Our team

Meet the brilliant minds behind our success.

Our team combines seasoned executives and private equity investors in the food industry. At the heart of our success is their ability to think fresh and innovate daily on behalf of our clients and partners.

Mark Burgett

Partner

Mark Burgett

Partner

For the past 20+ years, Mark has exclusively focused on investing in private, middle-market companies across a wide variety of segments within and related to the food, consumer, and packaging industries. Prior to founding e2p, Mark was a Managing Director at Wind Point Partners, where he led and was involved with businesses in the food, consumer, and packaging industries for 14 years. Before Wind Point, he held progressively senior roles in the investment banking groups at Morgan Stanley and Robert W. Baird. Mark currently serves on the boards of e2p portfolio companies: Charcuterie Artisans, Furlani Foods, Gardian Holdings, MBC Companies, Roskam Baking Company, Thrive Foods, World Food Holdings, and YaYA Foods. His previous board roles at his predecessor firm include Shearer’s Snacks, Hearthside Food Solutions, Nonni’s Biscotti, Evan’s Food Group, Santa Maria Foods, Ryt-way Industries, Rupari Food Services, Gehl Foods, and Nonni’s Food Company. Mark earned a BA from Northwestern University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

CJ Fraleigh

Partner

CJ Fraleigh

Partner

CJ has an extensive and successful track record as an investor and operating executive focused on building and leading consumer goods businesses. Prior to co-founding e2p, CJ led a variety of consumer businesses including roles as Chairman and CEO of Shearer’s Foods, a leading contract manufacturer and private label supplier for the snack industry; CEO of Sara Lee North America; General Manager of GMC, Buick, and Pontiac for General Motors Corporation; and VP of Colas at PepsiCo, where he had started his career and held progressively responsible positions. CJ currently serves on the boards of e2p portfolio companies Charcuterie Artisans and Sara Lee Frozen Bakery. He previously was an active investor and board member of Salm Partners, an e2p realized portfolio company, Gehl Foods, Nonni’s Biscotti, Darden, Sabre Holdings, and Shearer’s Foods, which are not e2p portfolio companies. CJ earned a BS in Engineering from Lehigh University and an MBA from Columbia Business School.

Jeff DeLapp

Partner

Jeff DeLapp

Partner

With a distinguished 40-year career in the food business, Jeff DeLapp has garnered extensive experience and expertise in various leadership roles within the industry. Having served as President of McCain Food, North America, President of Lamb Weston, and President/COO of The Bruss Company (a part of the Tyson Foods’ Family), he has consistently demonstrated strategic acumen and a drive for innovation. Jeff's contributions extend beyond executive positions to his involvement in board seats, notably with MBC Companies, where he actively participates in shaping organizational strategies. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon and a Master of Business Administration from Northwestern University, underpinning his professional journey with a solid academic foundation.

Erik Kahler

Partner

Erik Kahler

Partner

Erik is an accomplished Corporate Development and Finance executive with extensive public company leadership and investment banking advisory experience. Most recently, Erik served as Senior Vice President, Corporate Development at TreeHouse Foods, Inc (NYSE: THS). Over a 15-year period, he led all acquisition and divestiture activities, which included completing more than 20 transactions. Prior to TreeHouse, Erik served as Managing Director of Dresdner Kleinwort Securities, LLC. He also previously held senior investment banking leadership roles at Citigroup, Inc., and at Wasserstein Perella & Company, Inc. Erik also worked for Ernst & Young and CIBC in various financial advisory roles. Erik currently serves on the Board of Directors of Everidge Inc. (not an e2p portfolio company), and on the boards of e2p portfolio companies Roskam Baking Company and Ya YA Foods Corporation. He holds a B.A. from Colorado College and an M.B.A. from J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

Rich Scalise

Partner

Rich Scalise

Partner

Rich has extensive experience leading and growing top food companies in bakery, protein, dairy, and contract manufacturing. Prior to e2p, has had over a 40-year career of leading and growing top food companies in bakery, protein, dairy, and contract manufacturing and more recently, 4 years in private equity. Rich serves as a board member of Hearthside Foods, a business he founded in 2009 under the premise that the food contract manufacturing industry was ripe for reinvention. Over the past 11 years, Hearthside grew revenue from ~$225 million to over $3.3 billion. During this timeframe, Rich helped execute and integrate 10 acquisitions and led Hearthside through two successful exits. His previous roles include President of Ralcorp Frozen Bakery Products and President and COO of ConAgra’s $3 billion Refrigerated Foods Division. Rich currently serves as Board Chairman of e2p portfolio company, World Food Holdings, and on the board of e2p portfolio companies, Furlani Foods and Ya YA Foods Corporation. He previously was a board member of Salm Partners, an e2p realized portfolio company. Rich is also a previous Chairman of the American Bakers Association (which is not an e2p portfolio company) and is active in multiple industry boards and associations. Rich earned a BA from Loras College.

Ryan Schweet

Partner

Ryan Schweet

Partner

Prior to joining e2p, Ryan co-founded and served as CEO of Victory Views, a venture-backed software business focused on the education services sector. Earlier in his career, Ryan was a Senior Associate and Associate at Wind Point Partners after beginning his career in investment banking at UBS. Ryan currently serves on the boards of e2p portfolio companies Charcuterie Artisans, Furlani Foods, Roskam Baking Company, Thrive Mercer and World Food Holdings. Ryan earned a BS in Business from Indiana University and an MBA from the University of Chicago.

