Team — TerraNova Partners LP

Vahan Kololian, Chairman

Vahan is an entrepreneur and investor whose career includes investment and merchant banking, operational management, private equity and public investments. In 2004, Vahan founded and is currently the Chairman of TerraNova Partners LP.

Vahan is currently a director of Aventine Investment Counsel, York Analytical Laboratories Inc., Carma Corp. and Decision Point Research Inc.

Prior to founding TerraNova Partners, Vahan co-founded and was President (1990–2000) of Polar Capital Corporation, a private investment company based in Toronto. Vahan started his career in investment banking with Burns Fry Limited (now BMO Nesbitt Burns) in 1980, and was later a director and partner of Gordon Capital. He has been a member of Young President's Organization (YPO) since 1991 and now its alumni group, YPOG. Vahan is active with several community projects in Canada and in his ancestral homeland of Armenia. He is co-founder and Chairman of The Mosaic Institute and is the founder and Chair of Gyumri Project Hope, an urban renewal project of Armenia’s second largest city.

Vahan holds a law degree from the University of Ottawa, a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario and a Certificate of Proficiency from the Langues et Lettres faculty of the University of Grenoble, France.

Jesse gill, partner

In 2004, Jesse co-founded TerraNova Partners LP as a Partner, where he originates, executes, advises and monitors TerraNova’s investments, working closely with management teams to develop and execute on strategic plans. Jesse started his career with Vahan and Kathleen at Polar Capital in Toronto in the 1990s.

Over his career, Jesse has worked as an investment banker and a private equity investor at Polar Capital and Lehman Brothers in Toronto, Credit Suisse in New York and Littlejohn & Co. in Greenwich, CT. Jesse has been a director, advisor and senior executive of numerous public and private companies, including TerraNova’s portfolio companies. Jesse is currently a director of Carma Corp., Luminor Environmental, Aventine Investment Counsel, York Analytical Laboratories Inc. and Signature Risk Partners Inc.

Jesse, who is based in New York, holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Finance from McGill University.

Anthony Sigel, Partner

Anthony joined TerraNova Partners LP as a Partner after successfully investing in and working alongside the TerraNova principals in another investment since 2011. Throughout his private equity career (since the late 1980s), Anthony has led numerous investments in the industrials, electronics, media, food, business services and consumer products sectors. Anthony has been responsible for all aspects of investing, including origination, financing and strategic planning.

Anthony was a founding partner of Kilmer Capital Partners Limited where he served as President & Managing Partner and spent more than 25 years with Kilmer and its affiliated entities. Prior to joining Kilmer, Anthony was with Bankers Trust Company’s Merchant Bank and with the launch of the Arts & Entertainment Cable Network (A&E) in New York. Anthony has sat on the boards of directors of numerous portfolio companies; he is currently a director of Carma Corp., Luminor Environmental, York Analytical Laboratories Inc., Decision Point Research Inc. and Signature Risk Partners Inc.

Anthony holds a B.A. degree from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business Administration. Anthony has served on numerous charitable boards as well as the boards of the Canadian Venture Capital Association and the Ontario Chapter of the Young Presidents Organization.

Kathleen Vesely, Partner

Kathleen is a co-founder and Partner of TerraNova Partners LP, focusing on administration and accounting for the partnership and its associated companies.

Kathleen has over 30 years of experience in managing various investment businesses, having previously spent 10 years with Polar Capital and 7 years with Helix Investments Limited.

Krikor Shahinian, PARTNER

Krikor is a Principal with TerraNova Partners with more than a decade of experience in the finance industry. Krikor is responsible for all aspects of deal acquisitions and execution as well as working closely with portfolio companies on ongoing operational and strategic initiatives. Krikor is currently a director of York Analytical Laboratories Inc., Carma Corp., Signature Risk Partners Inc. and Luminor Environmental.

Prior to joining TerraNova Partners as an Associate, Krikor worked in investment banking and private equity at JJR Private Capital and in corporate banking at TD Bank.

Krikor holds an MBA degree from Chapman University and an Honours B.A. from University of Toronto.

Kevin Braiden, VICE PRESIDENT

Kevin is an Associate at TerraNova Partners where he assists in the research and analysis of various businesses and with supporting TerraNova’s portfolio companies. Kevin is a director of Luminor Environmental.

Prior to joining TerraNova Partners, Kevin articled at Siskinds LLP, working for clients on corporate transactional work, commercial litigation and class action litigation.

Kevin holds a JD from Western University and an Honours BBA from Wilfrid Laurier University.