Only Critical Thinkers Allowed
Creating value for investors requires a deep bench of critical thinkers. Each of us brings an unwavering blend of determination, grit, and curiosity to LAGO's commitment to consistently outperform investors' expectations.
Tim Gottfried has over 20 years of experience in principal investing and corporate finance. As co-founder of Stonegate Capital Holdings, LLC, he led capital raising, investment approvals, and operational strategy. At CDW Corporation, a Fortune 250 company, he served as Assistant Treasurer, managing a $15 billion capital strategy and leading the company's NASDAQ IPO. Earlier, at Cerberus Capital Chicago, he structured deals for distressed targets and facilitated retail asset acquisitions through Hilco Trading, LLC.
His background also includes $2 billion in credit underwriting at JPMorgan Chase and M&A roles at William Blair and Mesirow Financial. Tim holds a Master's in Finance from the University of Michigan, a Bachelor's in Engineering from Georgia Tech, and is a CFA charter holder.
Heather La Freniere brings over 27 years of expertise in debt advisory, investment banking, and credit investing. Most recently, she served as Head of Strategy at Stonegate Capital Holdings, focusing on Technology and Consumer Brand investments. Previously, Heather held leadership roles at Silicon Valley Bank, Castle Pines Capital, and Wells Fargo, managing portfolios, leading sales teams, and originating over $1.5 billion in financing. Earlier in her career, she worked in private debt placement at ABN Amro and Mesirow Financial. Heather holds a Bachelor's in Finance & International Business from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from the University of Minnesota.
Scott Moen has over 12 years of experience structuring, executing, and managing public and private investments across the capital structure. His career spans roles in private equity, private credit, investment banking, and management consulting. Most recently, Scott worked at Sterling Partners, focusing on private equity investments. Prior to that, he was with Madison Capital Funding, where he specialized in private credit solutions. Earlier in his career, Scott was part of the investment banking team at Bank of America Merrill Lynch, advising on corporate transactions. He began his career in management consulting at Deloitte, where he focused on strategic initiatives for a diverse client base.
Ian MacGregor is a Senior Managing Director at LAGO, based in the firm's Chicago headquarters, where he oversees Investor Relations activity globally. Most recently, Ian served as the Director of Investor Relations at ARCHIMED, the $9B AUM global healthcare focused buyout firm, where he led capital raising, operations, and investor success initiatives in the Americas. Prior to that, Ian was on the Investor Relations team at Vista Equity Partners, the $100B+ AUM software focused buyout firm. Earlier in his career, Ian was part of the investment banking team at Greenhill & Co where he focused on secondary advisory for institutional investors and asset managers.
Ian started his career at Cambridge Associates where he advised leading institutional investors on asset allocation and manager selection as a member of the U.S. Private Equity Research team. Ian earned his M.B.A. from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin, and his B.A. from Trinity College.
Jim Teppen is an experienced senior executive with a strong financial and operational background, with a proven track record of building and leading teams, implementing process improvements and automation, and driving high growth in both PE-backed and privately held businesses. He previously served as CEO of Wellen Capital and as an advisory professional at EY’s Financial Services Office. Jim was recognized as an Inc. 5000 award winner and brings extensive experience in non-bank lending, portfolio management, and structured finance, specializing in underwriting complex credit facilities, evaluating collateral risk, and building scalable lending platforms for middle-market and growth-oriented companies.
Jim holds a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and is both a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA), reflecting his strong technical foundation and commitment to professional excellence.
Nitin Chandra is a Managing Director at LAGO. Based in the Washington D.C. area, he leads deal development and structuring primarily on the East Coast, Midwest and Southeast. Prior to this role, Nitin spent several years in growth credit at Structural Capital and MidCap Financial (managed by Apollo). Following his MBA, he worked in investment banking at Wells Fargo Securities within their Middle Market Group. Throughout his career, Nitin has worked closely with entrepreneurs and investors and specialized in identifying customized solutions to meet their long-term strategic objectives. Nitin has a B.S. in Systems Engineering from the University of Virginia and an M.B.A. from Georgetown University (McDonough School of Business).
Brian Lewis is Managing Director at LAGO, based in San Francisco, where he leads deal development and structuring for the technology sector across Northern California and the broader West Coast. With extensive experience in commercial banking and venture debt, Brian has held key roles at Bridge Bank, City National Bank, and TriplePoint Capital. Throughout his career, Brian has worked closely with entrepreneurs and investors across various industries, helping them achieve strategic growth objectives. He has a deep understanding of the financial needs of high-growth technology companies and specializes in providing tailored solutions to support their success.
