Our Team
Jonathan Victor
Managing Partner
Mr. Victor is the Founder and Managing Partner of Balmoral and chairs its Investment Committee. Prior to founding Balmoral in 2005, Mr. Victor served as a senior advisor to Chanin Capital Partners, a financial advisory firm focused on restructurings. From 1999 to 2001, he served as President and CEO of eBility Inc., an internet company dedicated to people with disabilities. From 1993 to 1996, he was a Senior Vice President of Finance with The Irvine Company, a large scale real estate development company in Orange County. From 1986 – 1990, Mr. Victor was a Vice President of Kaufman & Broad Inc., a predecessor company to SunAmerica (which was acquired by AIG in 2000).
Mr. Victor serves on the board of Dispatch Transportation, iGPS Holdings, Enesco Holdings, KP Aviation, Enflite, Mooyah and Epsilyte.
Among other civic and charitable affiliations, Mr. Victor serves as the Chairman of the Board of The Wende Museum of the Cold War, and on the Board of The Wallis Annenberg Cultural Center in Beverly Hills; and the Cotsen Foundation for the Art of Teaching, and the Board of Governors of Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Education:
- J.D., Stanford University
- M.B.A., Stanford University M.A. (Jurisprudence) Oxford University
- A.B. Princeton University
Jonathan Victor
Managing Partner
Robin Nourmand
Managing Director
Robin Nourmand serves as a Managing Director at Balmoral and a member of its Investment Committee. He was the first investment professional hired by the firm, in 2006.
At Balmoral, he has sourced deals, performed and managed all aspects of due diligence, crafted deal structures and proposals, raised debt and continuation-vehicle financing for targets and portfolio companies, negotiated legal documents, executed purchase and sale transactions, served on the boards of companies and co-led fundraising efforts. He has also since supported the finance and business-development departments of the fund’s portfolio companies. Mr. Nourmand has previously served on the boards of Bennington Marine, Vesta, among others. He currently serves on the board of Dispatch, Enesco, iGPS, KP Aviation, and Epsilyte.
Among other civic and charitable affiliations, Mr. Nourmand serves on the Board of Directors of Jewish National Fund (Los Angeles) and UCLA Hillel.
Education:
- J.D., UCLA
- M.B.A., UCLA Anderson
- B.A. (Business-Economics) UCLA
Robin Nourmand
Managing Director
Travis Haynes
Managing Director
Travis Haynes joined the Balmoral team in 2012 to lead the business development function at the firm. He plays an active role in the origination, review, analysis and execution of transactions.
Prior to Balmoral, Travis served as a Vice President at Platinum Equity, a private equity firm headquartered in Beverly Hills, for 13 years. As a member of Platinum’s mergers and acquisitions team, Travis pursued new platform acquisitions in the US and Europe. He has extensive experience in review and analysis as well as governance of the investment approach and process. Travis serves on the board of Enesco LLC.
Education:
- B.A. UCLA
Travis Haynes
Managing Director
David Shainberg
Managing Director
David Shainberg is a Managing Director at Balmoral Funds. Mr. Shainberg joined Balmoral in 2012 and is responsible for sourcing new investment opportunities, performing various aspects of due diligence, arranging debt financing, and structuring and closing acquisitions.
Prior to joining Balmoral, Mr. Shainberg worked in New York City in private equity at Brookfield Asset Management and investment banking at JP Morgan. Outside of the office, Mr. Shainberg serves on the boards of TMA Southern California NextGen (co-chairman), JNFutures, and Forever My Angel (co-founder).
Education:
- B.A. (Economics), NYU
David Shainberg
Managing Director
Richard Levernier
Principal
Richard Levernier is a Principal at Balmoral Funds. Mr. Levernier joined Balmoral in 2019 and is responsible for evaluating new investment opportunities, performing various aspects of due diligence, and executing transactions.
Prior to joining Balmoral, Mr. Levernier worked in private equity for Harren Equity Partners in Charlottesville, VA and before that in investment banking for William Blair in Chicago, IL.
