Setting the Partnership Foundation

Bruce Rogers is one of the founding partners of Mountaingate and is a member of the firm’s investment committee. Bruce is also a co-founder and Managing Director of KRG Capital Partners, which he co-founded in 1996. Bruce has served on the Investment Committee of KRG and on the board of directors of multiple KRG portfolio companies since the firm’s inception. Bruce has over 29 years of experience in private equity, corporate mergers and acquisitions, and corporate finance, as both an investing principal and corporate attorney. Prior to forming KRG Capital, Bruce was a partner with the national law firms of Hogan & Lovells, LLP and Kirkland & Ellis LLP, specializing in corporate mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts and corporate finance. Bruce received his law degree from Duke University, attended the Rome Center for International Law in Italy and earned a bachelor’s degree in Management and Finance from Stetson University. Bruce is the past Chairman of the Board of The Ability Experience, a national non-profit organization that uses shared experiences to support people with disabilities and develop college men into servant leaders. Bruce is the founder of the organization’s national cross-country cycling event, “The Journey of Hope.” Bruce is an avid skier, road and mountain bike cyclist, and enjoys fitness training. He and his wife, Sally, have three children.

Stew Fisher is one of the founding partners of Mountaingate and is a member of the firm’s investment committee. Stew has over 25 years of business experience in mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, business development and operations across a broad range of industries.  Prior to joining KRG Capital in 2007 as a Managing Director, Fisher served as the Chief Financial Officer of Accellent, a leading provider of manufacturing, supply chain and engineering services to the medical device industry.  Prior to joining Accellent, Fisher was Chief Financial Officer of GenTek, Inc., a global manufacturer of telecommunications equipment and other industrial products. Stew graduated Summa Cum laude with a B.S. from Lehigh University and earned his M.B.A. with distinction at University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.  Although the Colorado mountains are spectacular, Stew’s favorite place is the NJ shore where he enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons.

Bennett Thompson is one of the founding partners of Mountaingate and is a member of the firm’s investment committee. Prior to Mountaingate, Bennett gained 15 years of experience investing in the lower middle market at KRG Capital Partners and Heritage Partners, and started his career as an investment banker with Harris Williams & Co. Bennett graduated with a B.A. from Washington & Lee University where he also captained the men’s varsity soccer team. Bennett and his wife, Elizabeth, spend every moment they can in the mountains of Colorado with their two children. Bennett enjoys fly fishing, skiing, and outdoor adventures with his family. Bennett serves on the Board of Food For Thought, a nonprofit focused on eliminating hunger in Denver’s Title 1 schools.

Colton King is one of the founding partners of Mountaingate and is a member of the firm’s investment committee. Prior to Mountaingate, Colton gained 14 years of experience investing in the lower middle market at KRG Capital and CHS Capital, and started his career as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch. Colton graduated with a B.S. from the University of Notre Dame and was an Austin Scholar while earning his M.B.A at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management. Colton spends as much time as he can trekking all over Colorado with his wife and three kids, and he keeps his fly rod, his road bike, and his skis within reach at all times. Colton and his wife Maria are strong supporters of international nonprofits One Acre Fund, Hands on Houses, and Compassion International.

Trent Sisson is a Managing Director and has been with Mountaingate since 2017. Prior to Mountaingate, Trent was with Sprinklr, a New York based marketing technology company, where he led global sales operations. Before Sprinklr, Trent worked in sales finance for PepsiCo. Earlier in his career, Trent was a private equity investor at KRG Capital Partners, and began his career as an investment banker with Wells Fargo Securities in leveraged finance. Trent received his M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and his undergraduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Originally from Michigan, Trent grew up playing hockey and still plays (loosely defined) today. Trent and his wife, Arlie, have three children and are avid supporters of the Rise School, a not-for-profit focused on providing inclusive early educational services to children with and without disabilities.

Sue Cho is a Managing Director and rejoined Mountaingate in 2022.  She was previously with Mountaingate from 2016 to 2018.  Sue has over 20 years of business experience in private equity, corporate finance and business development. Prior to rejoining Mountaingate, she was a Senior Investment Leader at Partners Group, a Swiss-based global private equity firm.  Before Partners Group, Sue was COO/CFO for UpPurpose, a digital marketing company serving social good organizations.  Earlier in her career, she was a private equity investor at KRG Capital Partners and The Wicks Group of Companies, and also worked in various capacities at The Walt Disney Company, specifically with ABC, Inc., the ABC Internet Group and ESPN.com.  Sue began her post-graduate career as an investment banker with Merrill Lynch.  Prior to graduate school, she worked in the Media and Telecommunications Group at Chase Manhattan Bank.  Sue holds a B.A. in Economics and Japanese Studies from Wellesley College and an MBA from The Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College.  She and her husband, Alfredo Lopez, have two sons and enjoy skiing and other outdoor activities in Denver.  Sue serves on the Board of Trustees for Colorado Academy, the independent school attended by her children.

Sarah Sampson is the Chief Financial Officer at Mountaingate Capital. Prior to joining Mountaingate, Sarah had 15 years of experience at companies in various industries and started her career in public accounting with Arthur Andersen. Sarah graduated with a B.S. from the University of Nebraska. In her free time, Sarah enjoys traveling with her husband, whether it be to international destinations or the great mountain towns Colorado has to offer. Sarah also volunteers as a coach with the Colorado High School Mock Trial program.

