Our Team
Clear thinking, extensive hands-on knowledge and sophisticated database management are distinguishing attributes of Chestnut Hill Partners. Our continued success over the years comes from our systematic approach to initiating contact, maintaining dialogue and confidentiality, avoiding problems and successfully dealing with unforeseen events.
Paul Schaye, Managing Director
Paul L. Schaye, the founding partner of Chestnut Hill Partners, has spent more than 25 years in investment banking and management consulting. He has been responsible for completing transactions with a value in excess of $3 Billion dollars.
Paul began his career as a management consultant at A. T. Kearney and Booz Allen & Hamilton. Subsequently, he held executive positions at PepsiCo, Viacom and Brookhill Capital Resources. Paul received a BA from the University of Massachusetts graduating Summa Cum Laude, and continued through its Ph.D. program in Business.
Peter M. Wright, Managing Director
Peter M. Wright started his investment career as vice president of a private equity firm, Holding Capital Group...and as an operating officer of two of its portfolio companies. He has 20 years' experience as both a middle-market intermediary and as a strategic business consultant to private equity portfolio companies. Before associating with Chestnut Hill, he had completed more than two dozen transactions...plus numerous related consulting assignments. His M&A specialty is in finding strategic fits between sellers and private equity acquirers.
He is a graduate of Princeton University (B.A.) and Columbia University (M.B.A.)
Michael W. Jalbert, Managing Director
Michael W. Jalbert most recently was the President and CEO of Management Recruiters International, Inc. and has a proven track record of international business growth. He has extensive experience in leading business service franchises at such companies as Cendant Corporation and ERA Europe where he was Vice Chairman and Partner. His 20+ years of experience also includes Vice President at Pepsi-Cola, Frito-Lay, Chatham Village Foods and AlliedSignal Automotive Aftermarket.
Mr. Jalbert brings to Chestnut Hill Partners' Executive Sponsorship Program, affiliations with leading search firms based in the United States, Asia Pacific, Europe and Latin America. These unique relationships enable Chestnut Hill Partners unfettered access to top leadership talent globally. Mr. Jalbert holds a BA in Communication from the University of Rhode Island and completed the executive program in business administration, EPBA, "Managing the Enterprise" at Columbia University Graduate School of Business.
William G. Freels III, Managing Director
William G. Freels III (Bill) most recently was the Sr. Vice-President of Global Business Associates, an M&A advisory firm supporting the buy-side interests of private equity firms targeting the middle market. Bill has over 25 years of experience delivering M&A, financial services advisory, information technology, and supply chain consulting solutions at firms such as Ernst & Young, AT&T, and boutique consulting firms, and has led teams to generate over $550MM in realized and projected revenues.
Bill specializes in aligning the targeted add-on and platform interests of strategic and financial acquirers with the value propositions and management objectives of middle market companies across industry verticals. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee (B.S.) and the Goizueta School of Business at Emory University (M.B.A.)
Ryan Jon Orner, Director
Ryan Jon Orner has spent more than 12 years in corporate finance and investment banking, primarily in New York. Through a variety of roles covering both middle market and large market financial sponsors, Ryan has completed 25 leveraged buy-out and recapitalization transactions representing over $12.0B in enterprise value and $7.0B of leveraged loan and high-yield financings, as well as more than $1.0B of successful IPO transactions.
Ryan spent the majority of his investment banking career with Merrill Lynch & Co., split between the Financial Sponsors Group and Merrill Lynch Capital. Prior to Merrill Lynch, Ryan held positions with CIBC World Markets Corp. and SunTrust Banks, Inc. Ryan received a BS in Finance and Political Science from The Florida State University and a Masters of Business Administration from the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business.
Bruce M. Meyer, Director
Bruce M. Meyer is renowned for his ability to monetize strategic ideas into profitable revenue streams for both employers and clients over the last 25 years. He is qualified and experienced in global business expansions, strategic planning, team building and executing transactions.
Bruce began his career in sales with Lanier Business Products and has held leadership positions with Gaines Industries, ADP, and Genesys Software. While at WorldCom he participated in 57 transactions and managed a $600mm division. At Arthur Andersen Mr. Meyer introduced the brand “Human Capital” while dramatically reshaping their late entry in a dominant position in the $10 Billion HR Consulting Sector. Most recently he has consulted with both individuals and corporate clients while at M-provement/ TRIAD OF NORTH ATLANTA LLCs.
He holds a BBA and MBA from the University of Georgia
Sarah Flynn, Senior Associate
Sarah is a Senior Associate, specializing in database management and research. She has been with Chestnut Hill Partners since 1999 and works closely with the firms Managing Directors applying her analytic skills to the art and science of matching Buyers and Sellers.
Prior to joining Chestnut Hill, Sarah worked at the Junior League of the City of New York, where she was responsible for the database management systems to track the League's extensive networks for contributions, community agencies and membership.
Sarah holds Bachelors degrees in Psychology and Criminology from Marquette University and a Masters degree in Forensic Psychology from the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.