Robert A. Martin
David L. Kessenich
Ryan Heckman
Matthew Hicks
Patrick O'Keefe

Ryan Glaws
Lindsay T. Lewellen
Scott Friar
Brenda Goscha
Download Firm Directory

Spend enough time with Excellere and you will notice that there is something different about us. This is intentional. We built an organization around individuals who have backgrounds, skill sets, and attitudes that enhance and perpetuate the firm’s unique culture and philosophy.

Prior to joining Excellere, each of our investment professionals and staff had diverse backgrounds and a history of success and achievement. As importantly, we have assembled a team with character and a unique passion for excellence and service to others.

Further reinforcing our differentiated approach, the phrase Strive for Excellence graces the back of Excellere business cards, a wall in our headquarters, and our collateral materials. Strive for Excellence reflects the manifestation of our commitment to a higher standard of service – to our investors, portfolio company managers/partners, lenders, intermediaries, and service providers.

Mr. Martin has spent virtually his entire career originating, operating and investing in middle market transactions. Mr. Martin was an entrepreneur (founded two companies), a middle-market investment banker and a private equity investment professional. Mr. Martin has extensive experience in operations, sales and marketing, strategic planning, advising and structuring transactions.

Prior to forming Excellere Partners, Mr. Martin was a Director at KRG Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity group. Before to joining KRG Capital Partners, Mr. Martin was President of Geneva Corporate Finance (acquired by Citigroup in February 2001), a national investment banking firm specializing in advising privately held middle market companies. Mr. Martin served in senior positions at Geneva Corporate Finance for 11 years (seven years as a Managing Director and four years as President) and successfully completed or supervised approximately 200 entrepreneurial sell-side engagements of companies with market enterprise values from $15 million to over $500 million.

Mr. Martin earned a BS degree in Accounting and Finance from Hofstra University. Mr. Martin was formerly a director of Chronic Care Solutions, Inc., CIVCO Holding, Inc., The Tensar Corporation and Trinity Hospice, Inc. Mr. Martin currently serves on the board of directors of MedExpress, Advanced Pain Management and Acquisition Solutions, Inc.

rmartin@excellerepartners.com
(303) 765-2407

Mr. Kessenich has more than 18 years of private equity and investment banking experience. Prior to forming Excellere Partners, Mr. Kessenich was a Director and member of the investment committee of KRG Capital Partners, a middle market private equity group. As a private equity investor, Mr. Kessenich has completed more than 30 acquisitions, including industry consolidations in the healthcare services, medical technology, life sciences, transportation logistics and energy services industries. Previously, Mr. Kessenich was an investment professional at SBC Equity Partners and Mason Wells. Prior to that, Mr. Kessenich was an investment banker with Continental Bank and Bank of America where he advised middle market companies.

Mr. Kessenich received an MBA in Finance and International Business from The University of Chicago’s Graduate School of Business and a BSBA in Accounting and Finance from Creighton University. Mr. Kessenich served on the board of directors of Chronic Care Solutions, Inc., HMS Healthcare, Inc., CIVCO Holding, Inc., Scivex, Inc., Athletic & Therapeutic Institute and Focus Group Holding, Inc. Mr. Kessenich currently serves on the board of directors of MedExpress, Advanced Pain Management and Acquisition Solutions, Inc.

dkessenich@excellerepartners.com
(303) 765-2405

Mr. Heckman has over ten years of private equity investing experience. Prior to forming Excellere Partners, Mr. Heckman served as a Principal of KRG Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm. Prior to KRG Capital Partners, Mr. Heckman was an investment professional at Booth Creek Management Corporation (“Booth Creek”), a private equity firm focused on a buy and build strategy, primarily within the food and transportation industries. While serving as an investment professional, Mr. Heckman also maintained interim operating responsibility as President of one of the Booth Creek’s portfolio companies.

