Meet Our Team

Alec Gores is the Founder, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Gores Group, a global investment firm focused on acquiring controlling interests in mature and growing businesses which can benefit from the firm's operating experience and flexible capital base.

Mr. Gores began his career as a self-made entrepreneur and operating executive. In 1978, he self-funded and founded Executive Business Systems (EBS), a developer and distributor of vertical business software systems. Within seven years, EBS had become a leading value-added reseller in Michigan and employed over 200 people. In 1986, CONTEL purchased EBS and Mr. Gores subsequently began acquiring and operating non-core businesses from major corporations and building value in those entities, a decision that ultimately led to the founding of what has evolved into The Gores Group today.

Under his leadership, The Gores Group has continued to acquire businesses in need of operational and financial resources, while creating value and working with management to establish an entrepreneurial environment as a foundation for sustainable growth. This philosophy has served the firm well. Since 1987 over 80 businesses have been successfully acquired. The current portfolio includes over 20 active companies world-wide with combined annual revenues of over $7 billion. 

Mr. Gores holds a degree in computer science from Western Michigan University and lives in the Los Angeles area.

Mr. Diggins is a member of Gores' investment committee. Mr. Diggins has worked with Mr. Gores for over 20 years and formerly served as President and CEO of The Gores Group. Mr. Diggins was instrumental in working with Mr. Gores to build the Firm's management team and infrastructure. In 1983, Mr. Diggins joined EBS as a sales representative. In 1980, Mr. Diggins began his career in sales management at Burroughs Corporation. Mr. Diggins earned his B.A. in Business Administration from Michigan State University.

Mr. Stone is a member of Gores’ investment committee and is responsible for alternative investments. Prior to joining The Gores Group, Mr. Stone spent nearly a decade as a Chief Executive transforming businesses across the services, industrial and technology sectors. Mr. Stone spent five years with The Boston Consulting Group (“BCG”) as a member of their high technology and industrial goods practices and served in BCG’s Boston, London, Los Angeles and Seoul offices. Mr. Stone earned a B.S. in Finance with Computer Science and Mathematics concentrations from the University of Maine and an M.B.A. in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Johnson is a member of Gores' investment committee and is responsible for leading the execution and negotiation of Gores acquisitions and divestitures. Prior to joining Gores, Mr. Johnson was a Managing Director and Investment Committee member of DLJ Merchant Banking Partners III and IV, and DLJ Growth Capital Partners I. Prior to joining DLJ, Mr. Johnson worked for E.M Warburg Pincus & Co, LLC., The Boston Consulting Group, and Chevron Corporation. Mr. Johnson has a Bachelor of Engineering from Stevens Institute of Technology and a Master of Business Administration from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Yager is a member of Gores' investment committee and is responsible for originating and structuring transactions, and overseeing portfolio company exits. Prior to joining Gores, Mr. Yager served as the President and CEO of Artemis International Solutions from 1997 to 2002. At Artemis, he led a turnaround and restructuring initiative and was responsible for the acquisition of Software Productivity Research, Inc. as well as the sale of Artemis to Proha Oyj, a publicly-traded Finnish software company. He was subsequently responsible for the reverse merger of Artemis into Opus360 and served as Chairman until 2005. Mr. Yager also served as CEO of Aonix, and was responsible for the restructuring of that company. From 1994 to 1996, Mr. Yager served as the Executive Vice President of Business Development for Medaphis Physician Services.

From 1985 to 1994, Mr. Yager worked at Executive Business Systems (Alec Gores' first company) and its acquiror, Contel Business Systems, as a General Manager. Prior to EBS, Mr. Yager worked at Burroughs from 1978 to 1985 in a variety of Sales and Marketing positions. Mr. Yager earned a B.A. in Business Administration and Economics from the University of Michigan.

Ms. Pollard joined The Gores Group in 1996 and has held various finance positions within TGG and its portfolio. Ms. Pollard is currently the Chief Financial Officer of The Gores Group and is responsible for financial management and fund administration for the firm. She has been involved in a significant number of Gores’ transactions, both purchases and sales, with responsibility for financial due diligence, operational oversight, deal structure and negotiation. Ms. Pollard was also the Managing Partner of Global Equity Capital, LLC from 2007 to 2011. Prior to joining Gores, Ms. Pollard spent 13 years in public accounting and was a partner with Freedman & Goldberg, a certified public accounting firm located in Detroit, Michigan. Ms. Pollard earned her B.S. in Accounting from Western Michigan University.

Jennifer Kwon Chou is a Managing Director of The Gores Group and Head of Strategy. Ms. Chou oversees firm strategy and the development of new products and partnerships for the firm. She also has management responsibilities over the firm's global shareholder relations, capital raising, external communications, and corporate development functions. Since joining Gores in 2010, Ms. Chou has been responsible for raising capital across Gores' private equity funds and investments.