Jay Royston is a Vice President with Mountaingate. Prior to Mountaingate, Jay was with MidOcean Partners, a New York-based middle-market private equity firm focused on the business services and consumer sectors. Jay began his career as an investment banker with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, where he worked on a variety of advisory and capital raising assignments within the Financial Institutions Group. Jay graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering and a minor in Economics. Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Jay enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, flying airplanes, skiing and golf.

Brandon Hall is a Vice President with Mountaingate. Prior to rejoining Mountaingate, Brandon was with Incline Equity Partners, a Pittsburgh-based middle-market private equity firm focused on the business services and distribution sectors.  Earlier in his career, Brandon was an Associate at Mountaingate and an investment banker with Lazard’s Food & Agriculture group. Brandon graduated summa cum laude with a B.B.A from the University of Notre Dame and earned his M.B.A. with high honors at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Brandon enjoys spending time with his wife, Jessica, and exploring the great outdoors of Colorado.

Dan Almon is a Vice President with Mountaingate. Prior to Mountaingate, Dan was with Baird Capital, a Chicago based lower-middle market private equity firm focused on tech-enabled business services, digital transformation, and healthcare services. Dan also worked with Copley Equity Partners, a Denver and Boston based family-office private equity firm. Dan began his career as a management consultant at The Advisory Board Company (Optum) in Washington DC and graduated with a BA from Colorado College. Born and raised in Denver, Dan enjoys backpacking, fly fishing, biking, and spending time with his wife, Bethany, and two sons.

Corbin Barnds is a Senior Associate with Mountaingate. Previously, Corbin began his career as an investment banking analyst in the Consumer & Retail group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch where he completed a number of M&A, debt and equity transactions. Corbin graduated with distinction from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Finance. Raised in Kansas City, Corbin enjoys traveling, cheering on his hometown sports teams, and exploring the mountains of Colorado.

Trip Renard is an Associate with Mountaingate. Previously, Trip began his career as an investment banking analyst in the Information-Driven Healthcare group at Piper Sandler where he focused on mergers and acquisitions and capital raises. Trip graduated summa cum laude from the University of Denver with a B.S.B.A in Finance, B.S. in Accounting, and minor in Mathematics. Born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Trip enjoys spending time outdoors, skiing, golfing, and playing hockey in his spare time.

Aidan Donaldson is an Associate with Mountaingate. Previously, Aidan began his career as an investment banking analyst in the Consumer group at Lincoln International where he focused on mergers and acquisitions and capital raises. Aidan graduated Cum Laude from Washington & Lee University with a B.S. in Accounting and Global Politics. Raised in Colorado, Aidan enjoys live music and is an avid skier and golfer.

Hall Lamar is an Associate with Mountaingate. Previously, Hall began his career as an investment banking analyst in the Energy, Power & Infrastructure group at Harris Williams where he focused on mergers and acquisitions. Hall graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in Engineering Science and a concentration in Finance. Raised in Nashville, Tennessee, Hall enjoys skiing, golfing, fly fishing, and live music in his spare time.

Layton Rogers is an Associate with Mountaingate. Previously, Layton began his career as an investment banking analyst and associate in the Medical Technology Healthcare group at Piper Sandler where he focused on mergers and acquisitions and capital raises. Layton graduated from Texas Christian University with a B.A in Economics and a minor in Mandarin. Born in Evergreen, Colorado, Layton enjoys spending time skiing, cycling, riding his horses, and hiking with his dogs in his spare time.

Tim Wang is VP of Finance at Mountaingate. Prior to joining the firm, Tim was with Anthos Capital, a Santa Monica-based growth stage venture firm. Before Anthos, Tim was part of the securitized products modeling and risk management group at Nuveen Investments (TIAA). Tim began his career at Mountainview Financial Services, a provider of valuation and analytics services for securitized products investors. Tim graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.S. in Quantitative Finance and a B.A. in Biochemistry, and is a CFA® charterholder and certified FRM. In his free time, Tim is a chess patzer and enjoys hiking, biking, and exploring the Colorado mountains with his wife and three sons.

Sarah Rickenbacker is the Deal & Event Coordinator and the Office Manager at Mountaingate. Prior to Mountaingate, Sarah worked with KRG Capital Partners and Verizon Wireless. Sarah graduated with a B.A. in Communication from the University of Louisville. In her spare time, Sarah enjoys gardening and traveling with her husband.

Michelle Ross is the Accounting Assistant at Mountaingate. Prior to joining the firm, Michelle worked as a Production Coordinator for Mondo, an events company in Sydney, Australia. Michelle earned a B.A. from the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia. Outside of KRG, Michelle enjoys running with her dog, camping, yoga, snowboarding, and loves her family, faith and traveling. In the last few years, Michelle has found a new excitement in motorcycling, both on the road and dirt, through the lifelong passion of her husband, Shaundell.

Bambi Howard is the travel manager for Mountaingate.  Prior to Mountaingate Bambi has over 30 years of experience in travel industry.  Bambi graduated from Parks College.  Outside of the firm, Bambi enjoys paddle boarding, biking and hiking with her husband and their dogs.

Liz Hicks is the Office Coordinator at Mountaingate.  Prior to Mountaingate, Liz worked with Comedy Works, Robinhood, and Fidelity Investments, where she earned her series 7 and 63 licenses. She graduated from the University of Kansas with a B.S. in Journalism and a minor in business. Outside of the firm, Liz enjoys cheering on her hometown sports teams, traveling, karaoke, cooking, and spending as much time camping as possible.