About
UsThe Principals of Avantcé each have more than 20 years of leadership experience. Consequently, the Avantcé Team has deep and relevant experience in the targeted areas in which we invest.
Each Principal of Avantcé has a proven track record of success throughout their careers including the startup, growth and sale of their prior businesses.
The members of our team combine to bring expertise to our partnership in the areas of private equity investing, mergers and acquisitions, financial restructuring, corporate executive leadership and operational restructurings..
WHO
WE ARE
We look forward to learning more about your business opportunity and objectives!
Kristi Kennedy
Kristi is currently the CEO of Select Business Solutions
Previously Kristi Kennedy was the Chief Operating Officer for Allen Systems Group, Inc., a $200 million global enterprise software company based in Naples, Florida. Allen Systems Group, Inc. is a leading provider of metadata, applications, operations, content, security, performance and infrastructure management software. As Chief Operating Officer, Kristi was responsible for all functional areas of the company including, sales and marketing, product management, finance, administration, legal, HR, software development, professional services and support.
Prior to becoming Chief Operating Officer, Kristi led Allen Systems Group’s acquisition campaign which began in 1998 and consisted of over 30 acquisitions. Revenue during her tenure grew over 1000% and cash flow increased during the same period approximately 900%. Among the notable transactions she led included the acquisition of Viasoft and Landmark, two publicly traded companies.
During the Viasoft transaction, she orchestrated one of the first joint tender/ going private transactions approved by the SEC. Additionally she completed the acquisition of a series of products that resulted from Computer Associates / Platinum Technologies Justice Department mandated divestiture.
Prior to joining Allen Systems Group in 1998, Kristi worked as a commercial litigator and corporate attorney for Asbell, Coleman and Ho, PA.
Kristi holds her Juris Doctorate from Columbia University Law School, where she graduated as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College. She is a licensed member of the Florida Bar Association.
Email: kkennedy@avantce.com
Previously Kristi Kennedy was the Chief Operating Officer for Allen Systems Group, Inc., a $200 million global enterprise software company based in Naples, Florida. Allen Systems Group, Inc. is a leading provider of metadata, applications, operations, content, security, performance and infrastructure management software. As Chief Operating Officer, Kristi was responsible for all functional areas of the company including, sales and marketing, product management, finance, administration, legal, HR, software development, professional services and support.
Prior to becoming Chief Operating Officer, Kristi led Allen Systems Group’s acquisition campaign which began in 1998 and consisted of over 30 acquisitions. Revenue during her tenure grew over 1000% and cash flow increased during the same period approximately 900%. Among the notable transactions she led included the acquisition of Viasoft and Landmark, two publicly traded companies.
During the Viasoft transaction, she orchestrated one of the first joint tender/ going private transactions approved by the SEC. Additionally she completed the acquisition of a series of products that resulted from Computer Associates / Platinum Technologies Justice Department mandated divestiture.
Prior to joining Allen Systems Group in 1998, Kristi worked as a commercial litigator and corporate attorney for Asbell, Coleman and Ho, PA.
Kristi holds her Juris Doctorate from Columbia University Law School, where she graduated as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and her Bachelor of Arts from Columbia College. She is a licensed member of the Florida Bar Association.
Email: kkennedy@avantce.com
Aivars Lode
Aivars is currently the CEO of Robocom Systems International and has assumed the
same role for Revere, Inc. Aivars also provides leadership to the Sales &
Marketing efforts of Select Business Solutions as Executive Vice President.
Previously Aivars Lode was Group President of Descartes Systems Group based in Canada. As Group President, Aivars led the company's global expansion efforts, achieving profitable growth as well as completing the successful acquisition and consolidation of two EDI businesses, TDNI and Transettlements. He was named Group President in April 2000 after leading Descartes' successful expansion into the Asia Pacific region as President Asia Pacific.
Prior to joining Descartes, Aivars was with Oracle Australia as CEO of Applications Software. He led the organization’s change from an aggressive customer relationship model to that of a consultative business partner.
Aivars first entered the technology industry in 1991, when he joined Dun & Bradstreet Software, an enterprise software solutions provider. During his tenure with DBS he ascended through various management roles and transitioned several divisions from a focus on high growth to that of customer intimacy and operational efficiency. Prior to DBS Aivars held various management positions, including COO, CFO and CIO roles in both public and private corporations.
