Team
Our team has decades of private equity experience and has a proven track record of helping lower middle-market companies succeed.
We have accumulated unique experience addressing a wide range of business opportunities and issues over multiple economic cycles. As Midwesterners, we take pride in hard work and are protective of our culture that embraces collaboration, shared success and straightforward communication. Many firms make these claims, but at Shorehill it is in our DNA.
Dave Hawkins
Managing Partner & Co-Founder
Education
- B.S., Indiana University
- M.B.A., Northwestern University
Prior Work Experience
- CHS Capital LLC
- Heller Equity Capital Corporation
- Chase Manhattan Bank
Portfolio Involvement
- Ascent Lifting, Inc.
- Belt Power Holdings, LLC
- Flexpak, LLC
- Functional Devices, Inc.
- Jeffrey Chain, L.P.
- Kranson Industries, Inc.
- KHC Holdings, Inc. (Kele Inc.)
- Power Grid Components, Inc.
- Stronghaven, Inc.
- SunSource Holdings, Inc.
- Tharco Containers
- Triad Technologies, LLC
- Tribus Aerospace LLC
- TricorBraun Holdings, Inc.
- Utiliserve, Inc.
- Woods Equipment Co.
Brian Simmons
Partner & Co-Founder
Education
- A.B., Cornell University
Prior Work Experience
- CHS Capital LLC
- Citicorp
- Mellon Bank
Portfolio Involvement
- Ascent Lifting, Inc.
- Baker Tanks, Inc.
- Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc.
- Belt Power Holdings, LLC
- CII Technologies, Inc.
- Dura-Line Holdings, Inc.
- Flexpak, LLC
- Functional Devices, Inc.
- GSE Holding, Inc.
- Hunt Valve
- Jeffrey Chain, L.P.
- KHC Holdings, Inc. (Kele Inc.)
- The Koller Group
- NorthStar Group Holdings
- Power Grid Components, Inc.
- Precise Technology, Inc.
- Stronghaven, Inc.
- Thermon Group, Inc.
- Triad Technologies, LLC
- Tribus Aerospace LLC
- Waddington North America, Inc.
- Weasler, Inc.
- Woods Equipment Co.
Charlie Denison
Managing Director
Education
- B.S., University of Colorado at Boulder
- M.B.A., Northwestern University
Prior Work Experience
- Boston Consulting Group
- Adams Street Partners
- Merrill Lynch
Portfolio Involvement
- Flexpak, LLC
- Functional Devices, Inc.
- Power Grid Components, Inc.
- Triad Technologies, LLC
Rob Hogan
Managing Director,Business Development
Education
- B.A., University of Notre Dame
- M.B.A., Northwestern University
Prior Work Experience
- CHS Capital LLC
- Lehman Brothers, Inc.
Portfolio Involvement
- Belt Power Holdings, LLC
- Functional Devices, Inc.
- KHC Holdings, Inc. (Kele Inc.)
- NorthStar Group Holdings
- Stronghaven, Inc.
- SunSource Holdings, Inc.
Robert Jackson
Managing Director
Education
- B.S., Marquette University
Prior Work Experience
- McGladrey
- Baker Tilly
Portfolio Involvement
- Ascent Lifting, Inc.
- Belt Power Holdings, LLC
- Power Grid Components, Inc.
- Tribus Aerospace LLC
- Estex Manufacturing
John Lavin
Principal, Business Development
Education
- B.A., Creighton University
- M.S.A., University of Illinois
- M.B.A., Northwestern University
Prior Work Experience
- Prairie Capital
- Lincoln International
- William Gabriel Automotive
Conor McCarthy
Vice President
Education
- B.S., Vanderbilt University
- M.B.A., UCLA
Prior Work Experience
- Teleo Capital Management
- UBS Investment Bank
- Dresner Partners
Portfolio Involvement
- Belt Power Holdings, LLC
- Flexpak, LLC
- Power Grid Components, Inc.
Anna Hofmockel
Associate
Education
- B.S., DePaul University
Prior Work Experience
- B2B Industrial Packaging, LLC
- (312) Investments
George Oxler
Associate
Education
- B.S.B.A., Creighton University
Prior Work Experience
- Prairie Capital Advisors
- Associated Bank
Kyle Phillips
Associate
Education
- B.B.A., University of Dayton
Prior Work Experience
- Fifth Third Securities
Colin Winchester
Associate
Education
- B.S., Northwestern University
- M.S., Northwestern University
Prior Work Experience
- CIL Management Consultants
Sean McCarthy
Chief Financial Officer, Chief Compliance Officer
Education
- B.S., Villanova University
- M.B.A., Columbia University
Prior Work Experience
- Gates Capital Management, Inc
- PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Ciara Connolly
Marketing Manager, Business Development
Education
- B.S, Santa Clara University
Prior Work Experience
- William Blair
- Salesforce
Sue Gurgone
Staff Accountant
Education
- B.S., John Carroll University
- M.S., Northwestern University
Prior Work Experience
- Snap36, LLC
- Material Sciences Corporation
- Arthur Andersen
- Syntronic Instruments
- Kraft Foods
- FMC Corporation
- KPMG
Our Culture
Invest Wisely Make Few Mistakes Continuously Improve Enjoy What You Do
When you partner with us, you quickly realize that we don’t operate like other private equity firms. We believe it starts with our values and how we demonstrate those values every day.
Our Values
Honesty & Integrity
Strategic Approach
Collaboration

Open Communication
Accountability
Work/Life Balance
Executive Advisors
We have spent our careers cultivating relationships with an extensive network of executives and seasoned industry experts.
These visionary leaders have direct experience building businesses, many of them entrepreneurs and business owners themselves. Our Executive Advisor Network includes c-suite executives and board directors from over 20 different industries.
Our network is engaged throughout our investment process. Early on, our advisors offer insights on investment opportunities, make introductions to relevant industry sources and assist in evaluating due diligence findings. Post-investment, we use our Executive Advisors as members of a company’s board of directors and as mentors to our management teams.
Become A Shorehill Executive Advisor
We view our Executive Advisors not as day-to-day operators, but as a source of strategic guidance and trusted counsel to our management teams to improve the execution of strategic initiatives.
If you are interested in becoming an Executive Advisor, please reach out to a member of our team.