Crystal Ridge Partners, private equity, middle market, management buyout, growth equity capital, recapitalization, equity financing, Princeton, NJ

Crystal Ridge Partners' investment professionals have extensive experience in all phases of private equity investing.

Managing Principals
Jack Baron
Don Hofmann

Managing Directors
Rodney Eshelman
Brian Toolan

Marketing & Administration
Melanie Mattaliano

Senior Advisors
Mark Solow
Andrew Tananbaum

Mr. Baron is a former Senior Partner of JP Morgan Partners and its predecessors. He was responsible for marketing, new business development and the management of certain investments and personnel within the firm. Mr. Baron previously held senior management positions in banking and investment banking with JP Morgan and its predecessors prior to joining the private equity unit 15 years ago. He holds a BS from Lehigh University ('79) and an MBA from Fordham University ('82), and is currently an executive in residence to the MBA program at Lehigh University.

Mr. Hofmann is a former Senior Partner of JP Morgan Partners and its predecessors. He was a senior partner for 15 years and was involved in all aspects of the management of the firm. He was the practice group leader for certain industry groups and managed many of the firm's lead investments in the industrial sector. Mr. Hofmann was the founder to MH Equity, Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company's private equity unit, prior to its merger with Chemical Bank. He also held senior level positions within the investment banking sector. He holds a BA from Hofstra University ('79) and an MBA from Harvard Business School ('83).

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Managing Directors

Rodney Eshelman, Managing Director
rodney@crystalridgepartners.com

Prior to joining Crystal Ridge Partners, Mr. Eshelman was with JP Morgan Partners and its predecessors where he focused on growth equity and leverage buyout investments in the industrial, consumer, and healthcare services sectors. At JP Morgan Partners, Mr. Eshelman was involved with the firm's investments in United Auto Group and Ecce Panis, where he served on the Board of Directors. Prior to joining JP Morgan Partners, Mr. Eshelman was a member of the Corporate Finance Division of PaineWebber, where he focused on mergers and acquisitions in the consumer products and retail sectors. Mr. Eshelman received an M.B.A. from the University of California at Berkeley and a B.A. with distinction from Duke University.

Brian Toolan, Managing Director
brian@crystalridgepartners.com

Prior to joining Crystal Ridge Partners, Mr. Toolan was President of Creative Homeowner, a family-owned book and web publishing company focused on the home improvement market, which was sold to Courier Corporation in 2006. During his tenure at Creative Homeowner, in addition to full P&L responsibility, Mr. Toolan oversaw strategy and new business development. Prior to joining Creative Homeowner in 2002, Mr. Toolan was with JP Morgan Partners and its predecessors where he focused on middle market growth equity and leveraged buyout investments. He initially joined JP Morgan Partners and its predecessors in 1996. Mr. Toolan began his career in the Corporate Finance division of Jefferies & Company. He holds a B.A. and a B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

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Marketing & Administration

Melanie Mattaliano, Associate
melanie@crystalridgepartners.com

Ms. Mattaliano provides a full complement of administrative and marketing support to Crystal Ridge Partners. Prior to joining CRP, Ms. Mattaliano was a Senior Medical Secretary at PharmaWrite, a leading medical education firm, where she was responsible for initiating, organizing, and managing all aspects of live meetings. Ms. Mattaliano has a degree in Applied Science & Business Information Systems.

Senior Advisors

Mark G. Solow, Senior Advisor

Mr. Solow is an investor in the fund, and is involved in evaluating investments. Prior to the 1995 co-founding of GarMark Partners, a $410 million mezzanine fund, Mr. Solow was Senior Executive Vice President and Global Head of Investment and Corporate Banking at Chemical Banking Corporation and was a member of the Corporation's Management Committee. Mr. Solow worked closely with Mr. Baron and Mr. Hofmann for over 10 years at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co. and Chemical Banking Corporation.

Andrew Tananbaum, Senior Advisor

Mr. Tananbaum is an investor in the fund, and is involved in evaluating investments. Mr. Tananbaum is President and CEO of Capital Factors, LLC. Mr. Tananbaum previously was President and CEO of Century Business Credit Corporation, which was sold to Wells Fargo & Co. in 1999. Mr. Tananbaum received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan and a Juris Doctor from Fordham University School of Law.