LIGHTBAY - Key Persons
Aaron is an Operating Partner in the LightBay Operating Performance Group, leading Digital Transformation. His responsibilities include accelerating digital transformation across portfolio companies using digital marketing, data-driven personalization, advanced analytics, and business intelligence.
Aaron is married with three daughters and loves to be on the mountain skiing any chance he gets.
Prior Experience
President of Lane Boots and Capitan Boots
Chief Marketing Officer at Academic Partnerships
Senior Vice President of Digital Marketing and Customer Relationship Management at Hudson's Bay Company
Vice President of Digital Marketing and Advertising at Neiman Marcus
Education
Adam is a Founding Partner of LightBay Capital. Previously, Adam was a Partner and Head of Consumer & Retail for Ares Management's Private Equity Group, where he worked for 16 years.
Alexa is a Vice President at LightBay Capital. Her responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing new investments, financial modeling, due diligence, deal process execution, and portfolio company monitoring.
In her free time, Alexa enjoys hiking, rooting for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and crafting the perfect pasta dish.
Prior Experience
Investment Banking Associate at The Sage Group
Education
Angelina is an Associate at LightBay Capital. Her responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing new investments, financial modeling, due diligence, deal process execution, and portfolio company monitoring.
In her free time, Angelina likes to explore the Los Angeles culinary scene, enjoy local coffee shops, and spend time with her dog Toro.
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Senior Executive
Annie is a Senior Executive Assistant at LightBay Capital.
In her free time, Annie loves being outdoors with her pups, Finn and Gracie, catching live music, traveling to new places, or reading a good autobiography.
Prior Experience
Senior Executive Assistant at Ares Management
Executive Assistant at M. David Paul and Associates
Executive Assistant at Morgan Keegan (formerly Revolution Partners)
Education
B.A. in Communications and Theater with a concentration in English from Temple University
Job Titles:
- Data Analytics / Business Intelligence
- Operating Partner in the Light
Asif Esmail is an Operating Partner in the LightBay Operating Performance Group, leading Data Analytics and Business Intelligence. His responsibilities include advising LightBay and its portfolio companies on data science, analytics, and business intelligence initiatives to drive growth and operational improvements.
A native of Los Angeles, Asif loves the outdoors, a good DIY project, and trying new restaurants with his wife and two children.
Prior Experience
Executive Vice President, Head of Enterprise Data & Business Intelligence at PennyMac Financial Services, Inc.
Vice President, Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis at Countrywide Financial Corp.
Education
B.S. in Business Finance from University of California, Riverside
Atticus is a Principal at LightBay Capital. His responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing new investments, due diligence, deal process execution, and portfolio company monitoring.
Outside of work, Atticus enjoys exploring the L.A. food and wine scene. To burn off the calories, he can be found at Barry's or hitting the slopes as an avid skier.
Prior Experience
Vice President at the SoftBank Vision Fund
Associate at Warburg Pincus
Analyst at J.P. Morgan in the Healthcare Investment Banking group
Education
B.S.M. in Finance with a minor in Mathematics from Tulane University (summa cum laude)
Bart is an Associate at LightBay Capital. His responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing new investments, financial modeling, due diligence, deal process execution, and portfolio company monitoring.
In his free time, Bart enjoys running, skiing, traveling, and rooting for the North Carolina Tar Heels.
Prior Experience
Investment Banking Analyst in the Healthcare Services and Technolgy Group at SVB Securities
Investment Banking Analyst in the Healthcare Services Group at Cain Brothers
Education
B.S. in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School (magna cum laude)
Ben is a Partner at LightBay Capital where he leads investments across several industries and in a variety of transaction types.
Ben is a lifelong baseball fan - in 2015 he replaced a serious fantasy baseball habit with the goal of visiting all 30 MLB parks (he's up to 20 so far).
Prior Experience
Principal at Cressey & Company
Director of Operations Finance at VetCor Professional Practices
Investment Banking Analyst in the Global Healthcare Group at UBS Investment Bank
Education
David is a Partner at LightBay Capital where he leads investments across several industries and in a variety of transaction types.
