Core Team

Woodlawn’s core team has over 70 years of combined operational, financial, and strategic management expertise.

Greg Bregstone

Partner

Prior to forming Woodlawn Partners, Greg spent ten years in the private equity and leveraged finance industries with Alpha Capital Partners, Arbor Private Investment Company, and Prudential Capital Group. Greg then co-founded Security National Warranty, an aftermarket automotive warranty company. As Chief Operating Officer, Greg led the company’s growth to over $12 million in revenue.

Greg holds a B.A. from Emory University and an M.B.A from the University of Chicago. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst.

Evan Gobdel

Partner

Evan is a founder of Woodlawn Partners. He is primarily engaged in building the teams at BW Manufacturing, Pacific Aviation, and Active Roofing with a focus on organizational development and marketing.. He also leads our consulting practice and the Woodlawn Executive Forum.

Evan began his career in private equity and mergers and acquisitions. As a Vice President of Midwest Mezzanine Funds, he invested in and helped to manage dozens of middle-market companies. He gained previous investment banking and venture capital experience with Sandler O’Neill & Partners and The Roman Arch Funds of Prudential Securities.

Evan holds a B.A. in Mathematical Economics from Pomona College and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

Randy Chalker

Managing Director

Randy joined Woodlawn Partners in 2017 and is focused on a variety of business development and execution roles including: sourcing and networking with the intermediary community, managing relationships with both debt and equity investors, and executing transactions.

Randy’s nearly 20 year career in investment banking has consisted of roles in both global markets as well as advisory functions. He was most recently a Managing Director at BNP Paribas in New York, prior to BNP Paribas Randy worked in New York at Goldman Sachs on the Credit Sales desk. He begin his career at Chicago based Casas, Benjamin and White (CBW) where he worked in a variety of advisory assignments.

Randy holds a B.B.A in Finance from University of Wisconsin – Madison and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago

Alan Konieczka

Operating Partner

Before joining Woodlawn Partners, Alan was a Vice President of NM Group Global, which specializes in acquiring and growing manufacturing companies in the metal forming industries. He had direct responsibilities for the pressure vessel division and served as a strategic advisor to other operational units. Alan has developed extensive manufacturing expertise through prior positions as the President of DeVlieg-Bullard II, which specialized in machine tool manufacturing, as President of Klemp Corporation, a worldwide metal grating manufacturer, and as the Director of Manufacturing for Dynacircuits, a printed circuit board manufacturer.

Alan holds a B.A. from the University of Illinois.

Eddie Leshin

Operating Partner

Eddie Leshin was the COO of Coyote Logistics from July of 2010 until the end of 2014 where he helped grow the company from $200 million to $1.85 billion in 4.5 years. Eddie had oversight of over 1000 employees and 50+ managers with responsibility for TL capacity, including Dry Van, Refrigerated, and Flat Bed with over 500 employees.

As COO he had direct responsibility for the Company’s risk management, P&C liability, and cargo insurance, as well as all claims, compliance, and the businesses legal contractual agreements. Until April 2008 Eddie was a Director overseeing the Chicago Central Branch of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, (CHRW), a $15 billion third party logistics (3PL) public company.

As Director, Mr. Leshin oversaw thirty managers, encompassing 22 P&L’s, with a total of 700 employees. Prior to CH Robinson, Mr. Leshin was the VP of Operations with American Backhaulers from 1992-2000, and was instrumental in helping the growth of the $35 million company to over $300 million when it was sold to C.H. Robinson in 2000.

Eddie holds a B.A. from University of Wisconsin – Madison

Zach Wasilew

Operating Partner

Zach Wasilew joined Woodlawn as a successful operating executive in education. Most recently, Zach helped the Childcare Network grow its portfolio of Early Childhood Education centers to be the fourth largest owner operator in the U.S. Zach has also helped open a new business model in the K-12 sector, Blended Schools, combining traditional education and distance learning for student success. Prior to K12, Zach helped Rasmussen College grow its enrollment 10X in just six years. Zach’s success has been in large part due to successful collaboration with strong educators combining operations and strong pedagogical approach for student success.

Zach holds a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and an M.B.A from the University of Chicago.

When you partner with Woodlawn you work with a core team that takes a hands-on approach. We become directly involved with a business to learn its unique methods and processes, and to earn the trust of its people. Our core team's focus is on creating successful strategies for your people.
When you partner with Woodlawn you work with a core team that takes a hands-on approach. We become directly involved with a business to learn its unique methods and processes, and to earn the trust of its people. Our core team's focus is on creating successful strategies for your people.

Operating Executives

Bringing strategic business-building expertise to your team

Woodlawn Partners is enhanced by a range of advisors and experts who bring deep experience and expertise to the succession process and to the continued growth of the company.

The following operating executives are available to serve as interim management and/or to lead special projects in their areas of expertise:

Eddie Leshin

Operating Executive

Before helping form Woodlawn Partners, Eddie led a $1.1 billion division of C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc., a publicly-traded third-party logistics company. He was previously instrumental in building American Backhaulers from $35 million to over $300 million in revenue before its sale to C.H. Robinson in 2000. Eddie holds a B.A. from the University of Wisconsin.

Scott Franklin

Operating Executive

Prior to joining Woodlawn Partners, Scott was a Senior Vice President with Veolia Environmental Services, North America’s largest industrial services company. Scott was responsible for the Gulf Coast and Western US Divisions, where he managed 20 divisional offices across 25 states with over 1,500 employees. Previously, Scott owned and operated an industrial services business that he sold to Veolia in January of 2000. Scott holds a B.A. from the University of Texas.

