Meet The Cobalt Team.

We bring a diversity of experience across investing, operating, professional sports, military service, and even Broadway.

  • Anthony Gonzalez

    Co-CEO, Operations
    Anthony has been an NFL wide receiver, business executive, and Member of Congress. When not working, he wonders about when the Cleveland Browns will win their first Super Bowl and spends as much time as possible with his wife and two kids.

  • Tyler Hoffman

    Co-CEO, M&A
    Tyler has been an investor and operator — most recently at Radicle Health, which he ran from 2018 through 2023. When he’s not speaking with founders, Tyler shamelessly roots for the Yankees, watches early 2000s TV shows with his wife, and laughs harder at his jokes than others do.

  • Ginna Doyle

    Chief People Officer
    Ginna started her career as an actress in NYC and worked in talent and operations at an esports startup prior to receiving her MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. She loves all things people, dogs, and chocolate.

  • Greg Pappianou

    EVP of Operations
    Greg is a former nuclear submarine officer, McKinsey manager, and Chief Growth Officer of a defense technology company. He’s also an endangered species at home with a wife, three daughters, and two female dogs.

  • Jose Emanuelli

    EVP of M&A
    Jose has nearly a decade of M&A experience, most recently as an investor at Kohlberg & Company. When he’s not telling people that he’s from Puerto Rico, Jose enjoys playing golf with his dad and younger brothers, shamefully rooting for Manchester United and watching confusing sci-fi movies.

  • Max Simon

    EVP of New Partnerships
    Max has worked as an operator and investor — first as the founder of a live events business that entertained 40,000+ guests annually, and most recently at The Riverside Company, where he spent most of his time working with field services companies. When not working, he enthusiastically cheers on Cleveland sports teams.

  • Rachel Mickelson

    Chief of Staff
    Rachel has worked as an engineer and consultant, serving industrial companies on a range of strategy and M&A topics. As a Minnesota native, you can find her out on a lake regardless of the season.

  • Ashley Akbork

    Director of Finance
    Ashley has worked in a variety of finance & accounting roles across technology, media, and data businesses. She’s quite adventurous for an accountant, and can often be found navigating all-things-basketball with her four boys and husband.

  • Cara Forlenza

    Director of FP&A
    Cara brings a decade of experience in corporate FP&A and private equity portfolio operations. Outside of work, Cara can be found relaxing on the beach with a good book or perfecting her padel serve.

  • Carol Kress

    Carol Kresse

    Executive Operations Lead
    Carol worked in Congress for over a decade in operations, specializing in finding ways to bring unity via Taylor Swift references and sharing baked goods. In her free time, Carol enjoys running, quilting, and coffee. She volunteers in DC with church, Honor Flight Network, and Red Cross.

  • Casey White

    Casey White

    Talent Acquisition Partner
    Casey began her recruiting career in 2011, working across a wide range of positions within Fortune 500 staffing agencies, boutique recruiting firms, and technical sourcing for a Big Four tech company. In her free time, she’s a devoted dog-mom, cat-mom, bonus-mom, awesome wife, and an unapologetic ice cream connoisseur.

  • Chris Kalna

    VP of Technology
    Chris is a former management consulting partner and private equity technology executive. His career has focused on technology strategy and execution, particularly for M&A and privately owned companies. Chris resides in Washington, DC, with his wife, two children, and their bulldog, Jolene.

  • Ciara Barnes

    Technician Recruiter
    Ciara is experienced in recruitment and talent acquisition, having served as a Talent Sourcer at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. She now lives in Georgia, where she enjoys spending time with her family, shopping, traveling, and attending church.

  • Dane Sehnert

    M&A Associate
    Dane has worked as a buy-side and sell-side M&A advisor to many services and industrials businesses. He is a Pittsburgh native and a die-hard Steelers, Penguins and Pirates fan. In his free time, he enjoys reading, exercising, going to baseball games and hanging out with his wife and two cats.

  • Danielle Thompson

    Head of Technician Recruiting
    Danielle has nearly 15 years of recruiting experience in various industries, most recently for Avantor, a Fortune 500 biopharmaceutical company. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, traveling and spending time with her loving husband and their three wonderful children.

  • Erica Mazman

    VP of Growth
    Erica started her career in investment banking and has worked in leadership roles at rapidly scaling companies ever since. Outside of work, Erica enjoys watching The Office reruns, golfing with her husband, and playing with her young daughter, Eloise.

  • Frank Lamia

    Talent Acquisition Partner
    Frank has worked in a variety of recruiting roles across multiple industries, most recently mechanical services. He is a Michigan Native now living in the South, and in his free time enjoys hiking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

  • Houston Hardy

    Director of Integration
    Houston started his career in Private Wealth Management prior to receiving his MBA from the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. Most of his time outside of work is spent religiously following his beloved Utah Jazz and Liverpool FC or binge watching Cillian Murphy movies.

  • Jonny Goffredi

    Head of HQ Recruiting
    Jonny has recruiting experience across a variety of industries, most recently co-leading the Private Equity Practice at Charles Aris Executive Search. Jonny can usually be found near a soccer ball, on a snowboard, or trying a new restaurant.

