Pharos Capital Group

Kneeland Youngblood co-founded Pharos Capital Group and serves as its Chairman and CEO, overseeing firm strategy and its portfolio companies. He has held public and private leadership roles, including a Senate-confirmed appointment to the U.S. Enrichment Corporation and service on boards such as Starwood Hotels, Burger King, and The Gap. He holds an A.B. in Political Science from Princeton University and an M.D. from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.

Anna Kovalkova is a Partner at Pharos Capital Group, where she leads the evaluation, due diligence, and execution of investments and oversees portfolio companies. She serves on the investment committees of Pharos' funds and sits on the boards of several portfolio companies. She joined Pharos and its predecessor entities as a Financial Analyst and holds a B.B.A. in Finance from Belmont University, having previously studied International Economic Relations at the Finance Academy under the Government of the Russian Federation in Moscow.

Jim Phillips is a Partner at Pharos Capital Group, where he oversees the fund's current investment portfolio and serves on the investment committees of Pharos' funds. Before joining Pharos and its predecessor entities in 1996, he worked at Goldman Sachs in its Equities Management Division and Private Client Services. He holds a B.S. in Management from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an M.B.A. from the University of Miami.

Joel Goldberg is a Partner at Pharos Capital Group, where his responsibilities include deal structuring and negotiation, monitoring current investments, firm operations, and recruitment. He is a member of the investment committees of Pharos' funds. Before joining Pharos and its predecessor entities in 1997, he worked in the Corporate Finance Department of J.C. Bradford & Company, and he holds a B.A. in Economics and Mathematics from Vanderbilt University.

Ryan Shelton is a Principal at Pharos Capital Group, where he evaluates and executes investment opportunities, conducts transaction due diligence, and works with management teams on operational and growth strategies. He joined Pharos as a Financial Analyst after earning a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Texas in 2006, and previously worked at Fowler Valuation Services in Austin, valuing small and medium-sized businesses for estate planning, shareholder buyouts, and M&A.

Adam Persiani is the Managing Director of Business Development at Pharos Capital Group, where he handles investment origination and qualification, business development, work with entrepreneurs and management teams on operational and growth strategies, and impact reporting. He joined the firm in 2015 after a similar role at a Dallas-based Small Business Investment Company focused on manufacturing and business services, and began his career trading futures and options at the CBOE and CME. He holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Alice Rhee is Head of Investor Relations & Social Impact at Pharos Capital Group, where she leads capital formation strategy alongside the CEO and CIO and oversees the firm's communications, storytelling, and events. Before joining in 2025, she was Chief Communications and Partnerships Officer at the Skoll Foundation, overseeing storytelling, communications, and global convenings including the Skoll World Forum. A former journalist and television producer, she graduated from McGill University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Ben Chesnut is a Vice President at Pharos Capital Group, where he evaluates and executes investment opportunities, conducts due diligence, and works with management teams on operational and growth strategies. He joined the firm in 2019 after working as an Investment Banking Analyst at MHT Partners in Dallas, and previously held roles at KPMG's Audit Practice and PTV Healthcare Capital in Austin. He holds a BBA and a Master's in Professional Accounting from the University of Texas at Austin.

Haifa Alnasser is a Manager at Pharos Capital Group, where she leads international healthcare market expansion and investment work, including market entry strategy, strategic partnerships, and fundraising across the Middle East. She previously served as Operations Manager at Confluent Health / MOTION PT Group, overseeing multi-state operations and M&A integration, and began her career in clinical medicine. She holds an M.D. from King Saud University and an MPH in Health Policy and Management from New York University.

Jonathan Youse is Director of Accounting & Client Services at Pharos Capital Group, overseeing financial accounting, audit, finance, tax, investor reporting, and investor relations. He joined the firm in 1998 after working from 1996 to 1998 in the office of the CEO at a New York Stock Exchange listed company on accounting, finance, and operations projects. He holds a B.B.A. in Accounting, cum laude, from Belmont University.

Kathryn Tong is Operating Advisor for Portfolio Growth & Value Creation at Pharos Capital Group, supporting healthcare portfolio companies on growth and enterprise value, and leading the firm's government affairs and policy engagement. She is also Founder and CEO of Sapphire Health Advisory and previously served as Chief Commercial Officer of Mom's Meals, with prior senior roles at UnitedHealth Group/Optum, US Renal Care, and McKesson/US Oncology. She holds an MBA in Health Care Management from The Wharton School and a BA in Political Science from Swarthmore College.

Kimberly Futrell is CFO and Chief Compliance Officer at Pharos Capital Group, where she oversees accounting, budgeting, cash management, tax, audit, investor reporting, human resources, and the firm's compliance program. Before joining the firm in 2000, she worked in accounting, financial modeling, planning and analysis at a New York Stock Exchange listed company from 1995 to 2000, and earlier as an accountant in private industry. She holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Lubbock Christian University.

Luke Westmoreland is an Associate at Pharos Capital Group, where he evaluates and executes investment opportunities, conducts due diligence, and works with management teams on operational and growth strategies. Before joining the firm in 2021, he was an Investment Banking Associate at Capstone Partners in Dallas serving the energy and industrial sectors, and earlier an Analyst at ARM Energy in Houston. He holds a Masters in Finance and a BS in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University.

Melinda Cullen is Co-Chief Financial Officer of Pharos Capital Group, where she oversees the firm's annual audits. She joined the firm in 2000, having previously served as Director of Finance at an NYSE-listed company and, before that, in accounting and strategic analysis roles at retailer Service Merchandise Co. Inc. She began her career as a senior auditor at Arthur Andersen & Co., holds a B.S. in Business Administration from Auburn University, and is a certified public accountant.

Michael Whiddon is an Associate at Pharos Capital Group, where he evaluates and executes investment opportunities, conducts due diligence, and works with management teams on operational and growth strategies. Before joining the firm in 2019, he was an Investment Banking Senior Analyst in the Healthcare and Life Sciences Group at Brown Gibbons Lang & Co. in Chicago, working on sell-side and buy-side M&A across the healthcare sector. He holds a BA in History from the University of Texas at Austin, an MBA from Southern Methodist University, and is a CFA charterholder.