Gino is a global executive and now an Operating Partner at Salt Creek Capital. His tenure as a leader as a leader at Roman Products, LLC began with its 2019 recapitalization, culminating in a highly successful sale to Matrix Adhesives in December 2024 that delivered outstanding returns for SCC investors.  

For 36 years prior, Gino worked at Griffith Foods, a global food ingredients company. He progressed from a food scientist in Monterrey, Mexico to President of Asia Pacific in Shanghai, China. Throughout his career, his strategic business approach consistently produced exceptional operating results in diverse and challenging environments. 

Bret Schmitz joined Salt Creek Capital as an Executive Partner in December 2024, bringing over 20 years of experience leading and scaling businesses in highly regulated manufacturing industries such as medical devices and aerospace products.

Prior to joining Salt Creek Capital, Bret served as CEO and President of Hudson Technologies. Bret achieved a 5% CAGR in organic revenue growth over six years and set consecutive EBITDA records. He led the company’s global expansion, establishing a sales and operations facility in China, and unlocked high-volume market opportunities through the development and execution of a strategic technology roadmap.
Before joining Hudson Technologies, Bret served as General Manager at Greatbatch, Inc. in Minneapolis, MN.  Bret transformed operations through Lean Six Sigma methodologies, driving a 60% gross margin improvement and reducing lead times by 62%. He elevated on-time delivery rates to over 97%, implemented a “Best in Industry” product development process, and achieved an OSHA Incident Rate of 1.9%, significantly below the industry average.

Bret has a passion for building and collaborating with high performing team to develop winning growth and operational strategies. He prides himself on being a hands-on technical leader and holds a BA in Business Administration.

In addition to his professional accomplishments, Bret is a founding member of the Sunshine Chapter of FL-FAME, promoting workforce development in advanced manufacturing. His involvement with industry boards, including CareerSource, underscores his commitment to fostering talent and growth in the manufacturing sector.

Steve joined Salt Creek Capital as an Executive Partner in 2025. He brings over 20 years of experience as an executive and investor in private equity-backed companies, with a track record of driving strategic growth and operational execution.

Prior to joining Salt Creek, Steve was Principal of Quasar Holdings, LLC, an investment firm focused on direct private equity and angel investments. He has served on over a dozen boards and invested in more than 30 companies. He acquired, financed, and led Lexington Lighting Group, LLC—parent of Vantage Lighting—through a period of growth and a successful exit to CORE Industrial Partners, generating a 28% IRR.
Previously, Steve was CEO of Alteris Renewables, where he integrated four solar companies into the largest design-build renewable energy firm in the Northeast, resulting in its acquisition by a public solar company in 2011.

Steve also served as an Operating Partner at Riverside Partners, a private equity firm focused on founder-led healthcare and technology businesses, where he worked closely with portfolio company leadership on strategy and operations through exit. Earlier in his career, he held executive roles in the telecommunications equipment sector, serving as President of a $2B division for Lucent Technologies/Bell Labs and of a public company. He began his career at Intel, where he helped launch the Pentium processor line as a marketing manager.

An active angel investor, Steve is affiliated with Clean Energy Venture Group and Launchpad Venture Group. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, an MS in Computer Science from Stanford University, and a BS in Electrical Engineering from Brown University. He is the inventor on seven U.S. patents and serves as an elected member of Town Meeting in Lexington, Massachusetts.

Jeff joined Salt Creek Capital as an Executive Partner in 2025. He is a proven adaptable leader who rapidly identifies business opportunities leading to successful outcomes for shareholders, customers, and employees. Builds high performance cultures and teams to solve complex problems with transformational solutions.
For the past 20 years Jeff has specialized in the growth and operations of organizations in Marketing, Technology, Creative Services, Customer Experience, Software Development, Cloud/SaaS, and industrial.

Jeff has worked with some of the best private, public, and private equity backed brands in the world. Diverse background with a strong track record growing B2B and B2C customers in Hospitality, Private Equity, Retail, Entertainment, Tech, CPG and Manufacturing. Experience in acquisitions, integrations, and turnarounds.

