RED CLAY EQUITY TEAM

Skip down to topics on this page: Overview · Principals · Other Professionals

OVERVIEW. Red Clay's team has more than four decades of experience in business, corporate finance, consulting, investment banking, principal investing and portfolio management. These proven professionals have (1) in-depth private equity portfolio management expertise, (2) diverse and complementary sourcing networks, deal-making skills and financing expertise, and (3) the ability to identify, recruit and guide high quality CEOs. Furthermore, the Red Clay team possesses the very particular combination of capabilities and networks required by its unique strategy and investment focus - specifically a combination of both venture capital and leveraged buyout investing skills, as well as networking and program administration capabilities relevant to investing in America's emerging domestic markets.

PRINCIPALS

Michael J. Kelley. For more than 10 years Michael Kelley has been executing and managing investments in real estate and private equity, including numerous investments in Emerging Domestic Markets. Prior to co-founding Red Clay, he formed Formation Capital, Inc., which currently manages in excess of $50 million in equity invested in 27 multi-family developments utilizing the Low-income Housing Tax Credit. Formation Capital also manages a small portfolio of mid-to-late stage venture capital investments in operating businesses. Mr. Kelley was a principal with HK Special Situations Group, where he provided advisory services to the US Small Business Administration regarding a troubled Small Business Investment Company. He was also a principal with GSA Management and with Intrust USA. At Intrust he was responsible for raising and investing 4 real estate tax credit funds and one geographically targeted venture capital fund. Mr. Kelley currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Delaware Innovation Fund, an early stage fund fostering entrepreneurial development in the State of Delaware. In addition, Mr. Kelley sits on the boards of Foxfire Printing, Early Stage East, and Preservation Delaware. Mr. Kelley received his BA degree in History magna cum laude from the University of Delaware.

Delaware Innovation Fund
Board /Investment Committee Member
(venture capital)

Formation Capital, Inc.
(PE and real estate portfolio management)

HK Special Situations Group, LLC
(distressed private equity portfolio management)

GSA Management, LLC
(venture capital / PE portfolio management)

Intrust USA, Ltd.
(venture capital, low income housing finance & fund management)

University of Delaware (BA)

OTHER PROFESSIONALS

Michelle J. Lambert, CPA. Ms. Lambert is the Controller and Investor Relations Administrator for Red Clay and the investment partnerships it manages. Prior to Red Clay she was the Accounting Manager for GSA Management where she was responsible for accounting and financial reporting for the eight funds managed by GSA. Prior to GSA, Ms. Lambert worked in the accounting department of PFPC, Inc., a mutual fund company. Ms. Lambert has a Bachelors degree in accounting from Goldey Beacom College and is a certified public accountant.

GSA Management
(fund accounting and reporting)

PFPC, Inc.
(mutual fund accounting)

Goldey Beacom College (BA)

Certified Public Accountant

ADVISORY BOARD

Mark K. Harrison. Mr. Harrison is currently the president of the Business Consortium Fund, Inc. Previously, in addition to co-founding Red Clay, Mr. Harrison gained experience in venture capital investing with the Maryland Department of Business & Economic Development ("MDDBED"), managing private equity/venture capital portfolio companies with GSA Management, and investment management for problem portfolio companies with HK Special Situations Group in partnership with Michael Kelley. Mr. Harrison served as principal legal counsel and then as Deputy Director of MDDBED programs that made early stage investments in technology companies located in Maryland. At the time of Mr. Harrison's departure, the programs had invested $11M in 32 companies with a valuation of $54M ($46M in cash from liquidated investments). Mr. Harrison joined GSA Management in 2001 and then co-founded HK Special Situations Group in 2004. Mr. Harrison also practiced law with a focus on general corporate, securities and business transactions at the US Securities and Exchange Commission and at the law firm of Venable, Baetjer and Howard. Mr. Harrison has a B.S. from Cornell University and a J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law.

HK Special Situations Group, LLC
(distressed private equity portfolio management)

GSA Management, LLC
(venture capital / PE portfolio management)

Maryland Enterprise Fund
(early stage venture capital)

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
(securities law and regulation)

Venable, Baetjer & Howard
(corporate law)

Cornell University (BS),
University of Maryland
(JD)

 

John J. Nowaczyk. Mr. Nowaczyk is currently the Director of Business Development for Milestone Partners, a lower middle-market private equity fund. Previously, in addition to co-founding Red Clay Advisors, Mr. Nowaczyk spent 13 years in investment banking and consulting. He has provided advisory and execution services on a total of more than $2 billion of mergers and acquisitions, private placements, and public offerings, primarily for lower middle-market and emerging growth companies. He began his career as a Financial Analyst in the investment banking department of Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated. Later, he served as an Associate with Paine Webber, Incorporated. Most recently, he worked in the investment banking department of the Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated, as a Vice President of the Strategic Advisory Group. Mr. Nowaczyk has also worked as an independent consultant, providing strategic advisory, financial advisory, buy-side advisory, analytical, consulting and interim CFO services to small businesses, entrepreneurs, project developers, private equity sponsors and investment banking boutiques. Mr. Nowaczyk received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Harvard College, with a formal concentration in Government and a particular emphasis on economic policy.

Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated
(M&A, LBOs, MBOs, recapitalizations, corporate finance)

Augur Financial Analysis, Inc.
(entrepreneurship, small business consulting)

PaineWebber Incorporated
(corporate finance, project finance, public finance)

Kidder, Peabody & Co. Incorporated
(corporate finance, project finance)

Harvard College (BA)

Home · Values · Strategy · Criteria · Searches · Team · News · LP Login · Resources · Contact

1601 Delaware Avenue · Trolley Square Suite 24A, #196 · Wilmington, DE 19806 · tel: (302) 351-3764 · fax: (302) 861-1462 · mkelley@redclayequity.com

© 2006 Red Clay Advisors, LLC · All rights reserved.