Kevin Park is a Managing Director at LAGO, where he leads cannabis equity investments for the D9 Equity Fund, originates and underwrites consumer debt deals, and manages West Coast relationships. A seasoned professional with a diverse background, Kevin is a 3x entrepreneur with extensive experience in investment banking, private equity, and angel investing. As a former CFO in retail, e-commerce, consumer services, and consumer products, he brings a wealth of operational and financial expertise. Kevin's career highlights include five successful exits as an angel investor. He is a CFA charterholder and a Fulbright Scholar, underscoring his commitment to excellence in both finance and academia.
Andrew Cosentino is a Principal at LAGO, where he oversees new deal execution, manages portfolio investments, and leads the training and development of analysts and associates. Since joining the company early last year, Andrew has taken on expanded responsibilities, leveraging his expertise to drive successful outcomes across all areas of investment and team development. His commitment to excellence and ability to mentor rising talent make him an integral part of the LAGO team.
Jennifer Dashek is the Senior Vice President of Finance and Operations at LAGO. Prior to this role, Jennifer was a tax professional at PricewaterhouseCoopers, a Controller at PEAK6 and Teza Technologies, and a Director of Financial Controls at Citadel. Most recently Director of Finance for Haymaker Ventures. Jennifer received a B.B.A in Acccounting, Finance, and Management from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a M.B.A from Northwestern (Kellogg School of Business).
Ryan Besch is Vice President at LAGO, where he plays a key role in advancing the firm's investment strategies. Since joining in early 2022 as an Associate, Ryan has made a significant impact, bringing a strong background in both credit and equity investments. His analytical expertise and dedication to delivering results have been instrumental in driving the success of LAGO's initiatives.
James Hanson is Vice President at LAGO, where he plays a critical role in underwriting and assessing debt and equity investment opportunities. Before joining LAGO, James was an Investment Banking Associate at Lincoln International, specializing in capital advisory for middle-market companies. In this role, he advised clients on complex capital raising transactions, including debt and equity financing, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic growth initiatives. With a strong analytical mindset and expertise in structuring tailored financing solutions, James is dedicated to supporting the unique needs of growing companies. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois.
Alex Huang is Vice President of Operations at LAGO, where he oversees loan administration, portfolio management, treasury operations, and process improvements. With a professional background in credit and loan operations, Alex brings diverse experience across commercial banking, real estate finance, lower middle market alternative financing, and fund operations. His expertise includes credit underwriting, portfolio management, and fund treasury management. Alex's dedication to excellence and operational efficiency has earned him recognition, including a feature in the Wall Street Journal's Moving Upstream series. His comprehensive skill set and industry insights make him a valuable member of the LAGO team.
Charles Co is an Associate at LAGO, where he focuses on underwriting, financial modeling, due diligence, and credit analysis. Prior to joining LAGO, Charles spent over two years at Crédit Agricole CIB in corporate coverage, working with major industrial companies such as John Deere, Ford, Tesla, and Genuine Parts Co. In this role, he gained extensive experience in underwriting and portfolio management. Charles holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance with a minor in Accounting from DePaul University, where he was recognized as a Keeley Scholar. His strong analytical skills and industry experience make him an integral part of the LAGO team.
David Furlan is an Associate at LAGO, where he specializes in financial statement analysis, manager due diligence, and credit underwriting. Before joining LAGO in May 2024, David spent three years as a buy-side Equity Research Analyst at Nine Ten Capital Management, where he contributed to a growth-oriented, concentrated small-cap equity portfolio. David holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His strong analytical background and expertise in investment research make him a valuable part of the LAGO team.
Conor Devery is an Analyst at LAGO, where he contributes to credit underwriting, financial statement analysis, and portfolio management. Prior to joining LAGO in April 2025, he was at Lumen Technologies, where he worked on merger, acquisition, and divestiture transactions. With prior experience across corporate strategy, FP&A, and transaction management, he brings a well-rounded perspective to the LAGO team. Conor holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Business Analytics from Indiana University, where he was recognized as a Dean Scholar.
John Shawaker is an Analyst at LAGO and is primarily responsible for underwriting, due diligence, execution, and portfolio management for private credit and equity investment opportunities. John also supports LAGO APEX, providing asset-based lending solutions to clients. Prior to joining LAGO, John was a Credit Analyst at Fifth Third Bank, where he worked in the Middle Market Commercial and Industrial group as well as the Fund Finance team as an Associate. John brings experience in credit analysis, deal execution, and portfolio and relationship management, along with the energy and drive to support the success of LAGO and its clients. John holds a bachelor's degree in finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Elias Paulos is an Analyst at LAGO, where he focuses on credit underwriting & analysis, financial modeling, and due diligence. Prior to joining LAGO, Elias was a corporate coverage analyst at Crédit Agricole CIB for two years, where he worked with companies across the automotive space including original equipment manufacturers, suppliers, and aftermarket retailers. His substantial portfolio management and underwriting experience from this role makes Elias a valuable part of the LAGO team. Elias holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance with a minor in Accounting from DePaul University, where he was also selected into the University Honors Program.