Prior to joining Salt Creek Capital, Jeff Served as CEO of Private Equity backed holding company of global marketing and technology firms; Bridgenext, Definition 6, Synaptic Digital and The News Market with operations in Atlanta, New York City, London, DC, San Francisco and Ahmedabad.

Jeff has a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Jacksonville University and a Bachelor of Arts in Urban Planning from University of Maryland.

Jasmine joined Salt Creek in 2024. She brings 9 years of experience in growth strategy and marketing across healthcare, media, and e-commerce. Currently she is the co-founder of Gazette Gal, a digital media company where she leads partnerships and growth. Jasmine earned her B.S. in Business Administration from Pepperdine University.

Zack joined Salt Creek Capital in 2021.

He currently focuses on supporting the firm’s Executive Partners and Investment Professionals. Zack has previously worked for Aramark and as a video production assistant.

Zack earned his B.A. in Communications from Stockton University.

Misty joined Salt Creek Capital in 2021. She brings over 20 years of experience in investor relations, research and project management with deep knowledge of private equity.

Her multi-faceted career began as a Paralegal at firms including Platinum Equity, TBG Financial, and John Wendell Hall.  Prior to Salt Creek, Misty worked at Water Street Capital with the focus of office management and investor relations.

Carol joined Salt Creek Capital in 2016.  She is responsible for fostering relationships with the firm’s Executive Partners.  Carol is a business development professional with 20+ years of experience establishing, nurturing and growing essential relationships.  Her experience includes serving as the VP of Business Development for a venture capital firm focused on early stage impact investing.  Carol began her career in the financial services industry and has experience at many Fortune 500 institutions, including serving as a Managing Director at The NASDAQ Stock Market. 

Carol earned her B.A. in Psychology and Marketing from the American University.

Lisa joined Salt Creek Capital as Controller in 2013. Her multi-faceted career began in public accounting with Arthur Andersen & Co, and then shifted to focus on operational areas of project management and finance for privately held companies across a diverse set of industries.  Lisa has held positions in several real estate development and investment companies for whom she managed acquisitions, development projects, joint venture restructures and bulk sales in the Southeast and Western States. Lisa has a depth of general business experience combined with a practical knowledge of accounting and finance.

Lisa earned a BSBA at The Ohio State University with a major in Accounting.

Audra joined Salt Creek in 2012. She brings extensive marketing and office management experience and is responsible for the firm’s administrative functions.
Prior to Salt Creek, Audra worked at the Franklin Mint, a collectibles marketing company, as a catalog manager.  Before that she worked for Primedia, a publisher of special interest periodicals, in circulation management. 

Audra earned her B.A. in History from Villanova University.

Rod Soddard is an Operating Partner, who joined Salt Creek Capital in 2022. He currently supports the firm’s existing portfolio companies while also spending time on new deal origination and deal transaction support. Prior to Salt Creek, Rod was the SVP of Portfolio Operations at Skyview Capital, where he led the carve-out and creation of Continuum Global Solutions, a $400M outsourcing business. Prior to Skyview Capital, he served in multiple President and leadership positions in the technology and internet sectors. Companies included GoDaddy, Media Temple, and Martindale-Hubbell. 
 
Rod earned his MBA from The Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University and his B.A. from UC Santa Barbara. 

Mark is a seasoned executive and business owner with over 25 years of leadership experience in the consumer products industry.  He has worked with major consumer goods brands such as Kraft and Sara Lee as well as with startups.   Mark played a key role in growing Monogram Food Solutions from $10M to $300M in revenue over the course of 8 years as CMO.  In 2014, he acquired LM Foods, LLC in partnership with Salt Creek Capital.  In 2017, the company merged into Aquamar with Huron Capital creating the #2 industry leader in the surimi seafood industry.  Mark brings expertise in strategic planning, product innovation, brand and workforce development.

Mark graduated summa cum laude from Northeastern University with majors in Marketing & Management.  He is the owner of Paverart Enterprises LLC (www.paverart.com), the leader in custom paver design and manufacturing, and hosts the Hustle or Bust (www.hustleorbust.com) Podcast & Leadership Blog.  

