Question 1

Evan Behrens | Managing Partner

Accepted Answer

Evan brings more than 25 years of experience operating and investing in businesses across market cycles and industries. He is currently the Managing Partner of Behrens Investment Group and serves on the boards of Oppenheimer Holdings (NYSE: OPY) and Hornbeck Offshore Services.  
 
From 2008 to 2017, Evan led corporate development for multi-billion-dollar SEACOR Holdings (NYSE: CKH), where he successfully led the company in distressed situations and complex negotiations and bore responsibility for reinvigorating and growing underperforming businesses. He oversaw strategy, capital allocation, and governance for both SEACOR and each acquired entity. Upon the spinout of SEACOR Marine (NYSE: SMHI), Evan joined the board and stepped down from operating responsibilities. 
 
As Chairman of Trailer Bridge, Evan led a Chapter 11 restructuring and designed and executed a turnaround plan. In returning Trailer Bridge from negative EBITDA in 2013 to sustainable profitability from 2015 on, Evan maintained three of seven board seats, led executive hiring efforts, and restructured reporting systems.
 
Evan led and originated direct investments and lending opportunities through non-traditional corporate methods, including the purchase of bank debt, equities, and loans. Upon securing a 10% equity position in Penford Products (NDAQ: PENX)—a developer, manufacturer, and marketer of specialty natural-based ingredient systems— Evan filled a board seat and initiated a proxy contest to elect operating professionals to the Penford board. His efforts contributed to a nearly 80% increase in share price and an eventual sale to Ingredion (NYSE: INGR) in an all-cash transaction.
 
In 2009, Evan led the creation of Illinois Corn Processing (“ICP”) by partnering with MGP Ingredients (NDAQ: MGPI) and purchasing 50% of their specialty ethanol plant in Pekin, Illinois. Evan was actively involved in all major decisions, including capital expenditures, hedging, and marketing. In 2012, SEACOR sold its marketing arm (SEACOR Energy) to Par Petroleum and exercised its option to purchase an additional 20% for control of ICP. Evan went on to orchestrate its eventual sale to Pacific Ethanol in 2017. Concurrent to his involvement in ICP, Evan led the purchase of a 10% stake in MGP and, in close collaboration with the founding family, prevailed in an aggressive proxy contest.
 
Prior to 2008, Evan held a series of positions at top tier hedge funds, investing across industries and across the capital structure through special situations, capital arbitrage, long/short, and other strategies. He was a Partner and Portfolio Manager with Level Global; a founder and CEO of his own fund, Behrens Rubinoff Capital Partners; a Portfolio Manager at SAC Capital, where he worked directly with Steve Cohen; a Research Analyst at Ulysses Management; and the Domestic Head of Special Situations at Paribas. Evan was a member of the Chicago Board of Trade while earning his BS at the University of Chicago.
 
Evan previously served on the boards of Sidewinder Drilling (now a part of NYSE: ICD), SEACOR Marine (NYSE: SMHI), Stemline Therapeutics (pre-IPO, now NADQ: STML), Penford Products (NADQ: PENX, now part of NYSE: INGR), Continental Insurance Group (NYSE: HCHC), and Global Marine (NYSE: HCHC).

Question 2

Jeff Perry | Partner

Accepted Answer

Jeff has more than 30 years experience in the investment business, the majority spent in senior positions at major hedge funds including Junction Advisors, Kynikos Associates, Zweig-DiMenna Associates (where he was a partner), Third Point, and SAC Capital (where he worked with Evan Behrens). 
 
Jeff also served on the Board of Directors of Ligand Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: LGND) during that company’s successful restructuring.
 
Earlier in his career, Jeff worked as a securities analyst at Value Line and C.J. Lawrence and as an investment banker at First City Capital, a vehicle controlled by the Belzberg family.
 
He is a graduate of Georgetown University and currently serves as a director for the Georgetown University Library, the Blank Children’s Hospital in Des Moines, and the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education at the University of Iowa.

Question 3

Mike Trapanese | Partner

Accepted Answer

Mike brings fifteen years of experience across strategy and operating roles in the financial services industry. A true generalist, Mike has successfully served in interim CEO, COO, and Chief of Staff roles during times of transition. 
 
Most recently, Mike was SVP at VantageScore Solutions, a joint venture between Equifax (NYSE: EFX), Experian (LON: EXPN), and TransUnion (NYSE: TRU). He held broad responsibility for business and product strategy, corporate development, and business operations during a five year period of exponential growth. 
 
Previously, Mike led corporate development at FHLBNY, a $120 billion wholesale bank. He was responsible for special investments, annual business planning, and financial forecasting during the years immediately following the financial crisis. He began his career as a strategy consultant in New York.
 
Mike holds a BA from Boston College and a MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He currently serves on the board of The Water Trust, a pioneering charity bringing sustainable clean water to rural Uganda.

Question 4

Paul Robinson | Partner

Accepted Answer

Paul has more than 25 years of corporate, government, and private legal experience. In addition to his role at Behrens Investment Group, he is also a partner at Homer Bonner Jacobs Ortiz.
 
At HC2 Holdings (NYSE: HCHC), Paul served as Chief Legal Officer with global responsibility for M&A, financing, SEC and regulatory compliance, governance, litigation, IP, and employment.
 
Prior to HC2, Paul had a similar role as EVP and Chief Legal Officer at SEACOR Holdings (NYSE: CKH); VP and General Counsel at Era Group (NYSE: ERA); and COO and General Counsel at Comverse Technology (NASDAQ: CMVT). Paul has served as a director at Ulticom (NASDAQ: ULCM) and Verint Systems (NASDAQ: VRNT).
 
Paul began his career in commercial litigation before serving as counsel to the United States Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs.
 
Paul holds a B.A. from SUNY Binghamton and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law.