Mezzanine Fund Team

ROBERT FINKEL MANAGING PARTNER / INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER

Founder and Managing Partner. 23 years of investing; 16 years with Prism. Mr. Finkel has overseen fund deployment into a total of 40 portfolio companies through both the Prism Opportunity Fund and the Prism Mezzanine Fund. Mr. Finkel’s career in private investing began at Wind Point Partners, where as an Investment Manager, he provided capital and support to early, growth and later stage companies. Prior, he was a Corporate Associate with Paine Webber, specializing in mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Finkel is a founder and former Chairman of the Illinois Venture Capital Association, which represents Illinois’ $77 billion of venture capital and private equity funds, and from which he received its prestigious Fellows Award in 2005. He also received on Prism’s behalf the Private Equity Fund Manager of the Year Award for both 2007 and 2008 from Opal Financial. Mr. Finkel was selected to serve on the Illinois State Treasurer’s Fund of Funds Review Board.

In addition, Mr. Finkel is the author of “The Masters of Private Equity and Venture Capital” (McGraw Hill Business Books) featuring 10 of the country’s the most notable venture capital and private equity investors, and included contributions from Business School Professors at Stanford and University of Chicago.

Mr. Finkel earned a BA from The Johns Hopkins University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Mr. Finkel serves on the Junior Achievement Board of Chicago as well as on the Governing Board for the Bulletin for the Atomic Scientists.

BLAINE CRISSMAN PARTNER / INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER

Mr. Crissman joined Prism Capital in 2002 as a Founder and Partner of PMF I’s general partner.  He has more than 20 years of experience financing and investing in middle market companies. Mr. Crissman’s responsibilities include deal origination, underwriting, closing and managing investments.  He also maintains board responsibility for several of PMF I’s portfolio companies including Optical Experts Manufacturing, VIA, Fusion Specialties, and Violet Packing.Prior to joining Prism, Mr. Crissman was a principal with Bank of America Capital Investors, a mezzanine debt and equity investing partnership funded by Bank of America. Prior to joining Bank of America Capital Investors, he worked in BancAmerica Securities High Yield Group where he was involved in sourcing and underwriting public subordinated debt offerings. Prior to Bank of America, Mr. Crissman was a Vice President with First Bank Systems.  Mr. Crissman is the former President of the Midwest Regional Association of SBICs and is a founding member of the Private Equity Advisory Board at the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.  Mr. Crissman received an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and a BA in Economics and Finance from Augustana College.

BILL HARLAN PARTNER / INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER

Mr. Harlan joined Prism Capital in 2004 as a Partner of PMF I’s general partner. He is also co-founder of Kestrel Capital Group, a Chicago based investment firm. Mr. Harlan has over 30 years of experience financing and operating middle market businesses. At Prism he has been active in deal origination, underwriting, closing and managing investments, serving on the boards of Braxton-Bragg Corporation, 3-D Machining, Craftsmen Industries, Angie’s List and McCoy Sales Corporation.

Prior to Prism, Mr. Harlan was a principal at Golub Associates Incorporated (now known as Golub Capital), and also with CID Equity Partners.  Previously, he helped form ANB Mezzanine Corporation (predecessor to Chase Mezzanine).  Mr. Harlan began his career at American National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago where he held positions in the workout and commercial banking groups. Mr. Harlan has been active in the Association for Corporate Growth, and on the board of several other non-profit organizations.  He is currently chairman of First Financial Credit Union.  Mr. Harlan received an MBA from the University of Chicago and holds a BA in Economics and Political Science from the University of Notre Dame.

STEVE VIVIAN PARTNER / INVESTMENT COMMITTEE MEMBER

Mr. Vivian joined Prism Capital in 1999 and became a Partner in 2003. He is also co-founder of Kestrel Capital Group, a Chicago based independent sponsor. Mr. Vivian has over 20 years of experience investing in, lending to, and operating middle market companies. At Prism, he was an active member on the boards of Fitzroy Dearborn, Fieldglass, HighBeam Research, Banner Holdings, Via, Newser, Ott-Lite and Angie’s List.

Prior to joining Prism, Mr. Vivian was an associate in BancAmerica Securities’ leveraged finance group serving as both a senior lender and investment banker for the placement of subordinated debt. Mr. Vivian is a past Chairman of the National Association of Small Business Investment Companies (NASBIC, now the Small Business Investor Alliance – or – SBIA. In addition, he was an active member of the Illinois Venture Capital Association. Mr. Vivian received both an MBA and a BS in General Engineering from the University of Illinois. He is a frequent speaker at local colleges and universities and serves as faculty of the Venture Capital Institute.