Dan joined Salt Creek Capital as an Executive Partner in 2012 and is the CEO of Warne Scope Mounts. He also serves as an Operating Partner with Salt Creek Capital. 

Previously, Dan was the President of RDSI Holdings, a private equity owned electronic components manufacturer. Prior to RDSI, Dan was the Chief Executive Officer of Ultraviolet Devices, a family-owned manufacturer of water and air purification products. Earlier in his career, Dan held senior executive and operations roles in several lower middle companies including Astro Seal, Inc, Marco Manufacturing and U.S. Range Company.

Dan earned his B.S. in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge, and his M.B.A. from Pepperdine University.

James joined Salt Creek as an executive partner in 2022. He brings nearly 20 years of legal, executive, M&A and franchise experience in a variety of industries with a deep focus in multiple offerings in the Food & Beverage, Restaurant and Franchise sectors.

Prior to joining Salt Creek, James was the CEO, President, COO and a member of the Board of the parent company of Fat Tuesday – one of the world’s first and largest retailers of frozen specialty alcoholic beverages. During his tenure, his team created a dual brand franchising system; nearly doubled EBDITA despite a global pandemic; and, delivered over 80% new store/pipeline growth from original store count.  James successfully led the sale of the company for the founding family to a strategic buyer. 

Prior to Fat Tuesday, he was the Vice President of Global Franchise for Ruby Tuesday, Inc. (RTI).  He led global operations for the RTI franchise system with over 60 stores on five continents and over $100MM in topline sales.  At RTI, James also served as the General Counsel of the then-publicly traded company.  He led a team that handled all legal, risk and employee relations matters for Ruby Tuesday and its 25,000 team members.   In that role, James led the strategic alternatives process for the eventual $150MM public-to-private sale of RTI. 

Before RTI, James was a Senior Vice President and the General Counsel of Einstein Noah Restaurant Group, Inc. (ENRGI) where he helped develop and grow the traditional and non-traditional franchise offerings and provided executive legal leadership to the then-publicly traded quick casual restaurant chain.  James led the $500MM sale of ENRGI’s 3 brands and over 800 units of ENRGI to JAB Holdings. 

James holds a Juris Doctor from Tulane Law School and was a litigator at the beginning of his career. He has a passion for growing businesses and helping people and believes in honesty, team building and the value of relationships. James lives with his family outside of New Orleans, Louisiana and enjoys CrossFit, tennis and the New Orleans Saints.

Dan joined Salt Creek as an Executive Partner in 2023, bringing over 30 years of business leadership in the consumer products, health, wellness, beauty, retail, franchise, SaaS, and clean technology industries.

Prior to joining Salt Creek, Dan co-founded and was CEO of NPWR Group LLC, a provider of business and technology consulting services, which included roles as Acting President of Fly Rides LLC, an electric mountain bike retailer, and AlignMed, Inc., a medical device retailer. Prior to NPWR, Dan served as President of Floyd’s 99 Barbershops where he guided the company through significant expansion. Prior to Floyd’s 99, Dan served in several executive roles for Senetas, Inc. (ASX symbol: SEN), an Australian technology incubator, and its investment portfolio companies. He started his career in law and served as General Counsel of Revatex, Inc., manufacturer of the brand JnCO Jeans, the industry leader in the popular wide-legged jeans category.

Dan holds a BA in Psychology and a law degree from the University of San Diego, where he was the captain, and then assistant coach of the cross-country team. He resides in Santa Ana, CA with his wife Grace and his two daughters, Aya and Keira, where he enjoys hiking, live music, golf, and yoga, and is passionate about business and entrepreneurship.

Jose joined Salt Creek Capital as an Executive Partner in 2022. He brings over 30 years of general management experience in the Building Materials and Industrial Manufacturing sectors.  He is currently an Independent Director of the Board at the Barton Group, a manufacturer of garnet material used in Waterjet cutting and sandblasting applications, where he serves as a member of the Audit & Finance, and the Nominating & Governance Committees.
 