Education:
- M.B.A., Berkeley Haas
- B.B.A., Notre Dame
Richard Levernier
Principal
Curtis Godin
Vice President
Curtis Godin is a Vice President at Balmoral Funds. Mr. Godin joined Balmoral in 2018 and he is primarily responsible for the origination, review and analysis of investment opportunities and partnerships. During his college years at UCLA, Curtis was a Baseball and Track and Field student-athlete.
Education:
- B.A., UCLA
Curtis Godin
Vice President
Clay Baker
Vice President
Clay Baker is a Vice President at Balmoral Funds. Mr. Baker joined Balmoral in 2022 and is primarily responsible for evaluating new investment opportunities, performing various aspects of due diligence, and executing transactions.
Prior to joining Balmoral, Mr. Baker worked in private equity for PNC Mezzanine Capital in Pittsburgh, PA and investment banking for Stephens in Atlanta, GA.
Education:
- M.B.A. -Columbia Business School
- B.S. (Finance) -Wake Forest University
Clay Baker
Vice President
Holden Thomas
Associate
Holden Thomas is an Associate at Balmoral Funds. Mr. Thomas joined Balmoral in 2023 and is primarily responsible for evaluating new investment opportunities, performing various aspects of due diligence, and executing transactions.
Prior to joining Balmoral, Mr. Thomas worked in investment banking for Greif & Co in Los Angeles, California focusing on the consumer, food and beverage, and manufacturing industries. During his college years at USC, Holden played quarterback on the football team and is member of the 2017 Rose Bowl team.
Holden Thomas
Associate
Matthew DeRoos
Business Development Analyst
Matthew joined the Balmoral Funds Business Development team in 2022 as a Business Development Analyst. He is responsible for sourcing new deal opportunities and relationships. During his time at UCLA, Matthew was a Track and Field student-athlete.
Education:
- B.A., UCLA
Matthew DeRoos
Business Development Analyst
Jacob Moss
Business Development Analyst
Jacob joined the Balmoral Funds Business Development team in 2023 as a Business Development Analyst. He is responsible for sourcing new deal opportunities and relationships. During his time at UCLA, Jacob received a B.A. in Economics with a minor in Entrepreneurship.
Education:
- B.A., UCLA
Jacob Moss
Business Development Analyst
Luke Mau
Chief Financial Officer
Mr. Mau is the CFO at Balmoral Funds. Mr. Mau joined Balmoral in 2017 and is primarily responsible for overseeing the financial, accounting, regulatory compliance, and administrative functions of the Balmoral funds and related entities.
Prior to joining Balmoral, Mr. Mau worked in private equity administration with JP Morgan in London and New York City and Citco Fund Services in Europe. He is a Certified Public Accountant (active).
Education:
- M.B.A., ESADE (Spain)
- B.S. (Accounting), University of Utah
- B.S. (Finance), University of Utah
Luke Mau
Chief Financial Officer
Samuel Kandel
Senior Fund Accountant
Samuel Kandel is a Senior Fund Accountant at Balmoral Funds. Mr. Kandel joined Balmoral in 2020 and assists the CFO in financial, accounting, regulatory compliance, and administrative functions of the Balmoral funds and related entities.
Prior to joining Balmoral, Mr. Kandel worked in public accounting as an auditor with RSM US, LLP. He also has experience in the creation, funding, monitoring & managing, and winding down of Trusts and Estates.
Education:
- B.S. (Accounting), Cal State University Northridge
Samuel Kandel
Senior Fund Accountant
Eugenia Raynor
Executive Assistant
Barbara Gryniewicz
Senior Executive Assistant
Bradley Crocker
Chemicals and Advanced Materials
Bradley Crocker currently serves as the CEO of Epsilyte LLC, starting in 2020, and has previously served as CEO of Americas Styrenics from 2012 to 2020. Mr. Crocker has held various positions of increasing responsibility throughout the chemical industry for more than 30 years. Mr. Crocker has previously served on the boards of the American Chemistry Council and Pine Chemical Association and currently serves on the board of Epsilyte LLC, Plastics Industry Association, and Expandable Polystyrene Industry Alliance.