Prior to joining Gores, Ms. Chou was a Director at Sterling Partners, a multi-billion dollar private equity firm based in Chicago. Prior to Sterling, she worked in capital markets at Lehman Brothers in New York. She began her career at Public Financial Management and the Vanguard Group.

Ms. Chou currently serves as a Board Member of the Boys & Girls Club of Venice, a Los Angeles-based non-profit. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and also received an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Mr. Chirikos is responsible for leading due diligence efforts and evaluating and executing investments, divestitures and recapitalizations on behalf of The Gores Group. Prior to joining Gores, Mr. Chirikos worked in the Investment Banking Department of Jefferies & Company, where he focused primarily on leveraged finance transactions and mergers & acquisitions assignments. Mr. Chirikos earned a B.S. in Economics, summa cum laude, from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Danner is responsible for portfolio company oversight as well as leading operational due diligence efforts for the firm's investments. Prior to joining Gores, Mr. Danner led the turnaround of America’s oldest wind turbine company as President and Chief Executive Officer of Northern Power Systems (TSX: NPS). Prior to joining NPS, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of a venture capital-backed biotechnology manufacturing company. Previously, Mr. Danner served for six years at PerkinElmer, Inc. (NYSE: PKI) where he held numerous executive leadership positions, helping transform the company from a broadly diversified defense contractor to a global leader in life sciences, and ultimately running the $450M life science tools group. Earlier in his career, Mr. Danner was a management consultant with McKinsey & Company and an officer in the U.S. Navy’s nuclear submarine force. Mr. Danner earned a B.S. with distinction in mechanical engineering from Cornell University, and an M.B.A. with distinction from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Freedman is responsible for portfolio company financial and operational oversight and controls as well as leading due diligence activities. Prior to joining Gores, Mr. Freedman was CFO of The Learning Company, where he helped lead a successful turnaround and sale of the company. Mr. Freedman held various financial management roles at The Learning Company, Broderbund and Mindscape from 1994 to 2002. From 1988 to 1994, Mr. Freedman held various financial management positions at Paramount Communications. Prior to 1988, Mr. Freedman spent four years in public accounting. Mr. Freedman earned a B.S. in Finance and Accounting from the State University of New York at Binghamton.

Mr. Hattler is responsible for the legal aspects of the negotiation and execution of certain transactions. Prior to joining Gores, Mr. Hattler was an associate at Riordan & McKinzie (now part of Bingham McCutchen), a Los Angeles-based law firm specializing in complex corporate transactions, where he represented a number of private equity groups and emerging growth companies. From 1988 to 1989, Mr. Hattler served as a management consultant with A.T. Kearney, focusing on operational issues. Mr. Hattler earned a B.A. from Amherst College, and earned J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from the University of Chicago.

Mr. Janitz is Chairman and co-founding Partner of Evergreen Capital Partners LLC. Mr. Janitz supports The Gores Group by sourcing investment opportunities and advising on strategy, technology, manufacturing and operations matters in the industrial sector.

Evergreen has previously been engaged by TowerBrook Capital Partners where Mr. Janitz was a member of the Management Advisory Board and by DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, the Private equity arm of Credit Suisse where he held the position of Chairman – Global Industrial Partners. Prior to forming Evergreen, Mr. Janitz served as Co-Managing Principal for Questor Partners Funds, a $1 billion private equity turnaround fund. Before that Mr. Janitz was President, Chief Operating Officer and Member of the Board of Textron Inc. a NYSE-listed multi-industry company with over $12 billion in worldwide sales. Before Textron, Mr. Janitz was an Executive Vice President with TRW Inc. a multi-national company providing advanced technology products and services. In addition, he served as President of Wickes Manufacturing Company, and held a number of key executive positions with Wickes’ predecessor company, Gulf+Western Industries, Inc. Mr. Janitz began his career with Ford Motor Company.

Mr. Janitz holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Villanova University, an M.B.A. from Eastern Michigan University and is a graduate of the Harvard University Advanced Management Program.

Mr. Schiano is a Senior Advisor to The Gores Group. Mr. Schiano supports The Gores Group by sourcing investment opportunities, and providing strategic, operational and financial guidance with respect to portfolio company investments in the industrial sector.

Mr. Schiano is also the President and co-founding Partner of Evergreen Capital Partners LLC. Evergreen has previously been engaged by TowerBrook Capital Partners where Mr. Schiano was a member of the Management Advisory Board and by DLJ Merchant Banking Partners, the Private equity arm of Credit Suisse where he held the position of Vice Chairman – Global Industrial Partners.

Prior to forming Evergreen, Mr. Schiano served as a Managing Director and member of the Investment Committee of Questor Partners Funds. Previously, Mr. Schiano served in various senior operating, finance and M&A roles at Textron Inc., TRW Inc., Wickes Companies Inc., and its predecessor, Gulf+Western Industries Inc. Mr. Schiano began his career at Emerson Electric Company Inc.

