Investment Team

John C. Acker

Prior to joining Spring Capital in 2001, Jay was a Vice President in the Capital Markets Group of Allfirst Bank, where he was responsible for originating, structuring and managing leveraged transactions for middle market companies. Typically, portfolio companies generated revenues between $20 million and $500 million and were located in the eastern half of the United States.

Jay currently serves as a Board observer to several portfolio companies and is on the regional Board of Directors for the Association for Corporate Growth.

Jay is a graduate of Gettysburg College.

Michael F. Donoghue

Prior to co-founding Spring Capital in 1999, Mike was a Principal of CoreStates Enterprise Capital Group (“CECG”), CoreStates Bank’s mezzanine finance subsidiary, from 1987 until June 1998, the last seven of those years as its President. Mike was actively involved in all aspects of managing the funds, including deal origination, underwriting, due diligence, deal structuring and pricing, company monitoring and troubleshooting. He also investigated, initiated and spearheaded the formation of a wholly-owned SBIC, CoreStates Enterprise Capital, Inc., which was licensed in 1996, and served as its President. From 1980 to 1987, he was a commercial banker in CoreStates’ Communication and Media Group, responsible for the bank’s cable television and broadcast portfolio in the eastern half of the United States.

Mike currently serves as a Board observer to several portfolio companies. He has been a member of the Executive Committee of the Northeast Regional Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NERASBIC) since 2000 and served as President of NERASBIC in 2004 to 2005. Mike was also a member of the Board of Governors of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies during 2004 and 2005.

Mike is a graduate of Georgetown University and the University of Virginia (MBA).

Jonathan T. Howe

Prior to joining Spring Capital, Jon spent two years as the Director of Business Development for Erickson Living, one of the largest developers and operators of senior living communities in the country, developing and executing its external growth strategy. Prior to Erickson, he spent five years in the Transportation and Logistics investment banking group at Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc., beginning as an Analyst and being promoted to Associate. During his time at Stifel, Jon assisted in the completion of over $500 million of mergers, acquisitions, and capital raising initiatives for public and private middle-market companies.

Jon received a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from the University of Richmond.

Brian C. McDaid

Brian joined Spring Capital in 2008 after spending nine years as an investment banker for Navigant Capital Advisors and KPMG Corporate Finance. He worked with both public and privately held companies to develop and execute strategies for liquidity and growth. Previously, Brian worked for Public Financial Management, a municipal financial advisory firm, where he focused on project financings, private placements and structured derivative products for large public works projects. Brian began his career as an analyst in the investment banking group at Chase Securities, Inc. in New York.

Brian is a graduate of Haverford College and a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Peter B. Orthwein, Jr.

PJ joined Spring Capital in 2003 as an Associate with responsibility for investment analysis, due diligence and portfolio company administration. Previously, PJ was an associate with Brooks, Houghton and Company and held operating and financial positions within three start-up businesses at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide and Priceline.com. He began his career in the Executive Development Program at Hannaford Brothers, Inc., a supermarket chain based in Portland, ME.

PJ is a graduate of Cornell University with a BS and MBA.

Tyler J. Peltz

Prior to joining Spring Capital in 2024, Tyler was an Associate at Delancey Street Partners, a middle market investment bank based in the Greater Philadelphia region, Pennsylvania, where he assisted in sell-side and buy-side M&A transactions for both family owned and institutionally-backed companies. Prior to Delancey Street Partners, he spent two years at VRC (Valuation Research Corporation), analyzing securities across the capital structure and performing valuations for various asset managers and private equity and credit funds.

Tyler earned a B.S. in Business Administration with a major in Finance and a minor in Accounting from the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University. Tyler is also a CFA Charterholder.

Chad A. Rigdon

Prior to joining Spring Capital in 2011, Chad was an Associate Analyst with Maryland Capital Management, a large-cap growth equity manager for high net worth and institutional investors. During his time with MCM, his responsibilities included fundamental research and portfolio administration. Chad began his career as an Investment Performance Associate with Cambridge Associates where he analyzed investments in equity, fixed income and alternative asset managers for endowments, foundations and private clients.

Chad is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Virginia (MBA).

Robert M. Stewart

Prior to co-founding Spring Capital in 1999, Bob was a Managing Director of CrossHill Financial Group LLC (and its predecessors), which were active in investment banking advisory services in the Northern Virginia area from 1995 to 1998. Previously, he was a Principal in the formation of Armata Partners, a merchant banking firm from 1993 to 1995. Prior to that, he was a Vice President in the investment banking department of Legg, Mason and from 1985 to 1989 he was in the mergers and acquisition departments of Irving Trust and Daiwa Securities America, Inc. Bob has initiated, invested in and closed numerous transactions involving a variety of financing techniques, including, subordinated debt with warrants, bridge loans with warrants, convertible and participating preferred stock and common stock. He also has closed merger and acquisition transactions ranging from $5 million to $350 million; completed initial public offerings and follow-on equity offerings ranging in size from $25 million to $150 million; and conducted overall analysis, due diligence, valuation, investment negotiation and ongoing oversight of these investments.

Bob has served as Board observer to several portfolio companies and has been a director to numerous companies including DIGEX, Inc. He also is currently President of the Southern Regional Association of Small Business Investment Companies (SORASBIC) and is on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC).

Bob is a graduate of Hampden-Sydney College and Wake Forest University (MBA).

Jonathan Warns

Prior to joining Spring Capital in 2023, Jonathan spent over two years as an Associate Analyst at T. Rowe Price, a global investment management firm based in Baltimore, where he covered Oil and Gas stocks. Prior to T. Rowe Price, he spent three years in the Mergers and Acquisitions investment banking group at M&T Bank, starting as an Analyst and later being promoted to Associate.

Jonathan earned a B.A. in Economics from Wake Forest University.