Glenn Gottfried

Operating Executive

Glenn is an executive and strategist who identifies business models and develops teams that achieve accelerated growth through new business and product development. He has led divisions and core business units of Thomson Reuters and others in the business/consumer services, information services, and technology sectors. Glenn earned an M.B.A from the University of Chicago, an M.S. in Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont.

Ron Wesel

Operating Executive

With diverse executive experience, Ron brings a strong track record of effective cross-functional management to Woodlawn Partners. Most recently as President of LMI Packaging Solutions, Ron has significantly improved the financial performance of six distinct packaging businesses with combined revenue of over $2.5 billion. He has extensive sales and marketing experience in numerous consumer and B2B market segments in North America and Europe. Ron holds an M.B.A from Northwestern University-Kellogg and a B.A. from Eastern Illinois University.

Stuart Frankenthal

Operating Executive

Over the course of his 30-year career, Stuart has had success in personally acquiring, turning around, and growing a series of small and middle-market businesses. His experience spans a variety of industries, from telecommunications and transportation services to manufacturing and food products. Most recently, Stuart served as Chief Financial Officer and member of the Board of Directors of Xodiax, LLC, a telecommunications venture delivering Internet data services and systems. Prior to Xodiax, Stuart headed The Frankenthal Group, which purchased underperforming companies and successfully turned around their operations. The group focused its efforts primarily on financial serves in the transportation industry, including leased and repossessed automobiles, rail and over road trucking. Stuart is a graduate of the Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville, and he holds a B.S. in Industry and Labor Relations from Cornell University.

Sam Yoon

Operating Executive

Sam was previously a Director at BP driving standardization of operational planning across their global Exploration & Production businesses. Before his global role, Sam’s career in BP included leading strategic decision-making for three major production areas. Sam has also had experience in managing international accounts exceeding $15m with multi-national electronics manufacturers and in securing procurement contracts with foreign governments in Southeast Asia. Sam holds a B.S. and M.A. from Nyack College and an M.B.A from Cambridge University.

Arnold Heyman, M.D.

Operating Executive

Dr. Heyman practiced urology for over 30 years and served on the clinical teaching staff at the University Of Southern California Medical School. He is now a retired professor emeritus from that institution. While in practice, he designed and licensed numerous urologic devices that were sold to major medical device manufacturers. Those successes led him to form Medical Product Consultants to help other healthcare professionals to commercialize their device concepts. Dr. Heyman has worked with several start-up medical device companies, and he presently serves as a Principal and Vice President / Medical Director of Neotech Products, Inc., a manufacturer of devices for Neonatal Intensive Care Units. Dr. Heyman received his B.S. from the University of Michigan and his M.D. from Northwestern University Medical School.

Mike Hakimi

Operating Executive

Mike is a Principal at Odyssey Management Capital, a private equity firm that provides capital and hands-on management expertise to small and mid-sized tech and telecom companies. He is a veteran in the communications technology and infrastructure industries, having founded Chicago-based AIS in 1994 to provide internet technology solutions to commercial and enterprise clients. In 1997, Crain’s Chicago Business named Mike to its list of the 100 most influential technology players in Chicago. Mike built AIS into Chicago’s leading provider of internet services to the enterprise market and sold the company to Exodus Communications in 1999. He then joined Exodus in a corporate development role, where he was responsible for executing a broad range of strategic transactions. Mike holds a B.S. in Finance from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Ron Lambert

Operating Executive

Ron is a transactional attorney by background but has also spent considerable time in private equity and in operating businesses, where he has held business development, corporate development, and operating positions. Ron currently serves as a Managing Director and COO of Mercantile Capital Management Corp., a New York-based private equity and debt investment firm. He previously held General Counsel roles with Telution, Inc. and Shoptalk Networks, Inc. He has also served as a Managing Director of Venture Alliance Partners. Ron holds a B.A. from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.

Justin Anthony

Operating Executive

Justin is a social entrepreneur driven by his desire to be part of something that measures success not just by a bottom line, but by its contribution to society. In addition to having managed a successful business with over $120 million in turnover, Justin has also spent much of his career in various IT leadership roles and continues to keep his fingers on the pulse of technology. Justin currently serves as the President and Co-Founder of BrightNest, a company in the consumer internet space that focuses on helping homeowners take care of their most valuable asset.

External Resources

Experts to tackle specific business issues

Our resources include an outside marketing firm as well as partners in the disciplines of IT, HR and other areas of business development.

Millennial Web Development

Web Design & Development Business 

Millennial Web Development (MWD) offers web design and development services to business and organizations of all sizes.  With a specialty in WordPress and easy-to-use websites, MWD takes a unique approach to each project they work on, working closely with the client to ensure all of their needs are being met.

 

www.millennialwebdevelopment.com

NovationHR

Expert HR management and administration for small and mid-sized businesses.

NovationHR brings a twenty-year track record of expert Human Resource management and administration for small and mid-sized businesses. NovationHR integrates seamlessly into your business and your people. Through a holistic approach to serving your business, NovationHR will provide the foundation and processes you need to move forward.

Together with NovationHR, the goal is to align your employees – and motivate them – to execute your business plan. NovationHR will drive efficiency into your business, solve problems and help to prevent future issues.

Build a healthy growing business.

www.novationhr.com

Kerr Consulting

Technology-driven business automation specialists.

Kerr Consulting offers a wide range of technology solutions designed to handle every aspect of your business. Kerr Consulting offers an in-depth analysis to help you determine what you need today and help you plan for the future. Kerr Consulting partners with the best software manufacturers in the industry to provide accounting software solutions, customer relationship management software (CRM), time-and-attendance software and hardware, and point-of-sale systems. For information technology services, from ongoing technology support to occasional assistance, Kerr has an IT service plan to fit your needs.
Provide your business world-class IT support.

www.kerr-consulting.com