Levine Leichtman

Lauren Leichtman co-founded LLCP in 1984 and serves as Co-Chairperson of the firm's Executive Committee, overseeing its strategic direction, management, and investment activities. She has experience originating, acquiring, and managing middle market companies. Before co-founding the firm, she worked as a lawyer, including with the Enforcement Division of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and holds a J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law and an L.L.M. from Columbia Law School.

Joined LLCP in 2011 and serves as a Partner responsible for day-to-day management of the U.S. Investment Team, involved in sector strategy, deal structuring, due diligence and oversight of the U.S. portfolio, and is a member of the Executive and Investment Committees. Previously a Vice President at Liberty Partners and an investment banker at Jefferies. Holds degrees in Economics/Finance and Computer Science & Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School.

David Wolmer joined LLCP in 2008 and serves as its Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, overseeing the management company's day-to-day operations, global business affairs, and legal and compliance activities. He is a member of the firm's Executive Committee. He previously worked as an associate in the corporate group at Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy LLP, and holds a B.A. in Organizational Studies from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from Fordham School of Law.

Josh Kaufman is a Partner and Head of Europe at LLCP, where he manages the European investment team and oversees deal origination, due diligence, and portfolio management, and sits on the Investment Committee. He was previously a Partner at Inflexion, a London private equity firm focused on education, business services, and TMT, and a Senior Associate at Leeds Equity Partners in New York investing in middle-market education and business services companies. He began his career in technology and services investment banking at Robert W. Baird and holds a B.S.B.A. in Finance from the University of Colorado.

Alexander Bruno joined LLCP in 2019 and serves as an Associate Director on the Investment Management team, working on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously was an Associate at CCMP Capital, a New York private equity firm focused on consumer and industrial companies, and began his career at Jefferies in the Mergers & Acquisitions group. He holds a B.S. in Finance from Wake Forest University.

Andrew Alexander joined LLCP in 2016 and serves as a Senior Managing Director on the Investment Management team, focusing on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. Before LLCP, he was a Senior Associate with PNC Capital Markets in Philadelphia, working on leveraged finance transactions. He holds a B.S.B.A. in Finance and Accounting from Villanova University and an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Brian Klaban joined LLCP in 2024 as Head of Capital Markets and Managing Director of Originations, overseeing debt capital markets activities and sourcing new investment opportunities with a focus on the Midwest and Southern U.S. He previously served as Head of Business Development and Debt Capital Markets at Platte River Equity and held origination, underwriting, and portfolio management roles at Apogem Capital (formerly Madison Capital Funding), and earlier worked at National City Bank. He holds a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.S. in Economics from Eastern Michigan University and is a CFA Charterholder.

Debbie Habib is a Managing Director on the Investment Originations team at LLCP, which she joined in 2021, where she sources new investment opportunities and handles due diligence with a focus on the Northeastern U.S. She previously served as a Vice President at private equity firm Lindsay Goldberg, leading business development, and earlier spent about a decade at commercial finance company FGI Worldwide, where she led the business development team. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from New York University and an M.B.A. from Columbia University and London Business School.

Ethan Caskey joined LLCP in 2019 and is a Managing Director on the Investment Management team, focused on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously served as a Principal at Harren Equity Partners and a Vice President at Liberty Partners, and began his career in principal investing on Merrill Lynch's Global Private Equity team. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Georgetown University.

Greg Flaster is a Senior Managing Director on LLCP's Investment Management team, focused on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He first joined the firm in 2011, worked there through 2018, and rejoined in 2019. Earlier in his career he served as CFO of a Los Angeles-based master franchisee and worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions group at Houlihan Lokey; he holds a B.S.B.A. in Finance from the University of Southern California.

Jay Berajawala joined LLCP in 2018 and is a Director on the Investment Management team, working on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. Before LLCP, he was an Associate at Riverside Partners, a Boston-based private equity firm, and started his career at Citigroup in Los Angeles on the M&A team. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

John King joined LLCP in 2022 as a Director on the Investment Management team, where he works on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously worked as an investment professional at TowerBrook Capital Partners and began his career at Bain & Company. He holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago.

Kevin Jin joined LLCP in 2020 and works as an Associate Director on the Investment Management team, contributing to investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously worked at Citigroup in Los Angeles on the Industrials team. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Southern California.

Landon Budenholzer joined LLCP in 2021 and serves as an Associate Director on the Investment Management team, where he works on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously worked on the Mergers & Acquisitions team at Bank of America in New York City. He holds a B.S. in Hotel Administration from Cornell University.

Mark Guberman joined LLCP in 2026 as an Associate Director on the Investment Management team, where he works on investment due diligence, transaction execution and portfolio management. He previously held roles as a Vice President at STORY3 Capital Partners, an Associate at Clearlake Capital Group, and began his career at Aquiline Capital Partners. He earned a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from Emory University.

