Partners
Peter Seidler is a managing partner of Seidler Equity Partners (SEP) and assumes chief oversight of all firm activities. Peter is an accomplished private equity investor with over 20 years of relevant experience. He is a member of the investment committee and serves on the board of directors of several portfolio companies. Peter received a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Virginia and a master’s degree in business administration from University of California at Los Angeles.
Robert Seidler is a managing partner of SEP and shares overall leadership responsibility for the firm’s private equity activities, with a particular emphasis on the management of the firm’s proprietary deal flow. He is a member of the investment committee and serves on several corporate boards. Bob received a bachelor of arts degree from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in business administration from University of California at Los Angeles.
Eric Kutsenda is a managing partner of SEP and shares responsibility for the firm’s private equity activities, with a particular emphasis on executing the investment process, including the analysis, structuring, negotiation and closing of transactions. Prior to joining SEP, he was a principal at a Chicago-based investment firm. Eric began his career in the corporate finance division of KPMG LLP. He is a member of the investment committee and serves on the boards of several portfolio companies. Eric received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Illinois and a master’s degree in taxation from DePaul University. He is a certified public accountant.
Christopher Eastland is involved in all investment activities, including the structuring, negotiating and closing of portfolio investments. Prior to joining SEP, Chris was an attorney at O’Melveny & Myers LLP. His practice focused principally on mergers and acquisitions and private equity investment, as well as representation of public and private companies in commercial transactions. Chris received a bachelor’s degree in business administration and entrepreneurial studies from the University of Southern California and a juris doctor degree from the University of Southern California. He is a member of the State Bar of California.
Troy Smildzins is involved in all investment activities, including the structuring, negotiating and closing of portfolio investments. Prior to joining SEP, Troy was a vice president at KPMG Corporate Finance LLC and a manager in Arthur Andersen’s corporate finance practice. Troy received a bachelor’s degree in finance and marketing from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in business administration from University of California at Los Angeles.
Tobin Ryan is involved in all investment activities, including strategy development, process improvement, performance measurement and decision support analysis. Prior to joining SEP, he served as COO of Tomah Products Inc., a recent portfolio company of SEP. Prior to Tomah, Tobin held positions with Bain Consulting and General Electric. Tobin received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Notre Dame and a master’s degree in business administration from Harvard University.
Leonard Lee is involved in all investment activities, including the structuring, negotiating and closing of portfolio investments. Previously, he was a senior research analyst in the institutional research department of The Seidler Companies Incorporated (an investment bank unaffiliated with SEP) and also held positions at W.R. Huff Asset Management and PricewaterhouseCoopers. Leonard received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia Business School. He is a certified public accountant.
Matt Seidler is involved in all investment activities, including sourcing, structuring and closing portfolio investments. He also serves as a board-level resource for portfolio company management teams, with particular experience assisting with organic and acquisition-driven growth initiatives. Prior to joining SEP in 2009, he spent seven years at a boutique investment bank that specialized in middle-market M&A advisory services for founder-operated and family-owned businesses. Matt earned a bachelor's degree in Finance from the University of Notre Dame.