Our Team
Private equity and operating expertise at every level.
Meet The E78 Leaders
E78 has a diverse team of experts with years of experience solving industry-related problems with some incredible backgrounds. Discover the people behind our company.
Employees (No Pop Up)
Jonathan Kern
Jonathan joined E78 Partners in 2023 as Chief Development Officer to lead M&A activity and drive the firm’s inorganic growth strategy. As CDO, Jonathan partners with the executive team and business unit leaders to define acquisition priorities and identify unique companies that will bring additional strategic capabilities to E78 clients and leads the entire acquisition […]
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Ofelia Sanchez
Fund Admin & Accounting Services
Ofelia is a Managing Director at E78 Partners. Prior to E78, she was a Partner at Stern Cassello & Associates, LLC. Ofelia specializes in managing client engagements for Private Equity and Venture Capital (“PE and VC”) clients. She also supports family offices, individuals and other entity types. She focuses on engagement management and operational excellence by […]
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Jim Stern
Jim Stern founded the firm in 1988. Jim specializes in tax planning and compliance for individuals and wealthy families as well as partnerships, corporations and not-for-profits. Jim uses his tax experience and expertise to help clients minimize their tax burden and plan for the future while complying with the latest tax laws and regulations. Prior to starting […]
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Sam Cassello
Sam joined the firm as a partner in 1991. Sam provides tax and accounting services to high net worth individuals, their closely held companies and their families. He has helped his clients in many different types of business including: private equity, professional services, financial services, technology, manufacturing, and real estate. Prior to joining the firm, […]
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Chuck Gottschalk
Executive Services
Chuck Gottschalk leads the E78 Executive Services group. Chuck Gottschalk founded NextLevel (which was aquired by E78 in 2021) with the clear intent of building a premier firm comprised of exceptional executives collectively committed to creating value in our clients; doing so through excellence in service, knowledge sharing to bring the best of our firm-wide capabilities, and a collaborative spirit always focused on our clients’ best interests.
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Marc Patterson
Private Equity Solutions
Marc Patterson is Managing Director of Private Equity and Financial Services at E78 Partners. Marc has over two decades of experience on Wall Street both investing in and advising Private Equity Funds, Venture Capital Funds, Hedge Funds, Family Offices, Growth-stage Companies, and Institutional Investors.
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Corey Allen
Consultative & Interim Solutions
Corey is a sports enthusiast and loves providing game changing opportunities for his clients. He enjoys taking an entrepreneurial approach through a strong network of business allies and innovative thinking from years of serving on boards and working with corporations. Corey leverages over 20 years of public accounting, corporate accounting, and consulting experience, across various […]
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Kim Parker
Kim is our self-proclaimed “CFO”, that’s “Chief Fun Officer”. Exceptional client service is really what she’s all about. Always looking for ways to inspire, engage, delight or create a lasting solution or memory. Kim’s focus on Finance and Accounting for over 20 years has earned her a reputation for identifying game changers that make the difference. Her […]
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Brittany Burke
Consultative & Interim Solutions
Brittany, a friend to all and completely “lovable” from the first minute you meet her. She enjoys creating meaningful and lasting relationships by being an advocate and communication channel for her candidates. With her diverse background, including her time in Human Resources, Brittany truly believes she has found her calling in recruiting game changing talent […]
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Jaime Chisolm
Consultative & Interim Solutions
Jaime (not Jamie) holds records for her fast talking, get to the point, personality, and her long eyelashes. She wants to get you working so if you’re looking to get busy, give her a call. Jaime loves to parachute top caliber accounting experts into her clients for interim and consulting projects. While she started her […]
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Theresa Lopez
Consultative & Interim Solutions
Theresa hailed as a “wizard at streamlining chaos”, boasts over 13 years of dynamic experience in project management, administration management, and relationship cultivation. Her passion for continuous improvement and innovation has driven her professional development, staying at the forefront of industry trends and best practices. Theresa’s zest for life is fueled by connecting with new […]
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Michael Gangnath
Michael serves as the Executive Managing Director over Accounting Services of E78 Partners. Michael’s the one with the funny English accent who leads this team with his strategic and operational vision. His priority is the success and growth of the E78 Partners team, allowing them to focus on the needs of our clients and candidates.
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Executive Leadership
John Signa
John Signa founded E78 Partners with the vision of building a specialty
consulting practice dedicated to solving the unique financial and operational needs of private
equity firms and their portfolio companies. As CEO, John is responsible for developing and
executing the firm’s strategy and creating value for all key stakeholders.
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Daniel Shin
Dan serves as the Chief Operating Officer of E78 Partners. Dan is a data-driven
executive with a deep finance and analytics background spanning multiple industries and
contexts. Dan understands the power of information and has spent the better part of his career
transforming organizations to partner with enterprise stakeholders to enhance business
outcomes.
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Adam East
Adam East is a Managing Director and co-founder of E78 Partners. Adam has firm responsibilities across corporate finance, financial reporting, analysis, and firm administration. Adam also leads client engagements for private equity clients, with an emphasis on Interim Executive roles, transaction advisory services, and performance enhancement projects. Prior to E78, Adam worked at Sterling Partners […]
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Sarah Purlee
Sarah serves as E78's Chief Human Resources Officer. As a “People First” leader, she's committed her career to supporting businesses in becoming great places to work. This isn’t always an easy task as client demands, market volatility, and leadership changes can create a feeling of uncertainty. Sarah views it as her job to create a pathway between the strategic goals of the organization and its most valuable asset- its people.