Amy Silverstein

Partner

Amy Silverstein

Partner

Amy has had a 23-year career in advising companies to activate purpose, ESG, and sustainability as part of corporate growth strategy within multibillion- and trillion-dollar organizations. Most recently, she spent 20 years at Deloitte where she served as Managing Director in Deloitte Consulting’s Growth Strategy practice focused on corporate ESG strategy-led business transformation for consumer-facing companies across multiple sectors including retail and consumer packaged goods, technology, and healthcare/biopharma. Prior to her time at Deloitte, Amy was an Adjunct Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago’s School of Public Health, Health Policy Administration. Amy also worked at Arthur Andersen LLP in various roles and began her career at Tucker Alan, Inc. as a Staff Consultant. Amy serves on the board of the e2p portfolio company MBC Companies. She holds a BS in Psychology from Indiana University and a MA in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Illinois at Chicago.

Matt Schick

Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer

Matt Schick

Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer

Prior to joining e2p, Matt was the Chief Operations Officer at Creation Investments Capital Management, a global impact investment manager in emerging markets. Previously, Matt was a Fund Controller at Victory Park Capital Advisors and a Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers.  Matt earned a BS in Accounting from The Ohio State University and is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

LeAnn Kilarski

Chief Operating Officer

LeAnn Kilarski

Chief Operating Officer

Prior to joining e2p, LeAnn spent 22 years at Wind Point Partners, a middle-market private equity firm based in Chicago. LeAnn was Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer, and Chief Operating Officer during her time at Wind Point. LeAnn started her career in public accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant. LeAnn earned a BA in Accounting from Michigan State University.

Kevin Henneck

Vice President

Kevin Henneck

Vice President

Prior to joining e2p, Kevin was an Associate at ATL Partners, a private equity firm based in New York. Previously, Kevin worked in investment banking and structured and distressed debt trading at Citi. Kevin serves on the boards of Entrepreneurial Equity Partners portfolio companies Roskam Baking Company and Ya YA Foods Corporation. He previously was a board member of Salm Partners, an e2p realized portfolio company. Kevin earned a BS in Engineering, magna cum laude, from Princeton University.

Blake Miller

Vice President

Blake Miller

Vice President

Prior to joining e2p, Blake served as Director of Business Development and Strategy at Zarty, a next-generation shopping app that rewards consumers for purchasing products and providing valuable product feedback. Previously, Blake also worked as a Senior Associate at Encore Consumer Capital, a consumer-focused private equity firm making investments within the food and beverage, personal care, beauty, and pet sectors. He began his career as an investment banking analyst in the Consumer & Retail Group at Raymond James & Associates. Blake serves on the board of Entrepreneurial Equity Partners portfolio company MBC Companies. Blake graduated cum laude from Vanderbilt University with a B.A. in Economics, with minors in Corporate Strategy and Financial Economics.

Christina Wang

Vice President

Christina Wang

Vice President

Prior to joining e2p, Christina served as Senior Associate at Kainos Capital, a middle-market private equity firm with an exclusive focus on the food and consumer sectors. Previously, she also worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Macquarie Capital. Christina earned a BA in Economics and Statistics, magna cum laude, from Amherst College and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.

Bob Burchfield

Vice President, Technology

Bob Burchfield

Vice President, Technology

Before joining e2p, Bob was Vice President of IT at West Madison Foods in Chicago, IL. For nearly 14 years, he was previously the Chief Information Officer at Hearthside Foods Solutions in Downers Grove, IL. From 1995-2009, Bob served as a Systems Engineer, Corporate Systems Manager, and Director of IT. He began his career at The Quaker Oats Company in Newport, TN as an Industrial Engineer and later served as Senior Industrial Engineer and Senior IT/Operations Analyst. Bob earned a BS in Industrial Engineering from Tennessee Technological University.

Dominik Spalinski

Senior Associate

Dominik Spalinski

Senior Associate

Prior to joining e2p, Dominik was an Investment Banking Analyst at Lazard. Dominik earned a BS in Accountancy and a BS in Finance from the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, graduating with high honors.

Christian Sullivan

Senior Associate

Christian Sullivan

Senior Associate

Prior to joining e2p, Christian was an Investment Banking Analyst at Houlihan Lokey. Christian earned a BBA from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, graduating with honors.

Jeremy Sernick

Associate

Jeremy Sernick

Associate

Prior to joining e2p, Jeremy was an Investment Banking Analyst at Brown Gibbons Lang & Company. Jeremy earned a BS in Finance from the Kelly School of Business at Indiana University, graduating with honors.

Ryan Montgomery

Associate

Ryan Montgomery

Associate

Prior to joining e2p, Ryan was an Investment Banking Analyst at Brown Gibbons Lang & Company. Ryan earned a BA in Economics from The University of Chicago, graduating with honors.

Shelly Sleezer

Executive Assistant

Shelly Sleezer

Executive Assistant

Prior to joining e2p, Shelly was an Executive Assistant at Zillow Group, McCain Foods, Accenture, Chamberlain Group, and Walter E. Smith Furniture.

Shannon Cadagin

Office Manager

Shannon Cadagin

Office Manager

Prior to joining e2p, Shannon was a Community Lead and Customer Success Manager at WeWork and an Administrative Assistant at Addus HomeCare. Shannon earned a BA in Communications and Public Relations from Carthage College.