Better For You Capital

Founder and Connector-in-Chief

David has had a successful career working for a number of entrepreneurial, fast growing and diverse businesses across law, real estate, venture capital, private equity, family offices and operating businesses in senior operations/leadership positions as well as business development and transaction management. Based on these experiences and the growth of a significant network of contacts, long term relationships and strategic partners, David decided to launch MeadeCo LLC in 2018.

David started his career as a transactional real estate attorney at what is now one of the largest law firms in the world. Following the completion of his MBA, David transitioned to leadership positions in finance, investment management, real estate development, real estate investment and asset management and private equity.

After the real estate meltdown of 2008, David moved into a position in real estate brokerage and business development/transaction management using his extensive knowledge of real estate law and operations as a key to successful client procurement and transaction management. In a brokerage capacity, David launched a successful international brokerage and advisory operation while executing on a range of difficult domestic PE and Corporate Real Estate Sales transactions.

With a strong desire to combine the skill sets that defined him in earlier stages of his career, David was named CEO of a venture capital start-up that was focused on selling products into the world of real estate. While a short-lived experience, David gained valuable insights into the challenges and economics of earlier stage companies in need of capital.

Following his CEO role, David acted as a special situations investment banker working with a variety of companies on matters ranging from restructuring to debt placement for “storied credits” and company sales. Employing entrepreneurial instincts and practical operational knowledge, David was able to complete a series of transactions to assist clients with a variety of needs.

While David was pursuing a successful career across a range of industries, he aggressively pursued investments across a broad spectrum of economic activity that broadened his knowledge base and allowed him to leverage hard fought lessons across three plus decades of entrepreneurial activity in a variety of endeavors. David’s investment portfolio, together with his role as advisor/mentor and board member to early stage CEOs has given him a unique perspective on the financial and operational needs of companies that require debt financing or advisory assistance.

David received his BA from Emory University. In addition, David earned JD and MBA degrees from Northwestern University. David has been an adjunct professor of real estate finance at Northwestern Law School. Moreover, David has lectured extensively on networking and business development at colleges, MBA schools, law schools, law firms and wealth management firms. Finally, David has guest lectured at Kellogg Graduate School of Management (Northwestern) on the topic of raising money for VC and Independent Sponsors as well as career transitioning.  Along with his MeadeCo responsibilities, David is a TIGER 21 chair in Chicago.

David@Meadeconnect.com
www.Tiger21.com

Senior Managing Director

Jeff has had a varied and successful multi-disciplinary career focused on investment, financial analysis, mergers and acquisitions and advisory work across a range of industries and geographies.

Jeff has spent much of his career making acquisitions and private equity investments after spending time in manufacturing operations and law. Jeff brings both an entrepreneurial and analytical mindset to his work at MeadeCo and joined the firm on a part time basis in 2023. At MeadeCo, Jeff is primarily focused on corporate M&A, financing of operating companies, CEO coaching and mentoring and CFO advisory work.

In addition to his work at MeadeCo, Jeff is an active partner in TRO Investment Group which is a fund of funds investing in private real estate and specialty finance opportunities. Besides time spent at TRO and MeadeCo, Jeff is the co-owner and managing partner of the Trek Bicycle Store of Highland Park, IL.

Prior to his current endeavors, in 2001 he co-founded Focus Investments and Focus Products Group, LLC (“FPG”), a company manufacturing consumer products and food service equipment. After building FPG to over $200 million in revenue, primarily through 16 acquisitions, majority ownership was sold in 2006. Jeff left day to day management in 2009. In 2011, Focus Investments, acquired O2Cool, LLC. O2Cool is the market leader in designing and manufacturing personal cooling devices, such as battery-operated fans and misters, hydration products as well as pool and beach products. O2Cool was sold by Focus Investments in 2017.

Prior to Focus, Jeff was a founding partner of Dakota Capital Partners, L.L.C., a private equity investment firm. As a partner in Dakota, Jeff was involved in all aspects of Dakota’s investments. Dakota was responsible for investing in six platform portfolio companies and eight add-on acquisitions.

