The Pareto & Company team offers a wealth of financial and operational expertise, along with outside-the-box creativity unmatched by other firms. In addition, we can tap into a deep network of advisors with decades of industry and financial experience to help accelerate the growth of our portfolio companies.
PARTNERS
Cory Sandrock
Cory is the Founder and Managing Partner of Pareto & Company. He is also an adjunct professor of finance and economics at Northwestern University and has lectured at The University of Chicago. His career has followed a unique path from theatre and film production to investment banking and private equity, with every role combining his creative approach and robust analytical skills. Cory has managed more than $3 billion in financing transactions and has held financial, operational, and transaction lead roles for Northern Trust, The University of Chicago, UBS, and other companies. He has held a board role in most Pareto & Company portfolio companies and has led governance efforts at other firms. He is also a long-time supporter of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, as well as GreenMan Theatre Troupe.
Cory received a B.S. in Theatre, cum laude, from Northwestern University, and an MBA in Finance and Economics from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Cory is the Founder and Managing Partner of Pareto & Company. He is also an adjunct professor of finance and economics at Northwestern University and has lectured at The University of Chicago. His career has followed a unique path from theatre and film production to investment banking and private equity, with every role combining his creative approach and robust analytical skills. Cory has managed more than $3 billion in financing transactions and has held financial, operational, and transaction lead roles for Northern Trust, The University of Chicago, UBS, and other companies. He has held a board role in most Pareto & Company portfolio companies and has led governance efforts at other firms. He is also a long-time supporter of Mercy Home for Boys and Girls, as well as GreenMan Theatre Troupe.
Cory received a B.S. in Theatre, cum laude, from Northwestern University, and an MBA in Finance and Economics from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.
Collin Ritter
Collin is a Partner with Pareto & Company. He has led corporate development efforts for multiple Pareto & Company platforms, while also managing investor relations and other key duties. His background includes business development roles for organizations such as TEDx and National Public Radio, as well as data science and innovation research projects as part of the Northwestern Institute of Complex Systems, The Farley Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and FH Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences.
Collin holds a B.S. in Corporate Communication and Marketing, summa cum laude, from Southeast Missouri State University and an M.S. in Leadership for Creative Enterprises and Entrepreneurship from Northwestern University. He is currently completing his MBA studies at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.
Collin is a Partner with Pareto & Company. He has led corporate development efforts for multiple Pareto & Company platforms, while also managing investor relations and other key duties. His background includes business development roles for organizations such as TEDx and National Public Radio, as well as data science and innovation research projects as part of the Northwestern Institute of Complex Systems, The Farley Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and FH Schmalkalden University of Applied Sciences.
Collin holds a B.S. in Corporate Communication and Marketing, summa cum laude, from Southeast Missouri State University and an M.S. in Leadership for Creative Enterprises and Entrepreneurship from Northwestern University. He is currently completing his MBA studies at the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business.
ADVISORS
SERVICES
Jessica Fryer
Jess previously has more than two decades of finance experience at various CPG companies, including Stone Brewing, Constellation Brands, Harmless Harvest, and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Her expertise includes long-term planning, financial projections and modeling, budget performance management, business process identification and improvement, and engineering in the technology sector.
Bob Peele
Bob has devoted most of his career to wealth management at both Merrill Lynch and UBS, where he has built and led successful sales teams. Additionally, Bob has served as Founder and Chairman of the Midwest Business Study Council for four decades and is a Partner in Colony 9 LLC, a luxury home real estate development company that owns Forest Creek Golf Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Irwin Steinberg
Irwin is a CPA with four decades of experience in public accounting and management. In 1999, he founded Steinberg Advisors, a comprehensive accounting and consulting company, and grew its annual revenues to $10 million before exiting to a top 20 national accounting firm. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Illinois CPA Society, Young Presidents Organization Gold Chapter, and the Economic Development Commission of Long Grove, Illinois.
B2B PRODUCTS
William Castellano
William started his career as a computer programmer and IBM Systems Engineer, which prepared him for success in IBM mainframe sales and as a leader in the computer leasing industry. After selling his leasing company to Chrysler, he continued to grow the business and was an active director and early investor in The Private Bank. He is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur who has launched successful ventures in the technology and financial services industries.
Michael Drew
As a founding principal of Structured Development, LLC, Michael has been engaged in the real estate development and construction management business over four decades. Michael has extensive experience in all phases of the construction process, especially scheduling of labor forces and subcontractors, as well as comparative purchasing of material and equipment.