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John Buccola
John Buccola is a highly experienced IT Leader at E78, where he oversees all IT related efforts at E78.
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Abbie Diamantopoulos
Abbie serves as Chief of Staff at E78 Partners. Abbie’s primary role is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the company and ensuring that the CEO’s vision is executed effectively. She works closely with the executive team to develop and implement strategies that drive growth and profitability. Abbie believes data drives decisions, and has […]
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John Cataldo
Cost Management Services
John is a highly accomplished Executive Managing Director at E78, where he co-leads the company's Cost Management Services (CMS) Group. With extensive experience in managing complex technical projects and optimizing business operations, John is responsible for the overall management and strategic direction of E78's cost management services.
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Lisa Clarke
Executive Services
Lisa Clarke is executive managing director of executive services with E78 Partners. She has 25 years of experience serving in operating roles for organizations in the manufacturing, technology, and services industries, and has held executive roles across a wide range of operating disciplines in startup and mid-market companies. She has a track record of success […]
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Senior Leadership
Vince Calcagno
Fund Solutions
Vincent leads our Fund Solutions group and specializes in C-Suite strategic, operational, financial, accounting, tax and compliance consulting for the alternative investments industry, and the investment professionals and family offices who invest in and sponsor private fund products.
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Nick Castoria
Fund Solutions
Nick is a highly accomplished Managing Director of Fund Solutions at E78 Partners, with a proven track record of success in the investment industry. He joined E78 through the acquisition of Agile Fund Solutions LLC, where he was the Founder and COO.
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Dan Stankey
Executive Services
Dan is the former Founder and CEO of Outliers, LLC. Here he showcased his expertise leading initiatives to refine the accounting functions of portfolio companies in the lower middle and middle market private equity sectors, as well as family offices. With an arsenal of tools and methodologies he developed from his tenure as a private […]
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Brett Lawson
Accounting Services
Brett serves as the Executive Managing Director over Accounting Services of E78 Partners.
Brett’s the one with the funny English accent who leads this team with his strategic and operational vision. His priority is the success and growth of the E78 Partners team, allowing
them to focus on the needs of our clients and candidates.
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Sabiha McConnell
Accounting Services
Sabiha brings over 20 years public accounting and consulting experience across various industries, including manufacturing, oil field services, retail, oil and gas, and energy. Her areas of focus include SEC reporting, technical accounting, internal controls and internal audits, pre-audit and IPO readiness, system implementations, and business process transformation and improvement. Sabiha’s technical background, experience, and […]
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Kristy Boles
Contingent Executive Search
Kristy brings over 20 years of experience in recruiting, leadership, and business development. As a proven performer, leader, and team player she has consistently delivered results throughout her career. With an uncanny talent of staying level-headed and telling it like it is, she brings passion to every relationship and strives to be a recruiting partner […]
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Rachel Seashore
Accounting Services
Rachel leads the E78 Accounting Managed Services and Fractional Support Services groups and has more than 20 years of progressive financial and operational leadership. She is a classically trained CPA that has built accounting and operating teams across several industries, with extensive experience in startup, high growth, and M&A environments. Rachel began her career with […]
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Ken Schatz
NetSuite Services
As the Managing Director for E78 Partners’ ERP Systems and Services, Ken’s ultimate goal is ensuring the successful adoption and use of Oracle NetSuite and Sage Intacct for our clients. In this role, he is involved in everything from sales enablement to people management to delivery and is tasked with growing and maturing our industry-leading […]
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Joe Kwasniewski
Private Equity Solutions
Joe is a Senior Managing Director of Commercial at E78 Partners. Joe joined E78 through the acquisition of Cadilus Inc., where he was the Chief Commercial Officer and at the forefront of building an innovative go-to-market and sales capability.
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Ofelia Sanchez
Fund Admin & Accounting Services
Ofelia is a Managing Director at E78 Partners. Prior to E78, she was a Partner at Stern Cassello & Associates, LLC. Ofelia specializes in managing client engagements for Private Equity and Venture Capital (“PE and VC”) clients. She also supports family offices, individuals and other entity types. She focuses on engagement management and operational excellence by […]
Learn More
Jim Stern
Jim Stern founded the firm in 1988. Jim specializes in tax planning and compliance for individuals and wealthy families as well as partnerships, corporations and not-for-profits. Jim uses his tax experience and expertise to help clients minimize their tax burden and plan for the future while complying with the latest tax laws and regulations. Prior to starting […]
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Sam Cassello
Sam joined the firm as a partner in 1991. Sam provides tax and accounting services to high net worth individuals, their closely held companies and their families. He has helped his clients in many different types of business including: private equity, professional services, financial services, technology, manufacturing, and real estate. Prior to joining the firm, […]
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Howard Nurtman
Fund Solutions
C-Suite Executive Management, Controller & Support Services, Fund Launch Formation, Regulatory & Compliance Services, Advisory Support Services, ESG Services, Fund Admin & Accounting, Investor Services & Reporting, Finance Services, Portfolio Monitoring
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Doug Adler
Executive Services
Doug Adler has 30 years of experience driving shareholder value and maximizing outcomes as a trusted strategic and operational financial leader and advisor, having built numerous leading practices at Investment Banking and Consulting firms and as a CFO for a PE-backed Technology Services company. Doug is an active member of the Portland area community. He […]
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