Mr. Heckman has participated in numerous consolidations in the food products, transportation, healthcare, life sciences, building products, recreation and leisure and government services industries. While at KRG Capital Partners, Mr. Heckman served on the board of directors of: HMS Healthcare, Inc.; Celebrity, Inc.; Interior Specialists, Inc.; Athletic Therapeutic Institute; Contract Research Solutions, Inc. (a/k/a Cetero) and Specialty Research, Inc. Mr. Heckman currently serves on the board of directors of MedExpress and Acquisition Solutions, Inc.

Mr. Heckman earned a BS in Business Administration and a minor in Economics, summa cum laude, from the University of Colorado. Mr. Heckman was a member of the United States Ski Team and competed in the 1992 and 1994 Olympics.

rheckman@excellerepartners.com
(303) 765-2409

Mr. Hicks has more than 16 years of experience in private equity investing and financing middle market companies. Prior to forming Excellere Partners, Mr. Hicks served as a Vice President of Stone Arch Capital, LLC (“SAC”), an Upper Midwest focused middle market private equity firm. Prior to SAC, Mr. Hicks was an investment professional at George K. Baum Merchant Banc, LLC (“GKB”), a private equity firm focused on a buy and build investment strategy primarily within the food and beverage, consumer products and business service industries. Prior to GKB, Mr. Hicks was an investment professional with Bank of America's private equity subsidiary, BankAmerica Capital Corporation. Prior to that, Mr. Hicks was a financing professional with Bank of America's Leveraged Finance Group.

Mr. Hicks has participated in numerous buy and build investment platforms in food and beverage products, outsourced marketing services, consumer products, office furniture products, healthcare services, and industrial and municipal products. Additionally, he has served on the board of directors of six portfolio companies. Mr. Hicks currently serves on the board of directors of Advanced Pain Management.

Mr. Hicks earned an MBA with a concentration in entrepreneurship, finance and strategic management from the University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business and earned a BS in Finance from the University of Utah.

mhicks@excellerepartners.com
(303) 765-2410

Mr. O’Keefe has over 7 years of private equity and investment banking experience. Prior to joining Excellere Partners, Mr. O’Keefe was an investment professional with H.I.G. Capital, a middle-market private equity firm and an Analyst at JPMorgan in their merger and acquisition group.

Mr. O’Keefe earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a major in finance. Mr. O’Keefe earned a BS in analytical finance from Wake Forest University.

pokeefe@excellerepartners.com
(303) 765-2412

Prior to joining Excellere Partners, Mr. Glaws was Assistant Vice President for GE Commercial Finance in the healthcare leveraged lending group. Mr. Glaws was previously an Associate with Bank One's capital markets group.

Mr. Glaws earned his Bachelor’s of Business Administration (Cum Laude) from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio with a major in finance and a minor in economics. Mr. Glaws was awarded his CFA Charter in 2005.

rglaws@excellerepartners.com
(303) 765-2404

Prior to joining Excellere Partners, Mr. Lewellen was an Associate for American Capital Strategies where he worked on ACAS-sponsored private equity buyouts and leveraged finance transactions. Previously, he worked at Perot Systems in the Mergers & Acquisitions Group and at Wachovia Securities in the Energy & Power Investment Banking Group.

Mr. Lewellen earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Finance from Oklahoma State University where he was a Wentz Research Scholar.

llewellen@excellerepartners.com
(303) 765-2413

Prior to joining Excellere Partners, Mr. Friar had a six year career with GE Antares Capital’s Leveraged Finance Group in Chicago, where he was responsible for structuring, underwriting, documenting and managing middle-market sponsor transactions across a variety of industries.

Mr. Friar graduated with honors from Michigan State University with a B.A. in finance.

sfriar@excellerepartners.com
(303) 765-2408

Ms. Goscha has more than ten years of private equity experience in administration and operations.  Ms. Goscha’s prior experience includes entrepreneurship, accounting, and banking.  Prior to joining Excellere Partners, Ms. Goscha was Administrative Director with KRG Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity group.  At KRG, Ms. Goscha was actively involved in administration, operations, and event coordination. 

Ms. Goscha earned a BA in Business Administration, summa cum laude, from the University of Denver.

BGoscha@excellerepartners.com
(303) 765-2414