The Aspen Capital Group Team

Steve Jones founded Aspen Capital Group in 2001 and serves as the group’s Chairman and Managing Partner. Steve has more than 25 years of experience in private equity and venture capital investing. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Sureify Labs, Inc., a SaaS provider of solutions to the life and annuity insurance industry; CLARA Analytics, a SaaS provider of artificial intelligence-based products supporting the insurance industry; and is a Board Observer at Deposco, Inc., a SaaS provider of supply chain optimization software.

In addition to his 25 plus years of experience as an investor, Steve has extensive experience as an operator, having served as a senior operating executive for multiple private and public companies. Notably, Steve was the largest investor and served as a senior executive in multiple roles at NeoGenomics, Inc. (NASDAQ: NEO), a leading cancer testing and information services company, for 15 years and served on the Board of Directors at NEO for 18 years. During his tenure as an operating executive at NEO, the Company grew from <$1.0 million in annual revenue to more than $400 million. At the time Steve stepped off the Board of NEO, the Company had a market capitalization of approximately $6 billion.

Prior to Aspen Capital, Steve worked in the Telecommunications, Media and Technology Investment Banking Group of Merrill Lynch & Co. in New York, and also served as the Chief Financial Officer of several private and public companies. Prior to that, he served in the U.S. Air Force where he achieved the rank of Captain. Steve received a BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Michigan and his MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

John Gordy joined Aspen Capital Group in 2019. As a member of the Aspen team, John sources, evaluates, and executes new investment opportunities, while working closely with Aspen’s portfolio companies. John currently serves as a Board Observer to CLARA Analytics, Sureify and Transcend, while being intimately involved with Aspen’s investments in Aclaimant and Deposco.

Prior to joining Aspen Capital, John was an investor at Pritzker Private Capital (PPC), a ~$9 billion private capital group that partners with North American-based businesses. While at PPC, John was a member of the investment team where he helped lead more than 10 transactions, representing over $2 billion in total enterprise value. In addition, John served as a member of PPC’s operations group, collaborating with the firm’s operating partners and group of companies. John was actively involved in PPC’s investments in ProAmpac, Technimark (acquired by Oak Hill), and LBP Manufacturing (acquired by Sabert).

John began his career in investment banking at Citigroup supporting the Mergers & Acquisitions and Global Industrials groups. John received a BBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business.

John Haesler joined Aspen Capital Group in 2019. John has over 10 years of experience working with and investing in Software businesses. John sources, evaluates, and executes new investment opportunities, while working closely with Aspen’s portfolio companies. John currently serves on the Board of Directors of Transcend and as a Board Observer to CLARA Analytics and Sureify, while working closely with Aspen’s investments in Aclaimant and Deposco.

Prior to joining Aspen Capital, John was an investor with Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV), a ~$25 billion growth equity firm that invests in technology and tech-enabled businesses. While at TCV, John specialized in minority and majority investments across the software landscape. He was involved in TCV’s investments in Alarm.com (NASDAQ: ALRM), FinancialForce (Acquired by Haveli), IQMS (acquired by Dassault), OSIsoft (Acquired by AVEVA), Rapid7 (NASDAQ: RPD), Rave Mobile Safety (Acquired by Motorola), and Webroot (acquired by Carbonite).

Prior to joining TCV, John was an investment banker at Jefferies in their Mergers & Acquisitions group focusing on public and private technology businesses. John received a BBA from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, and minors in Economics and Spanish.

Karen Batchelder joined Aspen Capital Group in January 2023 as Chief Operating Officer. She is responsible for business-related aspects of the Firm, including oversight of operations, compliance, regulatory, infrastructure, and IT.

Karen has more than 10 years of experience in the private fund industry most recently serving as CCO and COO of BHZ Capital Management, LP (“BHZ”), an event-driven, long/short hedge fund specializing in the US regional/community banking sector. While at BHZ, she managed the compliance program and all non-investment related aspects of a SEC registered investment adviser and two private funds. She has formed onshore and offshore master and feeder fund structures and was responsible for adherence to the laws, regulatory requirements, guidance, and best practices mandated by the SEC and CIMA. She oversaw operations, finance, accounting, tax, infrastructure, legal, investor relations, and marketing, as well as established processes and procedures for firm and led operational due diligence for prospective investors.

Prior to BHZ, Karen had a 20+ year career as an investment banker, primarily raising growth equity for middle market companies. Ms. Batchelder has a BA in Economics and Political Science from Northwestern University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.