Throughout his career Mr. Lode has lived in Australia, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong and has conducted business in most of the industrialized countries in the world.
Aivars holds a Bachelors of Business, Accounting from Swinburne University in Melbourne Australia.
Aivars is a past member of the Board of Directors at First Bank and Trust of Illinois.
Email: alode@avantce.com
Previously Aivars Lode was Group President of Descartes Systems Group based in Canada. As Group President, Aivars led the company's global expansion efforts, achieving profitable growth as well as completing the successful acquisition and consolidation of two EDI businesses, TDNI and Transettlements. He was named Group President in April 2000 after leading Descartes' successful expansion into the Asia Pacific region as President Asia Pacific.
Prior to joining Descartes, Aivars was with Oracle Australia as CEO of Applications Software. He led the organization’s change from an aggressive customer relationship model to that of a consultative business partner.
Aivars first entered the technology industry in 1991, when he joined Dun & Bradstreet Software, an enterprise software solutions provider. During his tenure with DBS he ascended through various management roles and transitioned several divisions from a focus on high growth to that of customer intimacy and operational efficiency. Prior to DBS Aivars held various management positions, including COO, CFO and CIO roles in both public and private corporations.
Throughout his career Mr. Lode has lived in Australia, Canada, Singapore, Hong Kong and has conducted business in most of the industrialized countries in the world.
Aivars holds a Bachelors of Business, Accounting from Swinburne University in Melbourne Australia.
Aivars is a past member of the Board of Directors at First Bank and Trust of Illinois.
Email: alode@avantce.com
Jon Scheumann
Jon is currently CFO of Select Business Solutions, Robocom Systems
International, and Revere, Inc.
Previously Jon was a founding member of Gunn Partners, a business advisor to Fortune 500 corporations (1991 to 2003). While at Gunn Partners Jon’s work focused on the integration of organizations following, or in preparation for mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. In both environments his work was focused on creating organizational platforms capable of sustaining future growth.
As a member of the Gunn Partners’ Leadership Team Jon held strategic and operational leadership responsibilities. While at Gunn Partners Jon relocated to Melbourne, Australia where he led their expansion into Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
In 1999 Gunn Partners was acquired by General Atlantic Partners as a key investment in the creation of Exult Inc. a leading HR BPO provider. Exult became a listed company in 2000 (NASDAQ) and grew to nearly $500M in revenue. In October 2004 Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) completed its acquisition of Exult.
Jon has had the opportunity to work with executives from major corporations such as Amcor Ltd., Axa Australia, Bank of America, Cargill, Dow Corning Asia Pacific, Georgia-Pacific, Holiday Inn Worldwide, Hong Kong Housing Authority and Mobil Corp.
Prior to the startup of Gunn Partners in 1991, Jon was with the international consulting firm A. T. Kearney as well as Shell Oil Company.
Jon holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Public and Environmental affairs from Indiana University and an M.B.A. degree from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business where he was a Fuqua Scholar.
Email: jscheumann@avantce.com
Previously Jon was a founding member of Gunn Partners, a business advisor to Fortune 500 corporations (1991 to 2003). While at Gunn Partners Jon’s work focused on the integration of organizations following, or in preparation for mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. In both environments his work was focused on creating organizational platforms capable of sustaining future growth.
As a member of the Gunn Partners’ Leadership Team Jon held strategic and operational leadership responsibilities. While at Gunn Partners Jon relocated to Melbourne, Australia where he led their expansion into Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
In 1999 Gunn Partners was acquired by General Atlantic Partners as a key investment in the creation of Exult Inc. a leading HR BPO provider. Exult became a listed company in 2000 (NASDAQ) and grew to nearly $500M in revenue. In October 2004 Hewitt Associates (NYSE: HEW) completed its acquisition of Exult.
Jon has had the opportunity to work with executives from major corporations such as Amcor Ltd., Axa Australia, Bank of America, Cargill, Dow Corning Asia Pacific, Georgia-Pacific, Holiday Inn Worldwide, Hong Kong Housing Authority and Mobil Corp.
Prior to the startup of Gunn Partners in 1991, Jon was with the international consulting firm A. T. Kearney as well as Shell Oil Company.
Jon holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Public and Environmental affairs from Indiana University and an M.B.A. degree from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business where he was a Fuqua Scholar.
Email: jscheumann@avantce.com
