate restructurings, and managing high-performance teams. His hands-on experience provides valuable insight into operational challenges and opportunities, enhancing his effectiveness with M&A transactions.
Eric earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Business with an emphasis in Finance from Belmont University. He lives in Tennessee with his wife and daughter.
Job Titles:
- Partner, Bluejay Capital Partners
Mr. Giles has reached the CEO level with three different organizations and the executive level at another. His track record of building teams and turn around performance with both private equity backing and publicly traded companies is impressive. While the majority of his career has been with freight rail transportation companies, Mr. Giles is an expert at process improvement and identifying and executing strategies.
Following a twenty-year career with CSX Transportation which included running Planning and Process Improvement organizations, Mr. Giles led the Merchandise Sales and Marketing department with all commercial responsibility for a $3B business.
He then led turnarounds at Great Lakes Transportation (owned by Blackstone) until 2004, Florida East Coast Railway (owned by Fortress Investment Group) until 2010 and Rail America (privatized by Fortress Investment Group and later taken public) until it was sold at the end of 2012. In each role he brought in his own team and drastically improved the metrics for the organization although none more than profitability.
Mr. Lopez earned his BBA in Finance from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville with Honors and Summa Cum Laude distinction. During his tenure, he was among a group of 10 students entrusted to manage the Student-Managed Investment Fund for the university's endowment. His responsibilities involved monitoring and presenting investment proposals within the Industrials Sector, including transportation and logistics firms. Presently, his primary role at Bluejay involves extensive engagement with the company's sell-side investment banking clients, providing comprehensive support through every stage of the M&A process.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner, Bluejay Capital Partners
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Board of Directors
Mr. Hart has held leadership roles in: rail transportation, locomotive maintenance and service design, strategy development, organizational design, mergers & acquisitions including valuation and negotiation.
Mr. Hart began his career as a management consultant with Booz, Allen & Hamilton. Assignments were primarily in the transportation field across Asia, South America and the United States working with railroads, ports, utilities and manufacturers. Mr. Hart then joined CSX Transportation serving in several roles including: VP of Motive Power, VP of Service Design, VP of M&A and finally VP of Strategy reporting to the Chairman. He moved on to Pacer International as their EVP of Strategy responsible for strategic planning and M&A activity reporting to the Chairman.
Since retirement Mr. Hart has served on several boards of directors and as a strategic consultant for rail equipment leasing, logistics, transportation and security companies.