Board of Managers
Ares Manager
JUSTIN ANDERSON
Justin Anderson is a Vice President in the Ares Private Equity Group. Prior to joining Ares in 2020, he was an Associate at KRG Capital Partners, where he focused on sourcing, executing and monitoring investments in the healthcare, industrial, and services sectors. Previously, Justin was an Analyst at Lazard, where he focused on mergers, acquisitions, and related strategic matters in the healthcare sector.
Harvest Partners Manager
STEPHEN CARLSON
Steve Carlson joined Harvest in 2010. Prior to joining Harvest, he was an Associate at DLJ Merchant Banking Partners and Brockway Moran & Partners, where he focused on leveraged buyout transactions. Previously, Steve was an Analyst in the Corporate and Leveraged Finance group at CIBC World Markets where he executed transactions for the firm’s private equity clients.
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Steve serves on the Boards of Convergint, Galway Insurance, Integrity Marketing Group, Lazer Spot, OnPoint Group, Service Express, The Vincit Group, Yellowstone Landscape and VetCor. He previously served on the Boards of FCX Performance, Packers Holdings and TruckPro.
Leonard Green & Partners Manager
USAMA CORTAS
Usama is Partner at LGP, which he joined in 2003. Prior to LGP, Usama worked at Morgan Stanley in its investment banking division in New York. He currently serves on the board of directors of Clarivate, ECI Software Solutions, Insight Global, and the parent entity of Convergint.
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He has previously served on the boards of Authentic Brands Group, CCC Information Services, CPA Global, Ellucian, Tank Holdings, and United States Infrastructure Corporation, among others. Usama graduated from Columbia University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics-Political Science.
Chairman, Ares Manager
MATT CWIERTNIA
Matt Cwiertnia is a Partner and Co-Head of the Ares Private Equity Group. He serves on the Ares Executive Management Committee. He additionally serves as a member of the Ares Private Equity Group’s Corporate Opportunities, Energy Opportunities, and Special Opportunities Investment Committees.
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Prior to joining Ares in 2005, Mr. Cwiertnia worked in the Financial Sponsors Group at Credit Suisse First Boston, where he focused on providing advisory and financing services to financial sponsors and their portfolio companies. Previously, Mr. Cwiertnia was a member of the Investment Banking Department of Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corp. In addition, he worked at Jefferies & Co. Inc., where he focused on investment banking. Mr. Cwiertnia currently serves as a member of the Boards of Directors for the parent entities of Convergint Technologies, CoolSys, and Resource Label Group. Mr. Cwiertnia’s previous Boards of Directors experience includes Valet Living, LLC, and Insight Global LLC. Mr. Cwiertnia holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from the University of California Los Angeles in Business Economics and an M.B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles Anderson School of Management, where he graduated as a Carter Fellow.
Leonard Green & Partners Manager
JOHN DANHAKI
John joined LGP in 1995. Prior to LGP, John was a Managing Director in the Los Angeles office of DLJ, which he joined in 1990, and where he worked extensively with LGP as its lead investment banker. Prior to DLJ, John was a Vice President in corporate finance at Drexel Burnham Lambert
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He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.
Chief Executive Officer, Independent Manager
ANN FANDOZZI
Ann Fandozzi joined Convergint as Chief Executive Officer in February 2024. This is her fourth CEO role, having previously served as CEO for RB Global, Abra Auto Body & Glass, and vRide—leading these companies through unprecedented transformation and growth. Prior to these roles, Ann held senior leadership positions at Whirlpool, DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Company, and Lockheed Martin.
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She holds a B.S. degree in Computer Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology, an M.S. degree in Systems Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Harvest Partners Manager
STEVE FESSLER
Steve Fessler is a Partner at Harvest Partners, which he joined in 2013. Prior to Harvest, Steve was an Associate at CVCI, where he focused on leveraged buyout transactions in the business services sector. Previously, Steve was an analyst in the investment banking division of Jefferies & Co. where he executed mergers & acquisitions, debt financings, and restructuring transactions for public and private companies across multiple sectors.
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Steve serves on the boards of Advanced Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, Convergint, Service Express, and Yellowstone Landscape. He has a B.S. from the University of Kansas.