  • Melissa Seymour

    Strategy & Communications Lead
    Melissa has over 20 years of experience in customer-facing service and leadership roles at a SaaS company focused on supporting human services organizations. Outside of work Melissa can be found spending time with her husband, a slew of furry friends, or a book - often all of the above.

  • Owen Kinney

    Data Engineer
    Owen worked as a consultant after graduating from the University of Virginia with a degree in Mathematics. In his free time, he enjoys watching Boston sports teams, competing against himself in powerlifting, and listening to Jazz music as a lifelong Trumpet and Bass Guitar musician.

  • Peter Agliata

    Regional Controller
    Peter brings experience from public and private accounting roles, most recently in the film and entertainment industry. Outside of work he can be found cheering on his beloved New England sports teams or exploring one of the many beautiful hiking trails in the Hudson Valley with his wife and young son.

  • Rachael Redoutey

    Director of HR
    Rachael brings more than a decade of experience in HR and People leadership and is passionate about creating meaningful relationships. She enjoys exploring new restaurants, spending time with her dog Barkley, and traveling the world with her husband.

  • Regan Bennett

    Regional Controller
    Regan brings a solid background in financial reporting and analysis across various industries, with a specialization in organizational transformation. Outside of work, Regan enjoys spending time with family, hanging out with friends, watching her husband referee basketball games, and cheering on her son from the sidelines.

  • Tyler Smith

    M&A Associate
    Tyler has worked in both M&A advisory and investing roles in the industrials & business services space. In his spare time, he enjoys staying active, traveling, and following University of Virginia sports.

  • Ann Day

    CEO, Homeland Safety Systems Ann has spent nearly 20 years in leadership roles spanning from strategic to operational to business development. Ann’s spare time is about family and experiences - specifically golf, pickleball, beach time, and listening to Taylor Swift with her teenage daughter.

  • Chris Fidrych

    Regional President
    Chris served as a Naval Special Warfare officer before receiving his MBA from The Wharton School. Following business school, he worked as a sell-side M&A advisor to services and industrials businesses. He enjoys saltwater fishing in the South Carolina Lowcountry and spending time outdoors.

  • Chris Mitchell

    CEO, Piedmont Door Solutions
    Chris has over 30 years of experience in the commercial pedestrian door industry. He loves spending his free time on the lake with his wife, daughter and son. He is an adrenaline junkie and loves to compete at most anything.

  • Chris Nowlin

    CEO, i-Tech Security and Network Solutions
    Chris served in the Marine Corps before attending East Carolina University, where he received a Master of Science in Security Studies. He brings 15 years of security industry experience, having served in leadership roles in both the public and private sectors. He enjoys hunting, fishing and all things outdoors with his wife and son.

  • Dyia Aboasha

    Regional President
    Dyia is a former management consultant and strategy and operations executive with over a decade of experience in the software and services industries. In his free time, he enjoys traveling the world, exploring new restaurants, and cheering for Oregon sports teams.

  • Jimmy Wood

    General Manager, Automated DoorWays
    Jimmy has over 20 years of experience in the pedestrian automatic door industry. He is a passionate bass fisherman and proud member of the Alabama Bass Trail fishing tournament series. Jimmy is also a family man who cherishes quality time with loved ones, especially his bright-eyed grandson.

  • Josue Gonzalez

    CEO, Digital Provisions
    Following his service as an Army Infantry and Intelligence officer, Josue earned his MBA from NYU Stern and worked as a McKinsey consultant. He’s a globetrotter with a passion for exploring national parks and different cultures, and he never misses the chance to talk about finishing his one and only ultra marathon.

  • Michael Hopkins

    CEO, Automatic Entrances of Wisconsin
    Michael served as a Navy SEAL for over a decade, specializing as a Platoon Medic. After his military career, he led operations for a nationwide telemedicine startup dedicated to providing accessible and affordable healthcare. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two young daughters, as well as cheering on University of Wisconsin sports teams.

  • Michael Muir

    CEO, Toepfer Security
    Michael served in the Marine Corps before attending Brown University. He’s a former Bain consultant and startup Chief of Staff, and proudly supports Wisconsin sports teams with his wife and two-year-old daughter.

  • Ryan Shields

    CEO, Industrial Door Company Ryan served as an Intelligence Analyst in the Air Force prior to receiving his MBA from the University of Southern California. After business school, Ryan worked in operations at Amazon before joining the Cobalt team. In his free time, Ryan enjoys traveling with his fiancé, rooting for the 49ers, and working on his golf game.

  • Russell Cude

    CEO, Digi Security Systems
    Russell served as an enlisted Marine and Navy officer prior to attending Columbia Business School. After his MBA, Russell worked as a sales leader at Microsoft. He spends his free time trying to convince his wife that their kids' college fund can also support his sports car racing dreams. 

  • Sydney Williams

    Regional President
    Sydney worked for a restaurant franchisor and an industrial supplier across a variety of roles before receiving her MBA from Harvard Business School. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball, watching the latest movies, and trying new recipes from her growing cookbook collection.