Prior to founding Ground Swell in 2003, Mr. Bennett worked at a San Diego-based private equity firm focused on building businesses in growing and fragmented industries. Mr. Bennett worked extensively with BancBoston Capital and Bain & Co.’s private equity consulting group on various investment opportunities. Previously, Mr. Bennett worked in the investment-banking group of Prudential Securities and the capital markets division of Merrill Lynch. He also conducted strategic market research for Kenan Systems, a leading provider of strategic consulting. Mr. Bennett received an M.B.A. from the UCLA Anderson School of Management and graduated with an A.B. in Psychology from Dartmouth College. During and following college, he was a competitive rower and has won a number of national championships.

Prior to joining Ground Swell full-time in 2007, Mr. Taylor consulted for Ground Swell in a variety of capacities including business and financial due diligence as well being Ground Swell’s accountant. Mr. Taylor has held senior positions in accounting and consulting firms for the last 10 years. He specializes in business value-building, financial restructuring, and tax planning for small and medium sized businesses. Prior to receiving his degree in accounting from San Diego State University, Mr. Taylor served for seven years with the U.S. Army’s 3rd Ranger Battalion where he was involved in sensitive military operations. Mr. Taylor is a life time member of the Disabled American Veterans.

Mr. Thomas joined Ground Swell in 2004, and has provided senior level financial assistance to Ground Swell portfolio companies. He has extensive experience as the CFO of lower middle market companies, having served in this capacity at over twenty companies since 1994. Mr. Thomas is President and Founder of THG CFO Partners, Inc., a financial consulting firm specializing in interim and part-time CFO services to service based companies. He has extensive experience as a CFO in such service industries as multi-unit franchised food service, integrated waste, distribution, and software development. Mr. Thomas received a B.S. in Accounting from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, a M.S. in taxation from Walsh College, and is a certified public accountant.

Mr. Levin joined Ground Swell in 2003, after founding Levin & Partners, P.C. to provide legal and business advice to private equity and venture capital firms and to early to mid-stage private companies. Prior to founding Levin & Partners in 2002, he was a private equity attorney in the New York office of Dewey Ballantine LLP for ten years. At Dewey Ballantine, Mr. Levin specialized in complex private equity transactions such as asset management, alternative investments, venture capital investments, and M&A transactions. He also has significant experience in structuring and investing in private equity funds. Mr. Levin graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Romance Languages and Political Science (magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa) in 1989 and a J.D. in 1992. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Law Alumni Association of New York University School of Law since 1999.