Our Team

Take a closer look at the deep wealth of experience and fresh thinking that our people can bring your business. Or take a shortcut and see what people we've already worked with have to say about Evolve.

"They make a great impression and are well liked and well received among sellers. They're highly reliable and always follow through on their word. They're always respnsive and never cancel calls. They are decisive and take charge. Evolve becomes a partner withe the entrepreneur, which says a lot to the seller."
-West Coast Intermediary

"Evolve is very quick to respond to an opportunity. They're very easy to work with, and very responsive. They always follow up with opportunities and don't have the bureaucracy that's often associated with larger firms."
-East Coast Intermediary

"I got the best of all worlds; liquidity up fromt, partners who understand my business and a structure that allows me to operate without interference. i realized my personal goals and got two butes of the apple through my retained equity stakes."
-Joel Wishnick, Founder of Future Food, Ltd.

Jeff Baker

Before joining the Evolve Capital team, Jeff Baker worked as an attorney representing various private equity funds in acquisitions and investments through leveraged recapitalizations and management buyouts. Jeff also has substantial experience in public and private stock acquisitions, asset sales, corporate mergers, public and private debt and equity financings, venture capital transactions, business organization formations, and federal and state securities law compliance. Jeff received his B.A. in 2000 and his J.D. in 2003, both from the University of Texas at Austin, where he played football from 1996 to 2000.

Mike Crothers

Prior to launching Evolve Capital, Ltd. in 2005, Mike Crothers co-founded its predecessor, Transition Capital Partners, Ltd. in 1993. There, Mike headed a number of investments, including Lifestyle Ventures, LLC; Future Food, Ltd.; CK Franchising, Inc.; Cambridge Home Health Care Holdings, Inc.; Option 1 Nutrition Solutions Holdings, LLC and D&S Residential Holdings, Inc. Prior to TCP, Mike spent five years at Best Associates, a private equity firm based in Dallas. He began his career at Smith Barney, Harris Upham & Co., Inc. in New York, where he focused on public equity and debt offerings, and merger and acquisition activities in the healthcare sector. Mike currently serves as Chairman of the Board of D&S Residential Holdings, Inc.; Cambridge Home Health Care Holdings, Inc. and Option 1 Nutrition Solutions Holdings, LLC. He also serves as Vice Chairman of CK Franchising, Inc. He received his B.A. in International Relations from the University of Virginia in 1988.

Richard Diamond

A co-founder of Evolve Capital, Richard Diamond was at Transition Capital Partners, Ltd. from 2004 to 2005. He was acting principal and advisor to the board of directors in the leveraged recapitalization and value realization of Future Food, Ltd. between 1999 and 2004. Richard has been active as a private equity investor and a principal of East Ridge Consulting, LLC since 1998. In this role, he has worked with the boards, management teams and controlling investors of several companies on strategic repositioning, equity financings, and acquisitions and divestitures. Richard currently serves as an advisor to the President and CEO of the largest privately held mortgage banking firm in the US, and as an advisor to a private investment partnership that invests in publicly traded securities. From 1988 to 1998, Richard served as Director of Acquisitions, Director of Corporate Finance and Vice President of Market Development for the publicly traded Darling International Inc. In these roles, he interfaced with institutional investors, Wall Street investment banks and ratings agencies. He also identified and negotiated acquisitions, and was responsible for new business activities. Richard received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and his M.B.A. in Finance from The Wharton School.

Heidi Hargrove

Prior to joining Evolve Capital in February 2006, Heidi Hargrove worked in general accounting and administration at Transition Capital Partners, Ltd. She attended Texas A&M University-Commerce and has five years of administration, general accounting and research experience.

Melissa Link

Melissa Link joined Evolve Capital in January 2007 after six years at RSM EquiCo Capital Markets LLC. She was most recently Director of the Buyer Relations group there. Her responsibilities included identifying and screening qualified buyers for the firm's client companies. She managed several buyer outreach and marketing efforts and was a liaison with buyers, investors and various referral sources on behalf of the firm. She put together investment bankers, deal-making teams and prospective sellers to meet each client’s investment needs. She was also responsible for creating and managing the financial sponsor coverage efforts. Prior to that, she spent three years as a Vice President in RSM EquiCo’s Professional Services group, where she led a team of professionals that provided business valuation analysis to a wide variety of privately held companies. Melissa received her degree in International Business from the University of Texas in Austin. She holds the designation of Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) and is a member of the CFA Institute. She also holds NASD Series 7 and 63 securities licenses and has passed all four exams offered by the American Society of Appraisers in the discipline of Business Valuation.