Prior to joining Salt Creek, Jose was the President & CEO, at Giant Cement Holding Inc., a $250M revenue Cement Company, where he led the company’s turnaround from a negative operating profit position to $37M in EBITDA within a four-year period, prior to selling a majority stake – at a premium valuation – to a Mexican conglomerate owned by the Carlos Slim group.
 
He has lived in ten (10) countries and has had extensive domestic and international experience, having led five post-merger integration acquisitions and performing an equal number of business turnarounds in several regions primarily at CEMEX, a Global Building Materials Company, most notably as the Regional President of a $1B vertically integrated business in Central Eastern Europe & Israel, and before that, as President of the Company’s $250M Egyptian operations.
 
Jose has a passion for tackling complicated issues.  His success at branding commodity products and shape strategy in the cement industry caught the attention of academia, most recently in a Darden School of  Business case study (CEMEX in Egypt: Global Best Practices, or Country-Specific Acumen? – UVA-S-0397, Oct 03 2022). Prior to that he was also the main protagonist in a Harvard Business case study (“CEMEX: Rewarding the Egyptian Retailers”, HBS, March 22, 2006).
 
His early experience is rooted in manufacturing and industrial distribution with Ingersoll-Rand’s Air Compressor group division, first in the US and then as the company’s Managing Director for its Mexican operations.  He holds a BSME from the University of Virginia, and an MBA from the Jones School of Business at Rice University.  He is also a graduate of The General Manager program, at the Harvard Business School.

Caryn joined Salt Creek Capital as an Executive Partner in 2021. She has over 30 years experience leading department stores, specialty retail, wholesale and direct to consumer Global brands and businesses.

Most recently Caryn was President, North America for 2 European owned luxury home furnishings and décor brands- OKA & Wisteria. She quickly defined and began executing a strategic roadmap that led to a successful online launch for OKA and 10% revenue growth for Wisteria. She was President and CEO of P/E backed Beauty Brands for 3 years. Caryn was an Operating Partner at Palladin Capital Retail Partners for 5 years where she was deeply involved with portfolio companies and co-led in the diligence, assessment and execution of 4 acquisitions. Prior to PCRP Caryn was the first female President and CEO of Holt Renfrew. Caryn has also held senior management positions at ESCADA, QVC, Jones NY, Barneys and began her career at Bloomingdales in the Executive Management training program.

Caryn has a BFA in Theater from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Bob joined Salt Creek Capital as an Executive Partner in 2023, bringing more than 30 years of experience of global sales, marketing, and general management in manufacturing, business services, biotechnology, medical device, and the pharmaceutical industries. He has built high performing sales and marketing organizations across both large public and private companies.  Bob has also co-founded NERx Biosciences, a pre-clinical oncology company focused on the next generation of targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer.

Prior to joining Salt Creek Capital Bob served as the Senior Vice President at Magnetrol International Incorporated, a global manufacturer of process instrumentation utilized across multiple industries including chemical, power, oil & gas, and pharma. He restructured the direct sales organization and upgraded the global channel partners which resulted in consistent double-digit revenue growth and a 3x +increase in the enterprise value. Working closely with the owner, Bob was integral in the highly successful sale of Magnetrol to a large public company in 2021. Prior to Magnetrol, Bob was the Director of Vitreoretinal Products in North America for Bausch & Lomb, a leading global health organization.  Prior to that, Bob held various roles at Merck & Co., Kos Pharmaceuticals and Smithkline Beecham.

Bob holds a bachelor’s degree in business from Purdue University.

A hands-on professional leader with extensive experience heading up global business transformations, company turn-arounds and business start-ups. Initially in the automotive industry at Land Rover and Toyota, Cockroft moved to KPMG and later PwC managing whole-scale transformational change for global large-cap clients.

Following the coordination of business process restructuring for Constellation Energy, Cockroft moved into the Private Equity sector managing distressed assets around the globe

Cockroft is a Six Sigma Master Blackbelt, holds a bachelor’s degree in I.T. & Engineering from Birmingham City University in the UK and an MBA from MIT Sloan business school