Leadership

Our core leadership team and associated relationships create a unique blend of experience in growth capital, merger & acquisition, banking, accounting, consulting and entrepreneurial success.

Jeff Boutwell
Jeff Boutwell
Founder and Managing Partner

Jeff leads the relationships with Vineyard's operating partners and manages the underwriting and design of funding structures best suited for each partnership. He has 20 years experience in Mergers & Acquisitions and 15 years experience in growth capital investments. Jeff also founded NewBridge Group, Inc. one of the nation’s largest funeral home business brokers. In his time as a business broker, he has assisted in the purchase, sale or financing of more than 400 businesses with a combined value of more than $750,000,000.

Ken Boutwell
Ken Boutwell
Managing Partner, Investor Relations

Ken maintains relationships and communication with Vineyard's investors. He also assists in larger strategic decisions for Vineyard and in assisting with some of the larger partnerships. Ken spent 30 years with the national management consulting firm he founded and grew to employ 150 people. He is also the Co-founder and Chairman of a privately held health maintenance organization (HMO) located in Tallahassee, Florida.

Veronica Case
Veronica Case
Chief Operating Officer

Veronica manages Vineyard’s operations and accounting. Prior to joining Vineyard she spent 18 years with Cousins Properties, a publicly-traded REIT based in Atlanta. With Cousins, she held numerous roles, including controller of office properties, SEC reporting, and lease administration. She also played key roles in IT software conversions and instrumental in the accounting for two large, complex mergers. Prior to Cousins, she served as Controller of Meridian Mortuary Group, a company which owned and managed funeral homes. Veronica has a BBA in Accounting from Georgia State University and is a Certified Public Accountant.

Wayne Durrett
Wayne Durrett
Chief Accounting Officer

Wayne leads the Company’s accounting and financial reporting. He holds degrees in both accounting and finance from Florida State University, and is also a licensed CPA. Prior to joining Vineyard, he worked as an audit manager for James Moore & Co. where he served clients in various industries, including leading the audit team on Vineyard.

Sam Drew
Sam Drew
Director of Financial Analysis and Investments

Sam leads underwriting for Vineyard’s new investment opportunities and works with portfolio managers to report to management and shareholders. Prior to joining Vineyard Capital Partners, Sam lead financial strategy for a multi-brand franchisor including pet day care facilities, as well as, a developer and franchisee of infrared saunas. Prior to that he worked for a large private equity firm that invested in and operated citrus groves and timberland properties. Combined prior to joining Vineyard, Sam had almost 10 years financial analysis, strategy and operating experience. Originally from South Georgia, Sam has an accounting and finance degree from the University of Georgia and MBA and Masters in Accounting from Mercer University.

Drew Steinmeyer
Drew Steinmeyer
Accounting Manager

Drew, a licensed CPA, has a Bachelors and Masters degree in Accounting from the University of Florida. Prior to joining Vineyard, Drew was the Financial Reporting Manager for Capital City Bank and an auditor at James Moore & Co. in Tallahassee, Florida.

Tamra Crews
Tamra Crews
Director of Treasury and Investor Relations

Tamra manages the daily accounting of cash receipts and disbursements, and oversees the administration of financial contracts with operating partners. In addition, she is the main point of contact for the Company’s investors. Tamra has a passion for finding opportunities to improve processes and increase efficiency that will benefit our operating partners. She has over fifteen years of operational accounting experience with a background in commercial RE asset and property management.

Angela Simpson
Angela Simpson
Controller, Operating Partners

Angela manages the accounting process for several of Vineyard's partners. She has more than 20 years of experience in accounting and HR management. Prior to joining Vineyard, she served as the CFO for the Florida Petroleum Marketers where she was responsible for the oversight of finances, human resources, database management, and assisted with fundraising events. Angela holds a Bachelor of Science from Virginia Tech. She moved to Tallahassee in 2006. She is married and has a blended family with five children.

Jesica Culpepper
Jesica Culpepper
Manager of Real Estate Administration

Jesica oversees the processes for new acquisitions and bank funding in addition to the managing the administration for the company’s property portfolio. She also manages the Tallahassee office. As a skilled real estate paralegal, Jesica has experience working with lenders, surveyors, appraisers, title agents, and other professionals involved in real estate and business transactions. Jesica has more than twenty years of combined legal experience in several areas of law. Before working with private law firms, Jesica worked with the State of Florida. Jesica obtained her A.S. Degree and Paralegal Certification from Tallahassee Community College and is a Georgia Notary Public. Jesica is a Tallahassee native currently living in Thomasville, Georgia.

Rebecca Sekowski
Rebecca Sekowski
Human Resources Manager

Rebecca leads human resources for the company, including onboarding new team members, bonusing and managing company health insurance policies. She also assists executive management in coordinating and providing information needed to assist with banking and accounting relationships. Rebecca is a graduate of the American College of Applied Arts in Atlanta, Georgia, with a BFA in Visual Communications.

Samuel Kim
Samuel Kim
Operating Partner - Dental Services

Sam leads the M&A, strategic consulting, and operational support for Vineyard’s dental portfolio. Prior to joining Vineyard, Sam consulted with and operated multi-office dental groups in Metro Atlanta. Before focusing on the dental industry, Sam worked in finance and business advisory including roles within Cox Enterprises. Sam has a BS in Finance from Georgia Institute of Technology’s Scheller College of Business and a MBA from Emory’s Goizueta Business School. Sam is a Project Management Professional and a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.

Todd Reich
Todd Reich
Business Development

Todd originates and vets fund opportunities through business owner and trusted advisor relationships. He has 20 years of experience in investment banking, having most recently led Business Development efforts with The Lenox Group, LLC. Todd earned his BSBA from UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and his MBA from Emory’s Goizueta Business School. Todd is an active member of his church and several networking groups. He and his wife, Anne, have two sons, Reeves and Cannon.

Lisa Elliott
Lisa Elliott
Investment Underwriter

Lisa leads the underwriting and best practices development for Vineyard’s funeral home relationships. She has a depth of experience including leading the mergers and acquisitions divisions of some of the top funeral home brokers and acquisition companies in the industry. She’s underwritten and determined the valuation of more than 200 funeral home businesses in her career and has an innate understanding of how to analyze operations to release trapped value and cash flow. Her mergers and acquisition experience includes the representation and sale of more than $200 million in combined value. Lisa is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a degree in economics. She has a passion for exercise and enjoys active outdoor activities like kayaking and cycling