Our Team

In a variety of roles, CL has invested in 50+ companies. Earlier in his career, CL raised capital for a similar number of companies. Prior to Crescendo, CL led the Western US investment team for Houlihan Lokey/Orix. Previously, he led the investment efforts of a family office, serving as CEO and Head of the Investment Committee. He was one of four members of a hybrid investment and consulting firm focused on operationally-challenged firms. Earlier in his career, he founded Bank One Healthcare Partners. Prior to BOHP, Turner had a variety of investment banking roles for Bank of America.

CL holds a BA, MBA and MS, respectively, from Texas Tech University, Southern Methodist University and Rice University.

CL is an active father to a more-active teenage daughter, sharing a passion for music. As in life, the combination is symbiotic – CL writes and plays while his daughter sings (much better than he writes and plays). CL has attended more concerts by Ariana Grande, Taylor Swift, Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Adele, Melanie Martinez, etc., than any other PE professional. In spare time, CL fondly remembers the days when the Spurs and Cowboys fielded competitive units. After 20 years in the “wilderness,” he returned to his native TX in 2021.

Michael’s focus across his career has been middle-market and lower middle-market companies. Michael has invested up and down the capital structure, including control and non-control equity, mezzanine and unitranche debt investments. At Crescendo, Michael’s responsibilities include sourcing, evaluating, and executing investment opportunities as well as portfolio management.

Prior to joining Crescendo, Michael spent seven years with OFS Capital Management. Michael has also held positions at Cardinal Growth, and at William Blair & Company in the Healthcare Investment Banking group.

Michael holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.

Mike lives in the South Loop neighborhood of Chicago with his wife and four energetic children. In his free time, Mike can often be found providing logistical support or dispute resolution for his children, making “dad” jokes or running on Lake Michigan.

Throughout his career Brendan has executed debt and equity investments for lower middle-market and middle market companies. At Crescendo, Brendan is responsible for evaluating and executing investment opportunities as well as portfolio management.

Prior to Crescendo, Brendan was a Vice President at OFS Capital Management. Prior to OFS, Brendan was an Analyst at William Blair & Company in the Industrials Investment Banking group.

Brendan holds BS degrees in Economics and Financial Mathematics from the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.

Brendan lives in Chicago’s West Loop neighborhood and tries (but fails) to keep up with the constantly evolving restaurant scene. He frequently braves crowded venues to see live music, and he is a permanently hopeful Wolverines fan.

Bryan has focused for more than a decade on mergers & acquisitions in the lower middle market. He has worked with a wide variety of industrial and consumer companies as both an investment banker and private equity investor. At Crescendo, Bryan’s responsibilities include sourcing, evaluating and executing investment opportunities as well as portfolio management.

Prior to joining Crescendo, Bryan spent five years representing families and entrepreneurs in the sales of their businesses, as a member of Wells Fargo Advisors’ Business Sales and Advisory Group and KPMG Corporate Finance. Bryan previously spent six years working for private equity firms, Pegasus Capital Group and Revolution Capital Group in Los Angeles.

Bryan holds a Master of Business Administration from UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and a Bachelor of Arts from Yale University.

Bryan lives by Lake Travis in Austin with his wife and two wild boys. In his free time, Bryan mostly does what his wife tells him, but can otherwise be found hiking, exploring Texas or staring at the lake.

Joel has spent 10+ years advising and investing in lower middle-market and middle market companies. At Crescendo, Joel is responsible for evaluating and executing investment opportunities as well as portfolio management.

Prior to joining Crescendo, Joel was a Senior Associate at OFS Capital Management. Joel has also served as the Valuation Group Head at OFS and a Manager in the Valuation Group of KPMG.

Joel holds Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Information Systems degrees from Boston University and a Bachelor of Business Administration from Central Michigan University.

Joel lives outside of Chicago with his wife and three young daughters. In his free time, he likes to run, cook, travel and indulge in sufficient amounts of coffee to match the energy levels of his kids.

At Crescendo, Justin is responsible for evaluating and executing investment opportunities as well as portfolio management.

Prior to Crescendo, Justin was a Financial Analyst at Grubhub. Justin has also held positions at Collar, Grosvenor Capital Management, and at Jefferies in the Industrials Investment Banking group.

Justin holds a BA in Economics from Vanderbilt University.

Justin lives in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago. In his free time, Justin actively participates in various initiatives for the Assyrian community of Chicago. He also patronizes the broad dining selection of West Loop’s Fulton Market district and maintains unwavering support for the oft-disappointing Chicago Cubs.

Over thirty-five years in the engineering, construction, maintenance and environmental services business have created a thick tapestry of experience for Gary’s career up to this point. He has served a breadth of commercial, industrial and government verticals over an expansive international footprint while occupying roles in sales, marketing, finance, operations and executive management.

More recently, he has supported private equity investment in a host of roles including portfolio-company CEO (APTIM, $2B construction management), industry consultant, Board member and thesis development. This experience includes platforms from <$5M to $100+M EBITDA. Gary also led the Americas group of M+W and the Industrial group for AECOM, both global E&C firms. Additionally, he has current experience with multiple start-ups and as a small business owner.

Gary holds a BS in Accounting from Clemson University, did graduate work at UNCC, and is a certified Board director by NACD.

Living in Charlotte, North Carolina affords Gary ample opportunity to pursue his passion for golf and other outdoor sports however, nurturing 4 children with vastly different interests keeps his toys and tools gathering dust in the garage much of the year. Like CL, he is a lover of music and can claim to have played a host of instruments from bass guitar to accordion … none very well, however.

Over thirty-five years in the engineering, construction, maintenance and environmental services business have created a thick tapestry of experience for Gary’s career up to this point. He has served a breadth of commercial, industrial and government verticals over an expansive international footprint while occupying roles in sales, marketing, finance, operations and executive management.

More recently, he has supported private equity investment in a host of roles including portfolio-company CEO (APTIM, $2B construction management), industry consultant, Board member and thesis development. This experience includes platforms from <$5M to $100+M EBITDA. Gary also led the Americas group of M+W and the Industrial group for AECOM, both global E&C firms. Additionally, he has current experience with multiple start-ups and as a small business owner.

Gary holds a BS in Accounting from Clemson University, did graduate work at UNCC, and is a certified Board director by NACD.

Living in Charlotte, North Carolina affords Gary ample opportunity to pursue his passion for golf and other outdoor sports however, nurturing 4 children with vastly different interests keeps his toys and tools gathering dust in the garage much of the year. Like CL, he is a lover of music and can claim to have played a host of instruments from bass guitar to accordion … none very well, however.

Over thirty-five years in the engineering, construction, maintenance and environmental services business have created a thick tapestry of experience for Gary’s career up to this point. He has served a breadth of commercial, industrial and government verticals over an expansive international footprint while occupying roles in sales, marketing, finance, operations and executive management.

More recently, he has supported private equity investment in a host of roles including portfolio-company CEO (APTIM, $2B construction management), industry consultant, Board member and thesis development. This experience includes platforms from <$5M to $100+M EBITDA. Gary also led the Americas group of M+W and the Industrial group for AECOM, both global E&C firms. Additionally, he has current experience with multiple start-ups and as a small business owner.

Gary holds a BS in Accounting from Clemson University, did graduate work at UNCC, and is a certified Board director by NACD.

Living in Charlotte, North Carolina affords Gary ample opportunity to pursue his passion for golf and other outdoor sports however, nurturing 4 children with vastly different interests keeps his toys and tools gathering dust in the garage much of the year. Like CL, he is a lover of music and can claim to have played a host of instruments from bass guitar to accordion … none very well, however.