David is married with two daughters and a son and can be seen outside of the office at various L.A. restaurants with his family enjoying good food and drink.
Prior Experience
Managing Director at Levine Leichtman Capital Partners
Investment Banking Analyst in the Leveraged Finance Group at RBS Securities
Engineer/Scientist in the Space & Intelligent Systems Division at The Boeing Company
Education
B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southern California (magna cum laude)
David is a Partner and serves as Head of Business Development for LightBay Capital. His responsibilities include leading the firm's deal sourcing, business development, and relationship management efforts.
When he's not working, Dave is usually enjoying the outdoors with his wife and twin daughters, or making little to no progress on his golf game.
Prior Experience
Head of Global Origination at The Gores Group
Consultant at Taylor Rafferty
Education
Davis is an Associate at LightBay Capital. His responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing new investments, financial modeling, due diligence, deal process execution, and portfolio company monitoring.
In his free time, Davis enjoys spending time with friends and family, running, and cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers.
Prior Experience
Investment Banking Analyst at Greenhill & Co.
Education
B.S. in Commerce from the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce - Concentrations in Finance and Marketing
Grant is a Vice President at LightBay Capital. His responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing new investments, financial modeling, due diligence, deal process execution, and portfolio company monitoring.
Jake is a Vice President at LightBay Capital. His responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing new investments, financial modeling, due diligence, deal process execution, and portfolio company monitoring.
In his free time, Jake enjoys snowboarding, meditating, and kicking around the soccer ball.
Prior Experience
Investment Banking Analyst in the Consumer Group at Piper Sandler
Education
B.S. in Business Administration - Finance from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo (summa cum laude)
Jason is an Associate at LightBay Capital. His responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing new investments, financial modeling, due diligence, deal process execution, and portfolio company monitoring.
In his free time, Jason enjoys trying new recipes in the kitchen, working on his golf game, and spending time with friends and family.
Prior Experience
Investment Banking Analyst in the Business Services Group at Houlihan Lokey
Investment Banking Analyst at Armory Group
Education
Jonathan is a Principal at LightBay Capital. His responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing new investments, financial modeling, due diligence, deal process execution, and portfolio company monitoring.
Jon is a passionate "foodie" - when not in the office, he can be found exploring L.A.'s restaurant scene and searching for the perfect bottle of Northern Rhône Syrah.
Prior Experience
Private Equity Associate at Pegasus Capital Advisors
Investment Banking Analyst at Greenhill & Co.
Education
Josie is an Executive Assistant at LightBay Capital.
In her free time, Josie enjoys cuddling cats as a volunteer for L.A. Animal Services and taking HIIT classes with friends.
Prior Experience
Executive Assistant at Greenhill & Co.
Executive Assistant at KPMG
Education
B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from Sonoma State University
Kailey is an Administrative Assistant at LightBay Capital.
In her free time, Kailey enjoys traveling, spending time with friends and family, and taking hot yoga classes.
Prior Experience
Administrative Assistant and Receptionist at Morphosis Architects
Kerry is Chief of Staff at LightBay Capital where he leads strategic planning and operational initiatives that support LightBay's core value of continuous improvement.
Kerry enjoys traveling, reading sci-fi/fantasy literature, and listening to afrobeats. He is also a lifelong Arsenal F.C. fan.
Prior Experience
Senior Consultant at Bain & Company
Sports & Digital Strategy Associate at NBC Universal Media
Investment Partner at Dorm Room Fund
Senior Engineer at Gulf Companies
Education
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Senior Executive
Kristen is a Senior Executive Assistant at LightBay Capital.
As a Los Angeles transplant, Kristen spends much of her free time in pursuit of the ideal bookshop, steakhouse, and blues club to fill in for her Chicago staples.
Prior Experience
Executive Assistant at Madison Dearborn Partners
Executive Assistant and IB Office Manager at Jefferies
Senior Administrative Assistant at Houlihan Lokey
Senior Administrative Assistant at BMO Capital Markets
Mason is an Associate at LightBay Capital. His responsibilities include sourcing, analyzing new investments, financial modeling, due diligence, deal process execution, and portfolio company monitoring.
