Managing Directors
Kelly L. SouthallManaging DirectorMr. Southall is the Managing Director of Lexington Capital Group and brings 25 years of business management, strategy consulting, financial advisory and investment banking experience advising emerging growth companies, multi-national enterprises and middle-market businesses. From turnaround to restructurings to growth and expansion strategies, his broad-range of finance experience spans institutional capital raises of private equity, restructurings, debt and acquisition financings and strategic advisory services with diverse sector focus in information technology, telecommunications, life sciences, manufacturing and business services. Prior to founding Lexington, Mr. Southall was Managing Director for two boutique investment banks sourcing and structuring transactions and capital for both early-stage and lower and middle-market businesses; held several notable positions in the private sector at IBM, AT&T and served in various management and advisory roles spearheading a national business consulting operation for the Midwest. Mr. Southall served as a Fellow at the US Senate, attended the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Executive Program in Corporate Strategy and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management Executive Program. He holds a B.B.A in Business Administration with concentration in Management and Economics from University of Northern Colorado.
Michael L. Janda Managing Director Mr. Janda specializes in debt financings and has been in the commercial finance business for over 27 years. His credentials span senior-level management positions with responsibilities encompassing all aspects of business including credit, operations and marketing and brings exceptional health-care and commercial lending expertise to the firm. Mr. Janda is founder of Citra Management, a firm specializing in providing capital solutions to health-care providers. Prior to Citra, he held senior positions with various leading financial institutions including COO of LINC Financial Services; a pioneer in the acquisition and financing of healthcare receivables and equipment financing; Managing Director of Healthcare Finance Group, Inc; V.P. of Finova Capital; and Sr. V.P. at Heller Financial. As Chief Credit Officer for Heller’s Current Asset Management Group, he oversaw a portfolio that included approximately $300 million of loans outstanding plus approximately $800 million of unsecured debt. Mr. Janda is an attorney licensed in Illinois, a Certified Public Accountant and also holds an Illinois real estate brokers license. He has a B.B.A. with a concentration in public accounting from Loyola University of Chicago and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
William S.B. Gruits
Managing Director
Mr. Gruits distinguished credentials extend beyond his 30 years of corporate finance accomplishments with reputable firms such as GE Capital, Chase, Heller Financial and Fuji Bank. With a balance of industry and investment banking expertise, Mr. Gruits has earned the reputation of management in building shareholder value and executing growth strategies for both private and public companies. While his trademark began with capital leasing and tax equipment structures, his finance expertise spans equity, mezzanine and debt financings, M&A’s, private placements, IPO’s and restructuring and recapitalizations. While at GE Capital, he spearheaded over $3 Billion in transactions and authored the first tax-oriented grantor trust totaling over $1 Billion. With numerous achievements and awards under his belt, Mr. Gruits founded American Funding Group in 1992, specializing in medical and transportation leasing and financial restructurings. Between 1993 and 2001 alone, Mr. Gruits funded over $1 billion for client companies. In 2001, he then began acquiring manufacturing companies, structuring buy-outs in the automotive and transportation (heavy truck) industries. Mr. Gruits holds a BBA in Finance from Western Michigan University.
John Fovenesi
Managing Director
Mr. Fovenesi’s distinguished credentials extend beyond his 24 years in accounting, finance, operations, and business development. As a Partner with Deloitte, he spearheaded the firms prestigious National Technical Office, where he oversaw the firms leading-edge accounting, auditing, SEC and regulatory matters and earned the reputation with client management for building shareholder value and executing growth strategies for both private and public companies. With a balance of operations and capital financing expertise in M&A, private placements, franchising and structured financings, Mr. Fovenesi carries an arsenal of expertise spanning industry and markets from start-up to emerging growth to global organizations like Chrysler, where he assisted in the financing of the $1.3 Billion Loan Guarantee Bail Out Program, as well as flagship clients GM, Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, Little Caesars, Johnson Controls, Lear, Weight Watchers, Detroit Red Wings, Detroit Tigers and the Orlando Magic. From digital media and technology, manufacturing, transportation and sports and entertainment to the supply-chain and global medical health markets, Mr. Fovenesi brings a wealth of hands-on knowledge and advisory expertise to any Lexington assignment. Mr. Fovenesi, a CPA, earned his BA from Eastern Michigan University and serves on numerous Boards and Foundations.
Christopher G. Thompson
Managing Director
Mr. Thompson’s distinguished career extends beyond his 25 years of investment banking and financial advisory accomplishments with reputable firms such as Morgan Stanley, UBS and First Boston. With an arsenal of industry, banking and business relationships that span cross borders, Mr. Thompson has been involved in raising more than $10 billion for investments in hedge funds, venture capital and private equity partnerships and more than $50 billion of investment grade and high-yield corporate bonds, commercial paper and mortgage backed securities (MBS). His finance expertise spans origination and placement of equity, mezzanine and structured financings, M&A’s, private placements, IPO’s, restructuring and recapitalizations across diverse industry sectors including technology, health care, and media and telecommunications. Mr. Thompson began his career in sales and marketing with IBM in their New York Banking office where his clients included Citibank, JP Morgan and the Federal Reserve Bank. Mr. Thompson graduated from the University of Michigan with a BA in Economics and the Russian Language; and from Wesleyan University with an MA in History. He also earned his Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) and Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) designations from The American College.