Co-founder, Independent Manager
GREG LERNIHAN
Greg Lernihan has over 30 years in the electronic security, fire alarm & life safety, and building management systems industry. Lernihan is a Co-Founder and Board Member of Convergint. Prior to starting Convergint, Lernihan was the Senior Vice President of Siemens Building Technologies Division for North America.
Read moreDuring the span of his career, Lernihan has held positions in sales, general management, and executive management focused on integrated building management systems throughout the United States and Canada.
Independent Manager
KEN LOCHIATTO
Ken Lochiatto has over 35 years of business experience, including 10 years as Chief Executive Officer of Convergint. Ken’s background includes 30 years of experience in the materials and systems integration businesses and 8 years in the gaming business.
Read moreDuring the span of his career, Ken has held positions in sales, finance, and executive management with GE and WMS Gaming, having led global businesses in both companies. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and an M.S.I.A. from Carnegie Mellon University.
Leonard Green & Partners Manager
CHRIS MCCOLLUM
Chris joined LGP as a Partner in 2013. Prior to LGP, Chris was a Managing Director at Investcorp in its New York office, which he joined in 1996. Prior to Investcorp, Chris worked in leveraged finance at Chemical Securities.
Read moreHe earned his undergraduate degree in Economics and Government from Cornell University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.
Independent Manager
RAHUL MERCHANT
Rahul Merchant is Senior Executive Vice President and Head of Client Services & Technology at TIAA. Mr. Merchant has more than 30 years of public and private sector experience as a transformation leader, including expertise in business, technology, operations, and private equity.
Read morePrior to joining TIAA, Mr. Merchant was Citywide Chief Information and Innovation Officer for the City of New York, Executive Vice President, Chief Information and Operations Officer, and Member of the Executive Committee at Fannie Mae, and Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer, and Chief Technology Officer at Merrill Lynch. He received his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Bombay University, a Master of Science in Computer Science from Memphis State University, and a Master of Business Administration from Temple University. During 2021, he was inducted to CIO Hall Of Fame.
Co-founder, Executive Chairman, Independent Manager
DAN MOCERI
Dan Moceri has over 40 years of experience in the electronic security, fire alarm & life safety, and building management systems industry. Moceri is a Co-Founder, Executive Chairman, and Board Member for Convergint. Prior to starting Convergint, Moceri was the President of the Building Technologies Security Division at Siemens, and he has held positions in marketing, engineering, and executive management, focused on integrated building management systems.
Read moreMoceri holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) and a Master’s degree in Management from Northwestern University.
Independent Manager
TED NARK
Ted Nark joined KRG Capital in 2007 as a Managing Director and has over 30 years of business experience in mergers and acquisitions, business development, operations, sales, and marketing. Since 2007 Nark has served as a member of the Firm’s Investment Committee and as a lead Managing Director, Chairman, and a member of the Board of Directors for several of its portfolio companies.
Read moreNark was CEO and Chairman of Corporate Express Australia from 1998 to 2002. He served as CEO and Chairman of White Cap Construction Supply from 2002 to 2006. He currently sits on the Board of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Orange County, Amneal Pharmaceuticals, Metal Era Roofing and Inventus. Nark holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Washington State University.
Independent Manager
FELICIA THORNTON
Felicia Thornton has extensive executive experience in retail and services businesses, particularly in high-growth and transformative companies. Since February 2018, she has been the Vice-Chair of 99 Cents Only Stores, for which she was previously its Interim CEO, CFO, and Treasurer. She has also served as CEO for two large multi-billion dollar specialty retail and services companies.
Read moreThornton has been a member of the boards of directors for a number of public and private companies, including Convergint, Nordstrom, Floor & Decor, CoolSys, AAC, and Knowledge Universe Education. She is a member of the Latino Corporate Directors Association and an NACD Fellow. She holds a B.S. in Economics from Santa Clara University and an M.B.A. from the University of Southern California.
Ares Manager
ABRAHAM ZILKHA
Abraham Zilkha is a Partner in the Ares Private Equity Group. Prior to joining Ares in 2008, Mr. Zilkha worked for the Boston Consulting Group, where he focused on advising financial services and consumer goods companies in the US and in Canada. Mr. Zilkha currently serves on the Board of Directors of Guitar Center Holdings, Inc. and the parent entity of Convergint Technologies.
Read moreMr. Zilkha holds a Bachelor of Commerce from McGill University in Finance and an M.B.A. from Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business.