Managing Partner
Michael Bennett
Michael Bennett is an entrepreneur at heart. His primary business has been structuring private money commercial and residential real estate loan transactions over the past 18 year.s During this time frame his company, B.E. Lending, has arranged over $500+ million in debt transactions.
Mike is also a principle owner in BG Wild, Bellair Golf Park, and Mike’s Grub. BG Wild is an outdoor adventure company that coordinates trips to Havasupai Falls. Bellair Golf Park is a historic 75 acre executive 18 hole golf “park” located in Glendale, AZ. Mike’s Grub in Tempe, AZ, boasts sit-down quality food in a drive-thru setting with the best customer service around!
FOUNDING PARTNER
Aaron Klusman
Aaron Klusman is a serial entrepreneur and private investor who specializes in retail real estate development through his personal company, Klusman Family Holdings. AK Collectives covers all of Aaron’s personal ventures, setting the vision and direction in creating and investing in collaborative enterprises that inspire a common good. Aaron is Co-Founder/Managing Partner with a dear friend in a private investment firm called Camelback Partners. He is Co-Founder/Managing Partner of Camelback Realty Group, which has historically invested principally in land development. He is Founder/Owner of Neighborhood Concepts under which he has founded such companies as Zoyo Neighborhood Yogurt and Modern Grove, a neighborhood eatery and market. Aaron created Arcadia Food & Beverage Co to cover his seed investments in unique food and beverage products, most recently a beverage company he founded, called Neighborhood Initiatives.
Aaron is Founder/Chairman of New Learning Ventures, Inc, a private philanthropic venture capital fund that invests in educational entrepreneurs, rethinking and reshaping education in Arizona. He also co-founded Acton Academy Arizona, a K-8 school focused on helping kids find a calling that will change the world. Aaron serves on various volunteer boards.
At Arizona State University, Aaron Klusman was named a Freshman All-American in baseball. He currently lives in Arcadia with his wife, Sarah, and four young sons, Austin, Carson, Hudson, and Camden.
Board of Directors
BRIAN MACKAY
Brian Mackay is a Principal at Marketplace One, where he provides leadership to the One Institute, an innovative initiative for leadership development focusing on early career entrepreneurial marketplace leaders. He is also responsible for business development with select portfolio companies.
Previously, Brian worked for ten years in the financial services industry with Claymore Securities and Nuveen Investments, and as a private banker. He has been involved in a variety of charitable work in both domestic and international contexts.
Brett Brooks
Brett Brooks is the Director for Strategic Partnerships & Global Business Development at Troon Golf. Brett has held various positions in his 15 year tenure with Troon Golf. Troon is comprised of six primary brands committed to providing best-in-class hospitality and club management services for 160+ clubs from coast to coast (and Hawaii).
Chad Barnett
Chad Barnett has garnered over 25 years of management and leadership experience in the quick serve restaurant industry and is currently the President of Foods 2000, a SUBWAY franchise company with over 45 restaurant locations. Foods 2000 has been in business since 1990, and he has been leading the company and team of 500+ employees since 2000.
In addition to his role with Foods 2000, Chad volunteers with other boards including the SUBWAY Franchise Advertising Fund Trust, SUBWAY Kids and Sports of Arizona, Phoenix Advantage Charter School and Partners in Action, an international non-profit that oversees humanitarian efforts in several countries across Africa. Chad has lived in Arizona since 1997 where he resides with his wife, Jeana and three children.
Kyle Brown
Kyle Brown is the President and Chief Investment Office at Trinity Capital. Since 2008, Trinity Capital and it's affiliates have worked closely with leading venture capital firms and their respective portfolio companies to offer valuable support, enhanced flexibility and competitive venture debt financing solutions to customers with distinctive needs. The Trinity portfolio includes clients in the software, semiconductors and hardware, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, energy and efficiency, consumer and retail, networking and equipment, and clean technology industries. Having funded some of the world’s most innovative startup companies, Trinity is the partner of choice for venture-backed technology startups wanting an experienced partner to help strengthen their financial position while preserving equity.