Jeff entered the private equity business when he joined Heller Equity Capital Corporation (“HECC”) a subsidiary of Heller Financial, Inc., a large Chicago finance company, subsequently acquired by General Electric Capital Corporation. HECC made private equity investments in a wide range of companies, both in terms of stage as well as industry.

Jeff gained his manufacturing and operations experience after joining AMCO Corporation; a privately-held Chicago based manufacturing company, as a Vice President. Jeff began his career as an attorney with what is now Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, a national law firm based in Chicago. He concentrated his practice in the mergers and acquisitions and securities law areas.

Further he currently sits on the board of directors of a number of private companies and serves on the Executive Council of Granite Creek Capital Partners, LLC. Jeff is active in many philanthropic organizations and a member of Young President’s Organization (YPO).

He received a B.S. in Accountancy from the University of Illinois and a J.D. from Northwestern University. He is licensed to practice law in the State of Illinois and is a C.P.A.

Jeff@Meadeconnect.com

Managing Director

Scott Berman focuses largely on cannabis oriented transactions where he is able to leverage his extensive legacy experience in helping to develop the industry since 2014 with pioneering work at the convergence of technology, retail POS, brand differentiation, and customer lifecycle engineering.

Scott is a co-founder of The Panther Group, an organization and ecosystem focused on accelerating cannabis business performance. Scott joined the Panther Opportunity Fund (“Panther”), a vintage cannabis focused venture-capital fund with a complementary and diverse set of portfolio companies in 2017 as a Principal and member of the investment committee. The Panther team manages a portfolio of 40+ companies situated in 20+ industry sub-sectors.

Scott first entered the Cannabis space in 2014 when he co-founded the Cannabis Rep Network (merged into Calyx Distribution) to provide sales and distribution for brands in California.

Prior to Calyx, Scott co-founded a data driven digital ad agency called Audience Partners in 2007. The company pioneered targeting addressable audiences for political clients and the healthcare industry. After a successful exit in 2017, Scott entered the Cannabis world full-time.

Scott started his career as an owner and operator of a jewelry manufacturing business on Jewelers Row in Philadelphia. Scott has a degree from the University of  Maryland. To put a special “bounce” in his career, from 1988 to present, Scott has worked for the Philadelphia 76ers, as head statistician for all NBA home games. Scott is based in Philadelphia, PA.

scott@meadeconnect.com

Managing Director and General Counsel

Leah brings creative problem-solving skills and extensive experience in the lending and consulting space to her role at MeadeCo. She loves meeting new clients, listening to their business needs and goals, and finding effective strategies and solutions to help reach those goals. Leah is a natural leader with a knack for making connections and approaching problems with an innovative mindset. When it comes to project management, she establishes a clear process, empowers productive teams, and leverages the resources needed to reach completion. Her ability to work with diverse teams and different personalities makes her a strong leader who easily adapts to various environments.

Since 2018, she has been deeply involved with the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC) and the Turnaround Management Association (TMA). In these roles she has delved into DE&I policy, planned numerous educational events, and increased membership across the organizations. Leah currently serves on the board of directors for both IWIRC and TMA and is the Vice President of Education for the Chicago Chapter of TMA overseeing the Membership, University Relations, and Education committees.

Leah is an innovative and analytical professional with 15+ years of experience in legal and corporate environments. She received her B.S. and Juris Doctor (J.D.) from University of Iowa College of Law in 2009 and is currently pursuing her MBA at Indiana’s Kelley School of Business. Throughout her career, Leah has specialized in the areas of lending, asset valuations and dispositions, bankruptcies and bankruptcy alternatives, corporate consulting and investment banking and real estate. By working with business development, policy, legal, marketing, PR and operations teams, she’s enabled internal success across several platforms such as debt placement and restructuring, integrations, and process improvement.