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 currently serves on the board of directors of BioDerm. Relevate Health Group, Acceleration Partners, MeritDirect, Bounteous and previously served on the boards of Tinuiti and W2O Group. 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 previously served on the the Board of KRG portfolio companies Vention Medical, Ansira and Olson. 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 currently serves on the boards of BioDerm. Relevate Health Group, MeritDirect, ImagineSoftware, Inventus Power, and previously served on the Boards of Convergint Technologies, Vention Medical, Ansira, Diversified Food Supply, PetroChoice and Accellent. 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. Bennett currently serves on the board of directors for Acceleration Partners, RevUnit, Bold Orange and ImagineSoftware. He previously served the boards of several KRG Capital portfolio companies including Diversified Foodservice Supply and Avizent. 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. Colton currently serves on the board of directors of RevUnit, Bold Orange, Bounteous, and previously served as a board member at Tinuiti, W2O Group, Vention Medical, Ansira and Olson. 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 Principal and has been with Mountaingate since 2017. Trent currently serves on the board of directors of Acceleration Partners, RevUnit and Imagine Software. Trent previously served on the board for Tinuiti.  Prior to Mountaingate, Trent was with Sprinklr, Inc., a New York based marketing technology company, where he led global sales operations. Before Sprinklr, Trent worked in sales finance for PepsiCo, Inc. 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, where he worked on the leveraged finance team. Trent received his M.B.A. degree from Columbia Business School and his undergraduate degree from Carnegie Mellon University. Trent enjoys spending his free time with his wife, two daughters and son.

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 is an instrument-rated pilot and enjoys flying to new places with his wife, 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.

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.

Trace Baker is an Associate with Mountaingate. Previously, Trace began his career as an investment banking analyst in the Transportation & Logistics group at Harris Williams where he focused on mergers and acquisitions and strategic advisory assignments. Trace graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Business Administration and a Major in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond. Born in Houston, Texas, Trace enjoys spending time outdoors, snowboarding, and traveling in his spare time.

Tim Dierze is an Associate with Mountaingate. Previously, Tim began his career as an investment banking analyst in the Business Services group at Harris Williams where he focused on mergers and acquisitions. Tim graduated cum laude with a B.S. in business administration with a major in accounting, concentration in finance, and minor in mathematics from the University of Richmond. Born in Boston, MA, Tim enjoys skiing, mountain biking, and live music.

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.

Bryce Dietz is an Associate with Mountaingate. Previously, Bryce was an investment banking analyst at JMP Securities, working across a variety of industries on strategic advisory and capital markets assignments. Prior to JMP, Bryce was an Analyst at The Forbes M+A Group where he focused on business services and technology mergers and acquisitions. Bryce graduated magna cum laude with a B.S. in Business Administration with a focus in Finance and a Minor in Spanish from California Lutheran University. A Colorado native, Bryce enjoys running, travelling, and spending time in the mountains.  

Sarah Sampson is the Controller and has been with Mountaingate since inception. 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.

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. Outside of the firm, Sarah enjoys traveling, reading and spending time outdoors with her husband, Ben.

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.