Michael Lundin
Building Products, Shipping and Logistics
Michael Lundin is an Operating Advisor for Balmoral who has held a variety of Chairman, CEO and President positions with companies involved in the minerals, building products, shipping and logistics industries. Additionally, he spent a decade as a Partner with a turnaround private equity firm, served on 12 corporate boards and has been involved in more than a dozen corporate refinancing’s/bond offerings, a dozen business restructurings/turnarounds and in excess of 50 M&A transactions.
Senior executive roles have included Chairman of North Coast Minerals, President and Chief Executive Officer of Oglebay Norton Company, President and Chief Operating Officer and President Great Lakes Minerals Division and President and Chief Executive Officer, and majority partner of Michigan Limestone Operations LP.
Mr. Lundin currently serves as Non-Executive Chairman of US Concrete (USCR), iGPS Logistics, Tidewater Transportation & Terminals and the Lead Independent Direct of Constellis.
Mr. Lundin received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Wisconsin-Stout and his MBA from Loyola Marymount University. He is a member of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) and a past member of Young Presidents and World Presidents Organization.
Michael Corrigan
Media, Communications and Entertainment
Mike Corrigan is an experienced entertainment and media industry executive with more than twenty-five years in a variety roles including general management, content production and distribution, strategic planning, finance and administration. His industry experience covers all facets of the strategic, creative and operational management of content production and distribution. Mr. Corrigan also has extensive experience in the high technology sector, particularly with communications and content delivery platforms.
Mr. Corrigan has held senior executive and board roles such as CRO/CFO of a publicly traded Canadian television producer and distributor, Board of Managers of Tropicana Entertainment Inc., Chairman of the Board of Directors of Atari, Inc., board positions at ACME Communications Inc. and at Sonar Entertainment Inc. where he also served as Co-CEO, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Metro Goldwyn Mayer Inc (MGM), Board of Directors of United International Pictures, previously a senior partner in the Entertainment, Media and Communications practice at Price Waterhouse LLP.
He is currently a member of the Boards of Directors and Boards of Advisors of a number of privately held entertainment and technology entities, including Dr. Seuss Enterprises LLC and Magic Leap Inc.
Mr. Corrigan is a graduate of the Law School of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland and of The Honorable Society of the King's Inns, Dublin, Ireland. He resides in Malibu, California.
Andrea Weiss
Retail and Consumer
Ms. Weiss has had a thirty-year career in senior leadership with some of the world’s foremost retailers. She is the founder of The O Alliance, LLC and CEO of Retail Consulting Inc., a global consulting practice focused on the retail, e-commerce and consumer sector.
As part of her practice work, Ms. Weiss has provided both consulting services, operating expertise, and has the unique ability to step into a business as a “C”-level executive. Current and past clients include leading private equity firms such as BlackRock, CVC and L Catterton. In this role, she led as CEO, the turnaround of a Canadian retailer and was chairman of Grupo Cortefiel, (Madrid, Spain), which operates retail stores, e-commerce and franchises, in more than 70 countries. Ms. Weiss is a senior advisor to Latin America’s leading luxury retailer, El Palacio de Hierro and luxury silver firm, TANE. In addition, Ms. Weiss currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Red Apple Stores, a general merchandise retailer based in Toronto, Canada.
Prior to establishing her own consulting business, Ms. Weiss was President of the publically traded multi-channel teen retailer, dELiA*s (DLIA:NASDAQ), President of GUESS (GES:NYSE), Executive Vice President, Chief Stores Officer of L Brands (LB: NYSE), the parent of leading brands such as Victoria’s Secret, Bath and BodyWorks and Abercrombie and Fitch. Previously, she was Senior Vice President ANN TAYLOR and Director of Merchandising for The Walt Disney Company.
Currently, Ms. Weiss is a member of several public company boards including: Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY:NASDAQ), Cracker Barrel Restaurant (CBRL: NASDAQ), O’Reilly Auto Parts (ORLY: NASDAQ) and RPT Realty (RPT:NYSE). She also serves on the Board of The Fischer Company, a private real estate services and technology firm. Ms. Weiss is an advisor to leading technology firms, such as SAP, Zebra Technologies and TYCO Retail Solutions. Previously, Ms. Weiss served on the boards of Chicos FAS, Nutrisystem, Newgistics, Pep Boys, GSI Commerce, Brookstone and eDiets.
