Closed Loop Partners

Caroline Brown, former CEO of DKNY and Carolina Herrera, is likely the only former major apparel CEO hands-on in early-stage circular fashion tech, sits on circular-fashion boards and advises MIT.

Jessica Long is Managing Partner and Chief Strategy Officer of Closed Loop Partners and CEO of its operating group, Closed Loop Builders, where she leads efforts to incubate and scale circular economy infrastructure across the U.S. Before joining the firm, she was a Managing Director at Accenture, leading its North America Sustainability and Responsible Business practice and working with companies across energy, food, fashion, and technology, and earlier worked in East Africa and in the United States Senate on affordable housing and immigration. She co-authored The Circular Economy Handbook and holds a BA from Macalester College.

Kate Daly is Managing Partner at Closed Loop Partners, where she leads the Center for the Circular Economy, an innovation center focused on research and collaboration to advance the reuse and recycling of materials. Before joining the firm, she spent more than a decade in New York City government, most recently as Senior Vice President at the NYC Economic Development Corporation, and earlier as Executive Director of the NYC Landmarks Preservation Commission. She holds an MS from the University of Pennsylvania and a BA from Cornell University.

Martin Aares, Head of Asset Management, brings large-scale infrastructure experience from Global Infrastructure Partners and orchestrates network synergies across e-waste recycling, device remarketing, resale platforms, recyclers and logistics.

Daniel Phan is Managing Director and Co-Head of Closed Loop Private Equity, the firm's buyout private equity strategy, and serves on its Investment Committee, overseeing the deal process from origination through realization. He has 15 years of middle market private equity experience with over 30 completed deals across industrials sectors such as specialty manufacturing, facilities and infrastructure services, chemicals, distribution, and life sciences. Before joining Closed Loop Partners in 2025, he was a Managing Director at Aterian Investment Partners and previously worked at Corporate Partners LLC (the private equity affiliate of Lazard Freres) and as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank; he holds a BA in Economics from Duke University.

Bridget Croke is Managing Director and Head of Strategic Partnerships at Closed Loop Partners, where she leads external affairs including investor and industry partnerships, communications, and special projects. She also co-heads the firm's Catalytic Capital & Private Credit group, which uses debt capital to support the circular economy. She has worked for two decades on sustainability efforts spanning the local food movement and the circular economy, and holds a BA in Sustainable Development from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Danielle Joseph is Managing Director and Head of Closed Loop Ventures, where she leads the investment team across deal origination, due diligence, portfolio management and exits, overseeing a portfolio of more than 40 companies. Before Closed Loop Partners, she worked in the environmental sector across private equity, project finance and venture capital, beginning her career at NewWorld Capital Group and later working with Invex Infraestructura and Queensland Investment Corporation on clean energy and infrastructure opportunities. She holds an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business and a BA in Philosophy and Politics from Pomona College.

Jackson Pei is Managing Director and Co-Head of Closed Loop Private Equity, where he leads the investment team across deal origination, execution, due diligence, value creation, and portfolio management. He previously worked at Sumitomo Corporation of Americas, sourcing and executing middle market buyout, growth equity, and venture investments, and earlier at J.P. Morgan's Financial Sponsors Group and Chase Capital handling leveraged buyouts, M&A, and structured transactions. He holds a BBA in Finance from the University of Texas at Austin.

Andrew McColm is a Venture Partner at Closed Loop Partners with eighteen years of venture capital experience and a background in international telecommunications project management, engineering, and operations. He has worked with early-stage companies across circular economy, agriculture, water, and energy sectors, and has managed teams ranging from 2 to 600+ employees and budgets up to $75 million. His experience includes guiding companies from startup through exit and university technology commercialization.

Alicia Mandelkow is Chief of Staff at Closed Loop Partners, where she manages day-to-day operations of the Office of the CEO and supports cross-firm initiatives and partnerships. Before joining the firm, she was an executive assistant to C-level executives at YipitData, Advanced Generation & Efficiency, Healthy Planet Partners, and Recyclebank, and earlier worked in Broadway and off-Broadway theater and at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. She holds a BFA in Theatre from Southern Oregon University.

Andrew Firth is a Project Director at the Closed Loop Center for the Circular Economy, where he works to connect strategy, technology and operations to advance the circular economy. He previously spent four years at EY leading circular economy and decarbonization projects for Fortune 500 companies, and earlier held roles as a recycling coordinator and environmental programs manager at waste management companies. He holds a BA in Economics and a BA in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Anh Giang is Project Innovation Director at the Closed Loop Center for the Circular Economy, where she leads execution of packaging solutions and reuse initiatives across retail and food-service packaging. She has nearly 20 years of retail and supply chain experience, including work on Walmart eCommerce's launch of its direct-to-consumer brand Allswell Home, with roles spanning sourcing, product development, production, compliance, operations and customer care. She holds a BA in Integrative Studies from George Mason University.