Mr. Schiano attended Long Island University, majoring in Finance, the University of Pennsylvania – Wharton School Management Development Program and the Northwestern University – Kellogg School Mergers and Acquisitions Program. He is a Six-Sigma Champion.

Ms. Calender is responsible for finance, compliance, and tax oversight for The Gores Group including its portfolio companies. She manages various finance functions and administers the firm’s compliance requirements. Ms. Calender oversees tax due diligence and structuring of acquisitions and exits. She has extensive experience with accounting and tax issues for global companies and has been involved in a significant number of transactions during her career. Prior to joining Gores, Ms. Calender was a Senior Manager at KPMG and spent 12 years advising clients on complex tax and financial matters. Ms. Calender holds a B.S. in Business Administration, major in Accounting, from Drake University and a Master of Taxation from University of Denver.

Mr. McBride is a Finance and Tax Director for The Gores Group, as well as Chief Financial Officer and Secretary for Gores Holdings II, Inc. Mr. McBride has served as Director, Finance and Tax at The Gores Group since February 2010, where he is responsible for tax due diligence and structuring of acquisitions, compliance, planning, financial management and portfolio company reporting. Mr. McBride also served as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of Gores Holdings, Inc. (Nasdaq: GRSH) from January 2016 until completion of the Hostess acquisition in November 2016. Previously, from January 2008 to January 2010, Mr. McBride worked in the High Net Worth group at Ehrhardt, Keefe, Steiner, and Hottman, P.C. From January 2004 to January 2008, Mr. McBride worked with KPMG, LLP, assisting international corporations with tax planning, structuring and compliance issues. Mr. McBride holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from the University of Notre Dame and is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Colorado.

Mr. Sprowl is responsible for leading due diligence efforts and evaluating and executing investments, divestitures and recapitalizations on behalf of The Gores Group. Since joining the firm in 2010, Mr. Sprowl has had experience across the technology, business services, industrial / building materials and healthcare industries. Prior to joining Gores, Mr. Sprowl was an investment banker with UBS where he executed M&A, equity and debt transactions for clients primarily in the technology and business services industries. Mr. Sprowl holds a B.S. in Business Administration with a concentration in Corporate Finance, cum laude, from the Marshall School of Business of the University of Southern California. He was also a member of the university’s varsity baseball team.

Mr. Awad is involved in many of Gores' legal functions, including the negotiation and execution of acquisitions, divestitures, debt financings, and general corporate matters for Gores and its portfolio companies. Mr. Awad earned a B.S. in Biological Science from the University of California, Irvine, and a J.D. from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles.

Ms. Evans is a Vice President on the Origination team and is responsible for identifying, originating and qualifying new platform and add-on investment opportunities focusing primarily on the Healthcare and Industrials sectors. Prior to joining Gores in 2010, Ms. Evans worked at Hellman & Friedman, LLC. Ms. Evans has a B.A. in Journalism and Speech Communications from Metropolitan State College of Denver.

Ms. Schorvitz is responsible for the oversight and financial reporting for all Fund entities. Prior to joining Gores, Ms. Schorvitz spent nine years at Frontenac Company, a Chicago-based private equity investment firm, where she was the Controller. Ms. Schorvitz earned a B.S. in Accountancy from DePaul University.

Mr. Webb is a Vice President on the Origination team and is responsible for identifying, originating and qualifying new platform and add-on investment opportunities across all industries and investment vehicles. Prior to joining Gores in 2018, Mr. Webb was Managing Partner at Ireland Ventures and Hickory VC – both LA-based venture capital funds backed by high net worth individuals. Before attending business school, Mr. Webb worked at Cummins Inc., a Fortune 500 manufacturer of engines and related technologies, where he provided strategy & planning support to senior leaders and went on to manage the global Oil & Gas Drilling segment. Mr. Webb holds an M.B.A. from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and a B.A. in Economics and Business from Hanover College (IN).

Mr. Skarzenski works with senior M&A and Operations team members on evaluating and executing new investment opportunities and managing portfolio companies. Prior to joining Gores, Mr. Skarzenski was an investment banking analyst at Lazard Frères & Co., focusing on strategic and M&A advisory in the firm’s Healthcare group. Mr. Skarzenski holds a B.A. in Political Science (with a concentration in Game Theory and Formal Theory) and minor in Classics, and graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from UCLA with College Honors and Highest Departmental Honors.

Mr. Zlotnitsky works with senior M&A and Operations team members on evaluating and executing new investment opportunities and managing portfolio companies. Prior to joining Gores, Mr. Zlotnitsky was an investment analyst at Breakaway Capital Partners, focusing on cross-capital structure investments in both healthy and distressed assets. Prior to joining Breakaway, Mr. Zlotnitsky was an investment banking analyst at Houlihan Lokey, focusing on strategic and M&A advisory in the firm’s Industrials group. Mr. Zlotnitsky holds a B.B.A. (with a concentration in Finance and Accounting), and graduated with high distinction from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.