In his free time, Mason enjoys working on his chess game, exploring new golf destinations, and spending time with family and friends
Prior Experience
Investment Banking Analyst in the Consumer & Retail Group at Truist Securities
Education
B.B.A. in Accounting with a minor in Software Engineering from Lipscomb University (summa cum laude)
Nav is a Founding Partner of LightBay Capital. Previously, Nav was a Partner and the Head of Healthcare for Ares Management's Private Equity Group, where he worked for more than 15 years.
Since leaving his hometown in Canada more than 20 years ago, Nav has been on a quest to find the best donut in America to replace the loss of his former close friend - the Tim Horton's Timbit.
Prior Experience
Partner and the Head of Healthcare for Ares Management's Private Equity Group
Director of Corporate Finance at DMC Venture Capital
Investment Banking Analyst at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp.
Education
Honours of Business Administration from Ivey Business School at Western University
Job Titles:
- Associate - Business Operations Manager
Sarah is an Associate - Business Operations Manager at LightBay Capital.
When not in the office, Sarah is usually found trying to recruit the LightBay team to take a Barry's workout class, socializing with friends, or spending time with her husband and adorable pup, NeO.
Prior Experience
Executive Assistant at The Carlyle Group (NY)
Executive Assistant at Oaktree Capital Management (London)
Fund of Hedge Funds Analyst at FIM Group
Operation Assistant and Investment Analyst in the Product Structuring and Financing Team at Man Investments
Education
Job Titles:
- Acquisitions / Development
- Operating Partner
Sharon Korzan is an Operating Partner at LightBay Capital. Her responsibilities include guiding portfolio companies in developing and implementing a scalable acquisition strategy to drive high-volume growth.
Sharon enjoys cooking, reading cookbooks, and hiking with her husband while searching for the perfect ocean view.
Stella is a Partner and serves as Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Head of Business Operations for LightBay Capital. She has over 20 years of experience in the financial services industry.
Stella enjoys various forms of exercise…pilates, skiing, hiking, tennis, bootcamp classes. She also enjoys counterbalancing all of that by exploring L.A.'s diverse restaurant scene.
Prior Experience
Senior Vice President in the Business Management Group at Moelis & Company
Director in the Business Management Group at UBS Investment Bank
Investment Banking Associate at UBS Investment Bank
Senior Associate in the Financial Advisory Services Group at PricewaterhouseCoopers
Education
Note: The executives referenced on this page are members of LightBay Growth LLC ("LBG"), a consulting firm affiliated with LightBay Management LLC ("LBC"). LBG provides consulting services related to LBC's investment activity and portfolio company investments. Members of LBG are not expected to be employees of LBC. Compensation is indirectly borne by investors and does not offset any management fees.
LightBay is a Los Angeles-based private equity firm that applies a flexible capital approach to middle market investing. As patient investors, we work alongside our management teams to accelerate and increase investments into growth initiatives to maximize value for the long term.
Steve is an Operating Partner in the LightBay Operating Performance Group, leading Strategy and Human Capital. He is responsible for guiding portfolio companies and their leadership teams to formalize their strategic roadmap while optimizing the human capital team.
Outside of work, Steve enjoys spending time at the lake or the mountains with his two kids.
Prior Experience
CEO & Executive Chairman of Mattress Firm
Education
B.B.A. in Marketing from Stephen F. Austin University
Doctor of Humane Letters from University of Houston
Job Titles:
- Information Technology
- Operating Partner
Vicky Colf is an Operating Partner in the LightBay Growth Operations Group, leading Technology. Her responsibilities include advising LightBay and its portfolio companies on technology strategy, implementation, organization, culture, and operations to drive growth and operational improvements.
Vicky spends her free time playing tennis, surfing, mountain biking, and fly fishing (when she can escape to Montana and Colorado).
Prior Experience
Chief Technology Officer at Warner Bros.
Manager at Accenture
Education
B.S. in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College