Ryan Shultz

Ryan Shultz joined Evolve in October 2006 after spending approximately five years as a Senior Consultant with Glass & Associates, advising the boards of directors and other stakeholders of middle market companies on divesture opportunities, equity and debt issuance, short-term and long-term cash flow management, operations initiatives, valuation analysis, and business model and plan development. In this role, Ryan also served as an interim CFO and interfaced with banks and bondholders. Prior to Glass & Associates, Ryan worked in Ernst & Young's Mergers and Acquisition practice in Dallas. He spearheaded due diligence projects for numerous private equity groups and other control investors. He also worked extensively in Ernst & Young's audit group. Ryan received both his BBA and Master of Professional Accounting degrees from the McCombs School of Business at University of Texas (Austin). He also is a Certified Public Accountant.

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Investments

Newmar

In May 2007, Evolve completed the leveraged recapitalization of ROI Development Corp. dba Newmar. Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Santa Ana, California, Newmar is a premier manufacturer of specialized electronic power products for the marine and telecommunications industries.

Controlled Contamination Services

In July 2006, Evolve has completed the leveraged recapitalization of Controlled Contamination Services, LLC in partnership with the company's founders. Founded in 1996, CCS provides specialized cleaning services and cleaning products for pharmaceutical, medical device and other high technology companies.

Med-Depot

In partnership with the founders, Evolve concluded the leveraged recapitalization of Med-Depot, Inc. in May 2006. Founded in 1996, Med-Depot is a rapidly growing provider of durable medical equipment to approximately 3,000 patients of over 50 hospice providers in Indiana, Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas.

Hy-Line

Together with the company's chief operating officer, Evolve completed the leveraged recapitalization of Hy-Line Enterprises, Inc. in May 2006. Founded in 1986, Hy-Line is a well-established manufacturer of towable recreational vehicles and park model units.

Indigo BioSystems

Evolve Capital, Ltd. and The Stone Group completed a Series A Preferred Stock venture capital investment in Indigo BioSystems, Inc. during April 2006. Founded in 2004 and incubated by Lilly Accelerators, a division of Eli Lilly and Company, Indigo develops software focused on life science information tools.

Jetworks

During January 2006, Evolve completed a strategic investment in Jetworks Corporation. Founded in 2002, Jetworks is a private jet membership company offering an affordable alternative to fractional and pre-paid flight membership. Jetworks clients include the entertainment industry, professional sports teams and a broad spectrum of individual and corporate members.

D&S Residential Services

In March of 2005, an Evolve principal led the leveraged recapitalization of D&S Residential Services. D&S, founded in 1991, is a growing multi-state operator of residential homes for people with special needs. The company offers a wide range of living facilities and services to persons who are mentally disabled or have other developmental disabilities.

Comfort Keepers

In February 2003, an Evolve principal closed the leveraged recapitalization of CK Franchising, Inc. Founded in 1998, Comfort Keepers is the fastest growing franchisor of private pay, affordable, non-medical, in-home care in the United States. Comfort Keepers’ primary emphasis is on offering services to those individuals who are capable of managing their own physical needs, but require some assistance with the routines of daily living.

Option 1 Nutrition

In May 2004, an Evolve principal completed the leveraged recapitalization of Option 1 Nutrition Solutions, LLC and affiliates in partnership with the founder. Founded in 2000 by an experienced industry executive, Option 1 is a rapidly growing provider of specialized enteral therapy services to clients in the home environment and offers a variety of supplies and equipment as well as delivery and billing services to the enteral nutrition market.

Cambridge Home Health Care

In March 2004, an Evolve Capital principal completed the leveraged recapitalization of Cambridge Home Health Care, Inc. and affiliates in partnership with the founder. Founded in 1994, Cambridge provides home healthcare to individuals who require assistance with daily living activities or skilled nursing care in the comfort of the own homes, primarily through Medicaid programs.