Bea Miñana is Director of Communications & Impact Engagement at Closed Loop Partners, where she leads communications, brand, and impact storytelling across the firm's investment, innovation, and operating groups in support of the circular economy transition. She previously worked at Agritecture, an urban agriculture consulting firm advising entrepreneurs and investors on agtech feasibility in emerging markets, and began her career in brand strategy at Additive Impact. She holds an MS in Sustainability Management from Columbia University and a BS in Business Administration from Babson College.

Ben Lau is Senior Director of Human Resources at Closed Loop Partners, where he handles people experience, recruiting, talent development, and compensation and benefits. Before joining the firm, he built and supported teams at public companies such as Williams-Sonoma and Restoration Hardware and at tech start-ups including Docker, Zymergen, and CreateMe, with expertise in total rewards, M&A, and people operations. He holds a BA in Creative Studies in Literature from the University of California Santa Barbara.

Caroline Barry is a Senior Program Manager at Closed Loop Partners' Center for the Circular Economy, where she serves as project manager for the Composting Consortium and the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag. She supports strategy, project management, storytelling and stakeholder engagement across infrastructure, innovation, policy and consumer insights. Before joining the firm, she led sustainable packaging strategy for a global consumer goods company and contributed to its B Corp recertification. She holds a MENV in Sustainable Food Systems from the University of Colorado, Boulder and a BA in Communications from Loyola University Maryland.

Danielle Schaefer serves as Fractional Chief Financial Officer of Closed Loop Capital Management, providing financial advisory, compliance, and governance support across the firm's investment strategies. She previously was CFO at Inherent Group, an ESG-focused RIA and family office, and earlier held COO and CFO roles at Stone Lion, a credit-focused RIA. She spent part of her career in various roles at Bear Stearns and began as an auditor at PwC, and holds an MBA in Public Accounting from Pace University.

Derek Trott is a Vice President with Closed Loop Private Equity, the firm's buyout strategy, working across deal origination, execution, due diligence, value creation, portfolio management and realizations. Before joining the firm, he spent four years at J.P. Morgan, most recently as an Investment Banking Associate on the Diversified Industries (Industrials) team in New York, following an earlier role in the Middle Market Financial Sponsors Group. He holds a BBA in Finance from The College of William & Mary.

Erik Avni is Senior Vice President of Corporate Finance & Accounting at Closed Loop Partners, where he has worked since the firm was founded and oversees accounting, tax, and compliance across the firm's companies. He is a Certified Public Accountant with over 23 years of public accounting experience and four years in government accounting, including work with the United States Embassy Association in Israel. He holds a BBA in Accounting from Hofstra University and served 21 years in the US Air Force Reserve.

Erin Molloy Galko is Senior Director of Investor Relations & Investor Experience at Closed Loop Partners, overseeing the firm's investor relations platform across fundraising, reporting and investor engagement. She has more than a decade of experience in private markets focused on institutional investor engagement, capital formation and investor relations operations, and previously built and led the investor relations function at Rethink Capital Partners. She holds a BS in Marketing and Economics from Ithaca College.

Georgia Sherwin is Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives & Partnerships at the Closed Loop Center for the Circular Economy, the firm's innovation and research center. Her work spans molecular recycling, reuse systems, compostable packaging, and plastics and textiles innovation, and she focuses on connecting stakeholders across industries to advance the circular economy. She previously worked in business development and marketing at Inspiring Capital and holds a BASc from University College London.

Kate Krebs is Director of External Affairs at Closed Loop Partners, where she leads policy, partnerships, and government affairs engagement across federal, state, and local levels. She previously worked on environmental policy with the American Beverage Association, served as Director of Sustainable Resources at The Climate Group, and was Executive Director of The National Recycling Coalition. She holds a degree in Psychology with a minor in Natural Resources from Cal Poly Humboldt.

Kelly Coyle is a Program Manager at Closed Loop Partners' Center for the Circular Economy, working with the NextGen Consortium to increase recycling access rates for key materials and support reuse initiatives. She previously worked in Accenture's retail and supply chain practices, focusing on cost optimization, enterprise portfolio management and supply chain transformation. She holds a BA in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College.

