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Gavin M. Turner, Managing Partner
Gavin Turner is a Managing Partner and founder of Mainsail Partners. In addition to leading new investments, Mr. Turner is actively involved as a board member for Mainsail’s portfolio companies. Prior to founding Mainsail Partners, Mr. Turner was a Vice President responsible for west coast media and communications investments at Summit Partners, a leading private equity firm with over $7 billion under management. During his seven years at Summit Partners, Mr. Turner completed 14 investments totaling over $200 million of capital. Mr. Turner previously served on the Board of Directors of Systech Corporation and held a senior management position at Sirenza Microdevices, Inc. (an investment he sourced and completed while at Summit which was ultimately acquired by RFMD for $900 million). Mr. Turner received an A.B. in Economics, with Honors, from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business.
C. Jason Payne, Managing Partner
C. Jason Payne is a Managing Partner and founder of Mainsail Partners. In addition to leading new investments, Mr. Payne is actively involved as a board member for Mainsail’s portfolio companies. Earlier in his career, Mr. Payne was a founder and Vice President, Corporate Development of WiredCapital, a venture-backed technology company, and held a variety of roles in corporate development and operations with American Dental Partners (NASDAQ: ADPI). During his tenure with ADPI, Mr. Payne helped grow the company from start-up to over $130 million in revenues and over 1,500 employees through a combination of acquisitions and organic growth. Mr. Payne began his career with Summit Partners, a private equity firm with over $7 billion under management. Mr. Payne received an A.B. in International Relations from Stanford University.
Andrew D. Polacek, Associate
Andrew Polacek is responsible for sourcing and executing new investments as well as working with current portfolio companies. Prior to Mainsail Partners, Mr. Polacek worked in the Media, Sports, and Entertainment Group at Houlihan Lokey in Los Angeles, advising clients on valuations, financing, and buy-side and sell-side mergers and acquisition representation. Previously, Mr. Polacek was a summer analyst at Legacy Partners Group, a boutique investment bank, in New York City. Mr. Polacek graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with degrees in Economics, magna cum laude and with distinction, and Business Administration, with distinction.
Bret Shimizu, Associate
Bret Shimizu is responsible for sourcing and executing new investments as well as working with current portfolio companies. Prior to Mainsail Partners, Mr. Shimizu was an analyst in the Technology Mergers & Acquisitions Group at Lehman Brothers. Before Lehman Brothers, Mr. Shimizu worked as an intern at vSpring Capital, a venture capital firm. Mr. Shimizu has also worked with several Silicon Valley-based start-ups on technology and business development projects. Mr. Shimizu received a B.S. in Management, Science and Engineering at Stanford University and was a member of Stanford's Varsity Soccer Team.
Kyle G. Hency, Associate
Kyle Hency is responsible for sourcing and executing new investments as well as working with current portfolio companies. Prior to Mainsail Partners, Mr. Hency was an analyst in the Technology Group at Lazard Frères, concentrating on mergers and acquisitions advisory work for internet and e-commerce companies. Mr. Hency received an A.B. in Economics at Stanford University and was captain of Stanford’s Varsity Soccer Team.
Sheldon Lewis, Associate
Sheldon Lewis is responsible for sourcing and executing new investments as well as working with current portfolio companies. Prior to Mainsail Partners, Mr. Lewis was an analyst in the Technology Group at Piper Jaffray, where he specialized in equity financings, restructurings and mergers and acquisitions advisory work. Before Piper Jaffray, Mr. Lewis was an analyst at Transition Partners, a venture capital firm. Mr. Lewis graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.S. in Finance, with distinction, and an M.S. in Accounting, with distinction.
Zac Carman, Entrepreneur in Residence
Zac Carman is an Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR) at Mainsail Partners focusing on technology enabled services. In addition to searching for an entrepreneurial venture, Mr. Carman evaluates new opportunities and assists portfolio companies with operations. Prior to becoming an EIR, Mr. Carman was a Senior Associate with Mainsail Partners and was responsible for sourcing and executing transactions as well as working with portfolio companies. Before Mainsail, Mr. Carman held operating roles of increasing responsibility in engineering, project management, and enterprise sales at Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (GST) and IBM Storage Technology Division. While at Hitachi GST, Mr. Carman identified and executed outsourcing and consolidation efforts resulting in annual savings in excess of $10 million. Mr. Carman received an A.B. in Engineering Sciences from Dartmouth College.
Lars Ahlstrom, Chief Financial Officer
Lars Ahlstrom has extensive experience in the private equity and venture capital industry, having worked extensively with leading firms such as Golden Gate Capital, Storm Ventures, Silicon Prairie Partners and International Equity Ventures. He has held CFO and Controller positions in several other companies, including XenSource, All Bases Covered, the American Basketball League, ISDA & Co, Esprit International and Leasing Solutions. Mr. Ahlstrom received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering, with Distinction, from Stanford University and an M.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from the UCLA Graduate School of Management.
Alexandra Kearns, Office Manager
Alexandra Kearns is Mainsail’s Office Manager and Event Coordinator. Prior to Mainsail Partners, Ms. Kearns worked as an Executive Assistant with JPMorgan’s Private Bank and as an Administrative Assistant at Flad & Associates. Ms. Kearns received an A.B. in Political Science with minors in Spanish and Sociology from the University of California at Davis.
Courtney Esposto, Executive Assistant
Courtney Esposto is the Executive Assistant to Gavin Turner and C. Jason Payne. Prior to Mainsail Partners, Ms. Esposto worked as the second assistant to the CEO of Apple, and as an Office Manager at Aquilo Partners, a boutique investment bank focused on life sciences. Ms. Esposto received an A.B. in Liberal Studies from the University of the Pacific and was a member of Pacific’s Division I Field Hockey Team.
John Freidenrich, Member of the Investment Committee
Mr. Freidenrich received his bachelor's degree and LLD from Stanford University and began his career as a lawyer, starting the law firm of Ware & Freidenrich in 1968, now part of DLA Piper Rudnick, one of Silicon Valley's preeminent firms serving the technology community. Mr. Freidenrich also founded the venture capital firm, Bay Partners in 1976 and led the firm for over a quarter century. He has been closely involved with Stanford University, where he was a member of the Board of Trustees for a decade and Chairman of the Board for four years in the mid-1990s. Mr. Freidenrich is currently Chairman of the Board, Packard Children's Hospital, and Director of Stanford Hospital and Clinics.
Robert F.X. Burlinson, Member of the Investment Committee
Mr. Burlinson is the Chief Investment Officer and co-founder of Regis Management Company, a money management firm. Mr. Burlinson previously worked as a Principal for Industrial Growth Partners, a private equity firm focused on middle-market manufacturing businesses. Mr. Burlinson also executed public and private financings and merger advisory assignments for Alex. Brown & Sons, Inc. and Kidder, Peabody & Co. Mr. Burlinson began his career in the private placements group of Manufacturers Hanover Securities Corporation. Mr. Burlinson received an A.B. from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
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