Daniel Lukas
Daniel co-founded Structured Development, LLC, and was previously engaged since 1985 in the practice of law with the law firm of Seyfarth Shaw. At Seyfarth Shaw, he handled a wide range of real estate, tax, financing, and corporate matters, and gained expertise in the representation of real estate development firms.
NICHE MANUFACTURING
Greg Landis
Greg served as President of Landis Plastics, Inc., a leader in plastic packaging, and managed its sales growth of more than 10% annually for 15 years. He sold the firm to Fortune 500 manufacturer Berry Global, Inc. in 2003 and led its Container Division until retirement. Since retiring, Greg has managed self-storage and private equity investments, supervised various family investment portfolios, and launched a family office along with the Landis Family Foundation.
Jeffrey Thrall
Jeffrey serves as President & CEO of the Chicago-based Thrall Enterprises, Inc. In this position, he oversees a wholly owned subsidiary, Nazdar Company, a manufacturer and distributor of digital, screen printing and flexo inks, equipment, and supplies headquartered in Shawnee, Kansas. He also helps manage various private equity investments and a minority interest in Plexus Holdings Limited, a UK-based manufacturer of equipment for offshore drilling.
Randy Thrall
Randy serves on the Board and as Vice President of the Chicago-based Thrall Enterprises, Inc., where he oversees corporate operations, investment real estate, and private equity investments. Additionally, he served as a Board Member for the National Kidney Foundation and remains a Visiting Committee Board Member for the University of Chicago Hospital.
Jessica Fryer
Jess previously has more than two decades of finance experience at various CPG companies, including Stone Brewing, Constellation Brands, Harmless Harvest, and Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. Her expertise includes long-term planning, financial projections and modeling, budget performance management, business process identification and improvement, and engineering in the technology sector.
Bob Peele
Bob has devoted most of his career to wealth management at both Merrill Lynch and UBS, where he has built and led successful sales teams. Additionally, Bob has served as Founder and Chairman of the Midwest Business Study Council for four decades and is a Partner in Colony 9 LLC, a luxury home real estate development company that owns Forest Creek Golf Club in Pinehurst, North Carolina.
Irwin Steinberg
Irwin is a CPA with four decades of experience in public accounting and management. In 1999, he founded Steinberg Advisors, a comprehensive accounting and consulting company, and grew its annual revenues to $10 million before exiting to a top 20 national accounting firm. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Illinois CPA Society, Young Presidents Organization Gold Chapter, and the Economic Development Commission of Long Grove, Illinois.
B2B PRODUCTS
William Castellano
William started his career as a computer programmer and IBM Systems Engineer, which prepared him for success in IBM mainframe sales and as a leader in the computer leasing industry. After selling his leasing company to Chrysler, he continued to grow the business and was an active director and early investor in The Private Bank. He is a seasoned executive and entrepreneur who has launched successful ventures in the technology and financial services industries.
Michael Drew
As a founding principal of Structured Development, LLC, Michael has been engaged in the real estate development and construction management business over four decades. Michael has extensive experience in all phases of the construction process, especially scheduling of labor forces and subcontractors, as well as comparative purchasing of material and equipment.
Daniel Lukas
Daniel co-founded Structured Development, LLC, and was previously engaged since 1985 in the practice of law with the law firm of Seyfarth Shaw. At Seyfarth Shaw, he handled a wide range of real estate, tax, financing, and corporate matters, and gained expertise in the representation of real estate development firms.
NICHE MANUFACTURING
Greg Landis
Greg served as President of Landis Plastics, Inc., a leader in plastic packaging, and managed its sales growth of more than 10% annually for 15 years. He sold the firm to Fortune 500 manufacturer Berry Global, Inc. in 2003 and led its Container Division until retirement. Since retiring, Greg has managed self-storage and private equity investments, supervised various family investment portfolios, and launched a family office along with the Landis Family Foundation.
Jeffrey Thrall
Jeffrey serves as President & CEO of the Chicago-based Thrall Enterprises, Inc. In this position, he oversees a wholly owned subsidiary, Nazdar Company, a manufacturer and distributor of digital, screen printing and flexo inks, equipment, and supplies headquartered in Shawnee, Kansas. He also helps manage various private equity investments and a minority interest in Plexus Holdings Limited, a UK-based manufacturer of equipment for offshore drilling.
Randy Thrall
Randy serves on the Board and as Vice President of the Chicago-based Thrall Enterprises, Inc., where he oversees corporate operations, investment real estate, and private equity investments. Additionally, he served as a Board Member for the National Kidney Foundation and remains a Visiting Committee Board Member for the University of Chicago Hospital.