Paul Hamilton is a Director on Levine Leichtman's (LLCP) Investment Management team, having first been with the firm from 2016 to 2018 before rejoining in 2021, where he works on due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously served as a Vice President at Comvest Partners and as an Associate at Bayside Capital, and began his career at Harris Williams & Co. on the Healthcare and Life Sciences team. He holds a B.A. in Economics and an M.S. in Finance from Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management.

Ted Jeon joined LLCP in 2020 as a Managing Director on the Investment Management team, where he handles investment due diligence, transaction execution and portfolio management. He previously spent over a decade as a Principal at Kohlberg & Company, focusing on origination, evaluation and management of investments in business services, healthcare and consumer products, and started his career at Goldman Sachs in the Industrials investment banking group. He holds an A.B. with Honors in Politics from Princeton University.

William Hanrahan joined LLCP in 2023 as an Associate Director on the Investment Management team, where he works on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously was an investment professional at Partners Group in London and began his career at Deloitte in Sydney on the Financial Advisory team. He holds a B.Comm. in Accounting and Commercial Law from the University of Sydney and is a member of Chartered Accountants ANZ.

Araz Abkarian joined LLCP in 2014 and works as an Accounting Manager, supporting the operations of the firm's funds and General Partner vehicles. She holds a B.A. in Economics and Accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Ari Brathwaite joined Levine Leichtman (LLCP) in 2026 as an Associate on the Investment Management team, where he works on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He was previously a management consultant at McKinsey & Company within its Private Equity practice. He holds a B.A. in Economics from Howard University and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Charles Kintner is an Associate on Levine Leichtman's Investment Management team, which he joined in 2026, working on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously worked as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Industrial Growth Products group at William Blair in Chicago. He holds a B.B.A. in Economics from Loyola University Chicago.

Gustavo Aquino joined LLCP in 2022 as an Assistant Controller. He previously worked as a Senior Accountant at Ernst & Young in Los Angeles, serving clients in the real estate and hospitality industries. He holds a B.S. in Accounting from California State University, Northridge.

Jamil Gambari joined LLCP in 2025 as an Associate on the Investment Management team, where he works on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously interned at LLCP in 2024 and worked in Deloitte Consulting's Government & Public Services practice advising public sector clients. He holds a B.S. in Marketing from Hampton University and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Jane Kim joined LLCP in 2023 as Chief Compliance Officer and Associate General Counsel, handling legal and compliance matters related to the firm's investment activities and business affairs. She previously served as Senior Regulatory Counsel at Canyon Partners, Senior Counsel at the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's Division of Investment Management, and an associate in the asset management group at Willkie Farr & Gallagher. She holds a B.A. in Economics from Claremont McKenna College and a J.D. from The George Washington University Law School.

Jian Hao is Director of Tax at LLCP, which she joined in 2025, overseeing tax matters for the firm's funds and management companies. She previously worked as a Senior Manager at Ernst & Young and a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers, both in Los Angeles, serving real estate industry clients. She holds a master's degree in business taxation from the University of Southern California and is a CPA in California.

John Ciasulli joined LLCP in 2026 as Head of Digital and AI Value Creation, focusing on operational value creation across the portfolio and evaluating AI during diligence. He previously was Senior Vice President at Platinum Equity, where he built a standardized Digital Growth Playbook and an AI & Automation Center of Excellence, and Vice President of Transformation at Centerfield Media; earlier he was a founding executive at Uptake Technologies. He holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, plus two U.S. patents in AI and predictive analytics.

Len Keller joined Levine Leichtman Capital Partners (LLCP) in 2023 as a Senior Associate on the Investment Management team, where he works on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously worked as an Investment Banking Analyst in the Financial Sponsors Group at Wells Fargo in New York City. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.A. in Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Richard Fang joined LLCP in 2025 as an Associate on the Investment Management team, where he works on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. He previously worked as an Investment Banking Analyst on the Healthcare Services team at Piper Sandler in San Francisco. He holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California.

Tess Castergine is an Associate on the Investment Management team at LLCP, which she joined in 2025, where she works on investment due diligence, transaction execution, and portfolio management. She previously worked as an Investment Banking Analyst and Associate in the Financial Sponsors Group at BMO Capital Markets in New York. She holds a B.S. in Finance with an Applied Psychology minor from Boston College.

Valerie Catullo joined LLCP in 2018 and works as a Senior Accountant, maintaining General Partner financial information and supporting the Controller. She previously worked as an Accounting Clerk at Robert Half and interned as an Investigative Analyst with the IRS Criminal Investigation Division. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from California State University San Marcos.