Baird Capital

James Benfield is a Partner at Baird Capital, where he leads the firm's Industrial Technology and Sustainability investment strategy, focusing on mid-market private equity investments.

James Pavlik is a partner in the Venture Capital Group at Baird Capital, where he focuses on early and growth stage investments in B2B software and tech-enabled services companies.

Joanna Arras is a venture capital partner at Baird Capital focused on early- and expansion-stage technology companies, particularly those employing SaaS and recurring service models. She brings prior experience in investment banking and corporate development to her investment approach. She serves as a board member at autoLOTO INC.

Michael Holgate is a Partner at Baird Capital based in London, where he sources investment opportunities and manages portfolio companies in the Technology & Services sectors. He holds a First Class Masters in Chemistry and is a Chartered Accountant, with prior experience in pharmaceutical operations at GSK and five years in financial due diligence and corporate finance. He has led buyout and growth capital investments across the UK, EU, US, and Asia, and currently serves on the boards of Blue Matter, Newmarket, and JMAN.

Thomas Smith is a Chicago-based CFO and private equity finance professional who works with portfolio companies on due diligence, M&A, strategic financial reporting, and integration initiatives. He previously spent six years at KPMG and holds a dual degree in finance and accounting from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

John J. Neis is a Principal at Baird Principal Group with more than 20 years of direct private equity investing experience and nearly three decades in middle market finance. He co-founded Lakemark Partners and previously held principal roles at American Capital, Ltd. and Baird Capital Partners, where he evaluated and executed buyout investments. Neis holds an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago and a B.S.B.A. from Miami University, and is a Certified Public Accountant.

David Gregorka is a Board Member at Genomenon, Inc., a genomics software company. He previously held operations and new ventures roles across technology, health, and science organizations, including both startups and nonprofits. He serves as Mentor-In-Residence Emeritus for Innovation Partnerships at the University of Michigan.

Aidan Elliott is an Investment Director at Baird Capital, where he focuses on B2B technology and services businesses. He works with UK-based companies seeking US expansion, supporting investments ranging from £20 million to £60 million and leveraging Baird's network of approximately 5,000 US employees to facilitate growth.

Daina Spedding is a Director at Baird Capital, where she identifies and executes growth investments in B2B technology and services companies. She previously led growth investments at BGF and spent a decade at Blue Coast Capital, with earlier experience in strategy at a Latvian media group and in transaction services at PwC UK. Spedding holds a master's degree in strategic management from EDHEC Business School and is CFA qualified.

Gordon Pan is President of Baird Capital, where he oversees strategic, operational, and organizational activities for the firm's direct private investment business focused on growth equity and buyout investments in lower-middle market companies in the U.S. and U.K. He joined Baird Capital in 2001 as a partner in venture capital and private equity before assuming the presidency in 2012, and previously held positions at One Equity Partners and founded The Pangaea Group, a consulting firm serving private equity portfolio companies in Asia. Pan holds a B.A. in economics and Asian studies from Colgate University and an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management.

Vice President of Business Development at Baird Capital, working with executives, business owners, and investment banking professionals to source new investment opportunities.

Michelle Duerr is a CPA and Senior Manager of Fund Finance & Tax at Baird Capital, where she manages tax compliance for private equity funds. She brings over 15 years of professional experience and has held a Senior Vice President position at Baird.