Ms. Weiss has opened many doors for women and minorities during her career and is proud to serve in the role as Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hampton University and as a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board at the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University. As a philanthropist, Ms. Weiss, is the Chair of Delivering Good, a 501(c) 3 charity, listed as #83 on the Forbes Top 100 non-profits in the United States.
Kevin Handerhan
Metals / Engineered Products
Dr. Handerhan has forged a successful career in the metals industry. Having spent 33 years with Ellwood Group, in which time he served as Chief Operating Officer of Ellwood Group, as well as President, Open Die and International Operations and COO of Forgings and Castings. Ellwood Group is $1Bn+ de-centralized heavy manufacturing and distribution company with eight separate profit centers, 20 operating facilities, and 2300 employees across North America. He managed 70% of CEO functions in driving values and strategy and managing day-to-day business. His efforts led the organization of over 2,300 employees in attaining over $268M cumulative Economic Value Added (EVA) in nine years
Dr. Handerhan also was an influential Member of Board of Directors of Ellwood Group and has served on the board of Porter’s Group LLC.
Dr. Handerhan holds a BS, MS and Ph.D in Metallurgy from Carnegie Mellon University.
Anand Gala
Restaurants and Foodservice
Mr. Gala has 35+ years of experience as the Founder, President and CEO of several restaurant franchise companies and Gala Holdings International, a diversified holding company that conducts consulting, restaurant development and management operations.
Mr. Gala has been a successful owner and operator of Famous Dave's and Fresh Griller franchise restaurants. He is the Founder and Managing Partner of Gala Development Partners, LLC, which focuses on the acquisition, development and management of commercial real estate comprising retail and office properties. Mr. Gala has previously founded and operated companies that have developed Jack in the Box, Del Taco and Applebee's franchises throughout several states.
Mr. Gala was one of the founding members of the Food and Beverage Industry Network for Young President’s Organization. Additionally, he is a Director of BBQ Holdings, Inc (NASD: BBQ) since 2015, and Chairman and co-investor in Mooyah (current Balmoral investment). Active in sourcing and evaluating opportunities in the Restaurant & Franchise industry with Balmoral.
Norm Metcalfe
Real Estate & Corporate Finance, Construction, Homebuilding, and Investments
Mr. Metcalfe is currently the Chairman of Tejon Ranch Company (NYSE: TRC), is one of the largest private landowners in California, whose principal business is real estate and land development. Prior to Tejon Ranch Company, he served as Director of several public companies including most recently CalAtlantic Homes & Ryland Homes.
Additionally, he has served as CFO & Vice Chairman of the Irvine Company, former CIO of SunAmerica Investments & former CFO & Director of KB Home.
Mr. Metcalfe has been an advisor to Balmoral and investor in all our transactions since our founding in 2005. He was a board member of our prior investment in Vesta Modular and is currently on the board of Balmoral’s portfolio company, Dispatch Transportation.
Skip Victor
Bankruptcy and Restructuring
Skip Victor has had an extensive career in private equity and investment banking. He was an original Co-Founder of Balmoral Funds in 2005.
He was previously a Senior Managing Director and Co-head of the Restructuring Group at Duff & Phelps, a global financial advisory firm based in New York. He was also a Co-founder of Chanin Capital Partners, a Los Angeles based investment bank and began his investment banking career at Drexel Burnham Lambert.
Skip is currently a Senior Advisor to VEF Capital, a private venture capital firm specializing in biosciences and healthcare.
Skip has served on the board of directors for numerous public and private companies. He has served either as a board member or advisory council member of several not-for-profit organizations including Academic Exchange, The Wende Museum, itrek, Harvard Medical School, and Stanford University DCI. He has been a UCLA Regents Lecturer and a guest lecturer at UCLA Anderson School of Management and UCLA Law School.
Skip received an AB degree in Economics from Cornell University, and an MBA degree from UCLA Anderson School of Management.
