Andy Mason

Andy is a Partner and Co-founder of Palmares Capital Partners. Prior to founding Palmares, Andy was a Managing Director and a Co-founder of VRA Partners, an investment banking firm focused on providing M&A and capital raising advisory services to middle market companies and private equity firms. Prior to founding VRA Partners, Andy was a Managing Director, Co-Head of the Private Markets Group and a senior member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Group of The Robinson-Humphrey Company and its successor, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. Andy’s responsibilities included the management of merger & acquisition and private placement assignments as well as managing the firm’s activities with all sources of private capital. Andy was also a member of the Investment Committee of SunTrust Equity Partners, the private equity vehicle for SunTrust Bank. Prior to SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Andy worked in the private equity industry as a professional with River Capital and Trivest Partners (private equity firms focused on the acquisition of middle market companies) where he was responsible for sourcing, structuring, closing and managing control equity investments. Andy began his career in corporate finance with GE Capital, Corporate Finance Group, where he was engaged in financing, and investing in, leveraged transactions.

Andy received a B.S. degree in Accounting from Auburn University and a Masters of Business Administration from Emory University.

Mark Kessler

Mark is a Partner of Palmares Capital Partners. Prior to joining Palmares, Mark served as Chief Strategy Officer of Trimble Transportation & Logistics (NAS:TRMB), a provider of end to end supply chain technology solutions. At Trimble, Mark served in various roles with responsibility for acquisitions, long range strategic planning, strategic partnerships, product development, and sales & marketing. Prior to Trimble, Mark was the General Manager and part of the Executive/Leadership Teams of PeopleNet Communications, a provider of onboard computing and carrier fleet communications systems. Mark was a key member of the management team responsible for growing revenue organically over twenty-five times throughout an eleven-year period, until it was acquired by Trimble in 2011. Prior to PeopleNet, Mark was Executive Vice President of Randall-Reilly where he helped grow revenue by over ten-times during his six-year tenure with the company. Over the span of his career, Mark’s growth, partnership & acquisition endeavors resulted in closed buy and sell side transactions representing nearly $1 billion in transaction value while overseeing new revenue opportunities totaling over $2 billion.

Mark received a B.S. degree in International Business and a Masters of Business Administration from Auburn University, where he was also captain of the men’s tennis team. He is on the Board of The Bobby Jones Golf Course Foundation, the volunteer CEO of JH Outback Atlanta, and an active advisor to Buckhead Church in Atlanta.

Stephen Griner

Stephen is a Partner and Co-founder of Palmares Capital Partners. Stephen has spent his entire career in the financial services industry working with owners of privately held companies in the areas of exit planning and investment management. During his career, he has consulted with companies at every stage of development, from startup to sale.

Mr. Griner was one of the founding employees of Persium Group in 2004 and quickly grew into a leadership role, becoming an owner and principal in 2009. During his time with Persium, he has held many positions, including exit planning consultant, Director of Investment Services, Chief Investment Officer, and Chief Compliance Officer. He was also responsible for the development and growth of the company’s investment advisory business. In 2010, along with his business partner, he took control of the company as President and Chief Operating Officer, charting the next phases of growth. Mr. Griner continues to manage and direct the company in those roles today.

In 2009, Mr. Griner co-founded NAVIX. NAVIX’s mission is to help owners of closely held businesses plan for and execute successful exits by achieving financial freedom, creating a sustainable legacy, and exiting on their own terms. Today, NAVIX has a growing network of consultants nationwide working to fulfill its mission.

Mr. Griner is a cum laude graduate of University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance. In 2010, Mr. Griner earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. He is a member of the CFA Institute and the CFA Society Atlanta.

Patrick Ungashick

Patrick is a Partner and Co-founder of Palmares Capital Partners. For more than twenty-five years Patrick has provided exit advice and solutions to business owners with companies as small as several million in revenues to more than half a billion. Patrick is the author of two books helping business owners prepare for exit: Dance in the End Zone: The Business Owner’s Exit Planning Playbook, and the award-winning A Tale of Two Owners: Achieving Exit Success Between Business Co-Owners. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Financial Week and other media. He speaks to several dozen business groups per year how to achieve successful exits. As CEO of NAVIX Consultants, Patrick leads a national team of exit planning consultants located in nearly two-dozen US cities.

Patrick received his B.S.F.S from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.