Our Philosophy
We are private equity consultants and we are an extension of our clients’ team. We are facilitators of historical perspective throughout the deal spectrum. This perspective enables clients to be first in line, make decisions and manage through challenges, and exit efficiently. Our software PE Perspective® is the foundation for our philosophy and our service model.
Our Commitment
In 2003, we founded our business with a promise that we could provide services at twice the speed and half the cost of our bigger rivals. We assembled an experienced team of self-professed excel geeks whose mission was to make today more efficient than yesterday. In an increasingly competitive and evolving deal environment, our clients needed to differentiate themselves and be the preferred bidder. We needed to evolve ourselves. Our roots were in accounting diligence, our goal was to be complete private equity consultants. Our boutique was born.
Our Evolution
What originated as buy-side, excel-based support eventually extended to include portfolio monitoring and divestiture services. The business drivers and issues surfaced in diligence were the same drivers that were necessary to track throughout the holding period and to educate Buyers upon exit. The PE Perspective® software and service model has evolved from an excel-based, transactional tool that existed in organizational silos, to a database that supports critical decision points across the fund organization and throughout the cycle.
The Team
➤ FIRM LEADERSHIP
Troy Doucette, Partner
Education: University of Maine, BA in Accounting and Management
Troy joined EVA in 2003, shortly after its founding, and has been instrumental in shaping the firm’s approach to due diligence. With almost two decades of deal experience, he has advised on over 500 transactions. Troy also has significant operating experience, having served as a Controller in the food industry.
Michael McDonald, Partner
Education: University of Chicago, MBA; Indiana University, BS; CPA
Michael joined EVA in 2011 and has advised on over 300 transactions across a broad range of industries. Prior to EVA, he spent seven years at Citadel in the Treasury and Financial Control groups and two years as an auditor for Ernst & Young. He holds an MBA in Analytical Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of Chicago and a BS in Accounting and Finance from Indiana University.
➤ ADVISORS
Mick Seymour, Founder
Education: Notre Dame, BBA; CPA
Mick is the Founder of EVA. He has almost three decades of deal experience having participated in over 800 deal engagements. He has been an advisor, a CFO for a portfolio company, and has also been an investor in several transactions, so he is uniquely qualified to see value creation from many different perspectives. With both PwC and D&T, Mick served New York and Michigan clients ranging from small start-ups to multi-billion dollar funds such as Kohlberg, Kravis, Roberts & Co., Investcorp, and Sentinel Capital Partners.
➤ PROFESSIONAL TEAM
Michael Gano, Manager of Transaction Services
Education: University of Michigan, BBA, MAcc; CPA
Michael joined EVA in 2014 after managing a financial advisory practice for high-net-worth individuals and institutional clients at Plante Moran Financial Advisors. He began his career as a CPA at Plante Moran, working in audit for the healthcare industry and in tax and estate planning.
Brian Hammer, Director of Portfolio Services
Education: Hope College, BA; CPA
Brian joined EVA in 2015 after nine years in public accounting at Plante Moran. He led the firm’s Energy practice and managed a broad range of manufacturing engagements and financial consulting projects.
Brett Perellis, Director of Integration
Education: Indiana University, BS; CPA
Brett joined EVA in 2019, bringing 14 years of experience in the alternative investments industry. His previous roles include Director of Financial Control at Citadel LLC, Senior Vice President at Northern Trust Hedge Fund Services, and Controller at Driehaus Enterprise Management, Inc. Brett began his career as an auditor at RSM.
Kent McNeil, Senior Analyst
Education: Grand Valley State University, BBA in Finance and Accounting; CPA
Kent joined EVA in 2018 after seven years in public accounting at BDO and Plante Moran. He specialized in corporate tax compliance, domestic and international planning, and tax provision assistance for clients ranging from small privately held businesses to multinational public companies, with a focus on the insurance and financial industries.
Colin O’Connor, Senior Analyst
Education: Michigan State University, BA and MS in Accounting; CPA
Colin joined EVA in May 2021 after working with KPMG, General Motors, and Munson Healthcare. He is a licensed CPA in the State of Michigan.
Stephen Smith, Senior Analyst
Education: Michigan State University, BA and MS in Accounting; CPA
Stephen joined EVA in 2021 after six years in public accounting with Plante Moran. He is a licensed CPA in the State of Michigan.
Maggie Cox, Analyst
Education: Ball State University, BS; CPA
Maggie joined EVA in 2022 after three years in public accounting with Ernst & Young, followed by three years as an internal auditor with Masco. She is a licensed CPA in the State of Indiana.
Alex Decker, Analyst
Education: Albion College, BS; CPA
Alex joined EVA in 2022 after six years in public accounting with Ernst & Young. He is a licensed CPA in the State of Michigan.
Holly Hall, Analyst
Education: Michigan State University, BA and MS in Accounting; CPA
Holly joined EVA in June 2024 after ten years in the private sector as a financial manager, primarily in manufacturing, with additional experience in the cooperative grocery industry. She began her career with nine years in public accounting at Plante Moran, serving as an Associate in the firm’s assurance practice.
Andy Romzek, Analyst
Education: Lake Superior State University, BS
Andy joined EVA in 2011 after holding managerial roles in operations at Cherry Republic. He is a graduate of Lake Superior State University.
Geoff Seymour, Analyst
Education: Michigan State University, MBA; Wayne State University, MS
Geoff joined EVA in 2007 after holding operational and consultative roles at DaimlerChrysler Corporation and BASF Corporation. He has advised on over 100 transactions and has extensive experience in lean manufacturing and health and safety compliance.
➤ INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
David Lauters, Director of Technology
Education: Grand Valley State University, BS in Information Systems, BBA in Management
David joined EVA in 2021. Prior to EVA, David spent 22 years managing and developing software solutions for Fidelity National Financial and subsidiaries throughout the insurance and financial services industries.
Brie Ellis, Software Developer
Education: Ferris State University, BS in Computer Information Systems
Brie joined EVA in 2020. Prior to EVA, Brie spent 4 years working as a helpdesk technician for Century LLC while pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Information Systems.