Tom Shapiro
Foodservice, Distribution and Event Rentals
Mr. Shapiro is an accomplished businessman, entrepreneur, and Board Member with over 40 years of experience in multiple industries including manufacturing, distribution, service, technology, private equity and Non-profits.
Mr. Shapiro purchased Trade Supplies, Inc. - A distribution company that provides paper and disposable products to the foodservice industry. The company was sold after organically growing sales 12x.
Prior to Trade Supplies, Mr. Shapiro actively operated a cluster of privately owned companies in the Special Events Industry in the capacity of Chairman, CEO or Partner. In addition, Mr. Shapiro was the Founder and President of TAS Investments, Inc., a privately owned venture capital enterprise, providing capital and management services to startup companies, real estate investments, and existing companies in need of additional resources.
Hooman Yazhari
Aerospace, Transportation & Logistics and Business Services
Hooman Yazhari has over 18 years of experience as a CEO, senior executive, and board leader during transformations of global enterprises in the transport and logistics, transport finance, aviation, outsourcing, and telecommunications sectors. He has experience in operational as well as balance sheet transformations and restructurings. Hooman is also an experienced impact investor, and is Chairman and Co-founder of Beyond Capital Fund, an early-stage venture capital fund which invests in enterprises that serve the needs of those living at the bottom of the economic pyramid in India and East Africa.
Hooman has an LLM in Corporate and Commercial Law from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a B.A. in Law from the University of Oxford. Hooman started his career as a project and asset finance lawyer in the London and Tokyo offices of Linklaters.
Pete Farmer
Human Capital
Pete Farmer, M.D. cultivates leaders to empower people and promote environments that give them the incentive to achieve what's required of them with their greatest strengths. He retired from Emergency Medicine after a colorful 25-year career of practicing and teaching with an emphasis on communication, productivity and stress management.
Dr. Farmer now makes his contribution through executive coaching and leading workshops, working with a variety of executives across the country, applying both scientific knowledge and practical technology to develop a solid foundation for resolving challenging issues and producing extraordinary results in the areas of leadership development and conflict resolution. Interpersonal relationships - and the quality of life for all - naturally transform as executives and staff learn to make the most of natural strengths and differences, bringing peace and balance, as well as greater efficiency and output, to the workplace. Dr. Farmer’s work is grounded in distinctions of partnership, including accountability, trustworthiness and the complexity of entrusting accountability.
Dr. Farmer is a Board Certified Coach with specialty designation as an Executive, Corporate, Business, Leadership and Health/Wellness Coach. He is also certified in a variety of assessments including behaviors, motivators, competencies, emotional intelligence, conflict modes and team communication. CultureSync certified Dr. Farmer as an Approved Tribal Leader, meaning he is able to cause cultural shifts for both individuals and organizations. He leads a workshop for men titled “A Hero’s Challenge: Being an Extraordinary Man.” As a founding member of the PartnershipWorks team and a Certified Partnership Coach, Dr. Farmer’s passion for bringing partnership distinctions to business is stronger than ever.
Todd Mavis
Manufacturing, Distribution and Business Services
For over thirty years, Mr. Mavis has served as Chief Executive Officer, President, and Chief Operating Officer for a number of private and public companies. His experience spans start-ups, turnarounds, mergers and acquisitions and mature companies. As a successful senior executive, Mr. Mavis has successfully led companies in various industries including technology, distribution, business services, retail, manufacturing, lead generation and property casualty.
Most recently, Mr. Mavis ran Enesco from 2015 through its sale in 2023. Prior to Enesco, he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Katun Corporation. In earlier years Mr. Mavis was Chief Executive Officer of First Advantage Corporation and Danka Office Imaging. Over the past thirty years, the EBITDA for the companies that Mr. Mavis has led have averaged a CAGR of 27.6%. During this same period, overall shareholder value for the companies Mr. Mavis has been responsible for has increased by more than $800 million.
Mr. Mavis currently serves as a board advisor for a number of private companies. Mr. Mavis received his Master of Business Administration from San Diego State University in San Diego, California and earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.