Private Equity Fast Pitch

Andy founded Levison & Co., the predecessor of Southfield Capital, in November 2002. Before that, he was the Head of Leveraged Finance at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette (DLJ), where he oversaw banking and origination activities for all of the firm's investment banking products for leveraged companies. In particular, Andy focused on high yield securities, leveraged bank loans, bridge loans, and mezzanine/equity investments. While at DLJ, Andy also served as Co-Chairman of the Credit Committee and as a member of the Management Committee of the Investment Banking Division and the Banking Review Committee. Prior to joining DLJ, he was a Managing Director of the Leveraged Buyout Group at Drexel Burnham Lambert and a Vice President of the Special Finance Group at Manufacturers Hanover Trust.
 
Andy has served on the boards of over 25 public and private companies related to investments and is currently on the board of directors of Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: FGP), Protos Security, Pacific Landscape Management, Property Management Holdings, TFS, and the Levison/Present Foundation at Mount Sinai Hospital. Andy was also the President of The Red Ribbon Foundation in Greenwich, CT. He earned a B.S. degree in Finance from Babson College.

Carl Jenkins is Managing Director and Group Head of Community Capital Solutions for BMO Financial Group.  Using a $3 billion allocation of balance sheet capital, the business unit invests in private funds that support lower middle market companies and community-centric real estate.  The business also provides construction loans for multifamily affordable housing. Both equity and debt commitments further the Community Reinvestment Act objectives of BMO in the central and western United States.
 
Equity investments are primarily limited partnerships in conventional private real estate funds and private equity funds licensed by the U.S. Small Business Administration.  Sponsors include private investment managers, for-profit developers, not-for-profit organizations and community development financial institutions.
 
Additionally, Carl chairs the board of directors for BMO Private Equity (U.S.), Inc., the BMO subsidiary that originates mezzanine debt and equity investments directly to operating companies.  He earned his bachelor's degree in architecture from Washington University in St. Louis and holds an MBA from the Kenan-Flagler School of Business at the University of North Carolina. He serves on the board of directors for several organizations, including the Disability Opportunity Fund, Enterprise Community Investment, and the Goodman Theatre of Chicago. Carl also serves on the advisory board of multiple lower middle market private equity and credit funds.
 
Disclosure: Banking products are subject to approval and are provided in the United States by BMO Bank N.A. Member FDIC

Scott Romanoff, Co-Managing Partner of Franchise Equity Partners, spent 28 years at Goldman Sachs and was a Partner for 12 years. He worked within the Investment Banking Division and the Executive Office based in both New York and London. He headed Corporate Development, and co-headed the Financial Institutions Financing Group, providing advice regarding debt and equity financing as well as risk management. He was Co-Chair of the Significant Acquisitions Oversight Group, and member of the GS Bank Management and Firm-wide Finance Committees. A graduate of New York University.

Anthony Guagliano is a founding Partner at Gallant Capital and is responsible for all aspects of the firm's activities. Prior to founding Gallant in 2018, Anthony was responsible for leading investments at The Gores Group.  Prior to joining Gores in 2011, Anthony was a Managing Director with Moelis & Company where he led M&A execution for transactions across various industries including technology, business services, consumer and retail, media, healthcare and biotechnology. Prior to joining Moelis, Anthony was a Vice President at UBS where he led the execution on a variety of assignments, including mergers and acquisitions, equity and debt security underwritings, and other advisory assignments. Anthony also previously worked as the Director of Finance at Nomadix, Inc and was an Analyst at DLJ. Anthony serves on the Board of Directors of all Gallant portfolio companies. Anthony received a B.A. in Business Administration with Honours from the Richard Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario.

Marcos A. Rodriguez
Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Partner
Mr. Rodriguez founded Palladium in 1997 and serves as Chairman and CEO.
Prior to forming Palladium, Mr. Rodriguez was a partner of Joseph Littlejohn & Levy, a buyout firm that he joined in 1989.
Before launching his private equity career, he worked in operations for General Electric Company in the U.S., Mexico and France, and graduated from GE's Manufacturing Management Program.
Mr. Rodriguez  has served on the Board of Directors of Palladium portfolio companies ABRA, Castro Cheese, Daniel's Jewelers, Jordan Health Services, Second Nature Brands, Teasdale, Taco Bueno, Trachte, TransForce and Wise Foods, among others. Mr. Rodriguez serves on the Board of Trustees of New York-Presbyterian, the University Hospital of Columbia and Cornell. He also serves on the Boards of the Robert Toigo Foundation and the Alfred E. Smith Foundation.
He earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Columbia University, an M.B.A. from The Wharton School and an M.A. in International Studies from the Lauder Institute of the University of Pennsylvania.