Kim Tran is the Chief Operating Officer at the Closed Loop Center for the Circular Economy, where she oversees business operations, staff development, and strategic operational and financial planning. Before joining Closed Loop Partners, she was Vice President of Operations at Rent the Runway, where she helped launch the company's resale business model, and she began her career in retail at Bloomingdale's as a merchant and inventory planner. She holds a BA in Economics and Public Policy from Brown University.

Kristen Hovland is a Program Manager at the Closed Loop Center for the Circular Economy, where she works on strategy, research, and multi-stakeholder collaboration to advance circular solutions across brands and projects. She previously managed hard-to-recycle collection programs at Pact Collective for beauty and personal care brands, and worked as a consultant at Quadrant Strategies leading research engagements for large companies. She holds an MA in Climate & Society from Columbia University and a BA in Government from Georgetown University.

Kristin Taylor is Director of Catalytic Capital at Closed Loop Partners, where she works with strategic corporate partners on the firm's catalytic capital strategies, focusing on technical diligence and portfolio company value creation. She previously founded and led Radical Plastics, a startup commercializing a natural catalyst to make conventional plastics biodegradable, and spent about 20 years in market development at plastics and chemical companies including ExxonMobil, SABIC, Huntsman Corporation, and bioplastics company Metabolix. She holds an MS and BS in Plastics Engineering from the University of Massachusetts, Lowell.

Matt Pundmann is Senior Project Director at the Closed Loop Center for the Circular Economy, the firm's research and collaboration hub. He has over a decade of experience in sustainability initiatives spanning consumer behavior change, policy, supply chain optimization, recycling and data analytics, and leads the Consortium to Reinvent the Retail Bag. Previously he worked in Deloitte Consulting's supply chain practice and at Dow, and holds an MBA from Cornell's Johnson School, a BA in Environmental Science from the University of Michigan, and a BBA from Michigan's Ross School of Business.

Michael Arnett is Senior Director of Fund Finance & Accounting at Closed Loop Partners, where he oversees the investment funds' accounting, financial reporting, taxation and compliance. He was previously controller at ICV Partners, handling fund and management company accounting, and earlier worked in the tax departments at KPMG and Ernst & Young serving private equity and alternative investment clients. He holds an MS in Accountancy and a BBA from the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business and is a licensed CPA.

Sarah Pamplona Santos is Senior Project Director at the Closed Loop Center for the Circular Economy, the firm's research and collaboration center. She has partnered with retailers including Kroger, Ulta Beauty and Dollar General on campaigns to reduce single-use bag waste. Before Closed Loop Partners, she worked at Arborview Capital and spent four years at Deloitte Consulting, including on Deloitte Global's Corporate Social Responsibility team.

Talia Jarvis is the Chief Legal, Compliance & Administrative Officer at Closed Loop Partners, where she leads the firm's legal, compliance and administrative functions and works with leadership across its investment, innovation and operating groups. Before joining the firm, she served as general counsel to several fast-growing tech startups across various industries, and earlier was an associate at Latham & Watkins focused on private equity transactions, M&A and corporate law. She holds a JD from the University of Houston School of Law and a BA from the University of Texas.

Theresa Mullaley is a Program Manager at the Closed Loop Center for the Circular Economy, where she works on data analysis and content creation covering infrastructure, community engagement, consumer behavior and policy for the NextGen Consortium. She previously served as Zero Waste Director for the City of Boston, launching curbside composting, textiles and mattress recycling programs, and before that was Deputy Director of Partnerships at the NYC Department of Sanitation. She holds an MS in Environmental Policy and Science from Johns Hopkins University and a BS from SUNY New Paltz.

Aly Bryan is a senior member of the investment team at Closed Loop Ventures, investing in pre-seed, seed and Series A companies advancing circularity, with focus areas including supply chain logistics, critical minerals and metals processing, circularity in the built environment, and business model transformations that extend material use. She previously worked in McKinsey & Company's Sustainability and Energy Practices, leading engagements on sustainability, circularity and decarbonization. She holds an MS from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BA from Davidson College.

Tazia Smith is Managing Partner and CEO of Closed Loop Capital Management, the investment group of Closed Loop Partners, where she previously served as COO and Head of Capital Partnerships. She oversees capital formation, investor relations, and stakeholder management, and sits on the firm's Management Committee. Before joining the firm she was a Managing Director at Deutsche Bank covering institutional family offices and spent seven years at Goldman Sachs; she holds a BA in Environmental Science & Policy from Duke University and is a CFA Charterholder.