Team Category: Consulting

Chris has been with Chartwell for over 25 years and leads the firm’s consulting practice. He has significant experience in the architecture, engineering, government contractor, and construction industries, having led these industry verticals for Chartwell for many years.

In addition to advising management teams and boards on issues related to ownership and compensation strategies, capital structure, and firm valuation, Chris works frequently with Employee Stock Ownership Plans, providing independent financial advisory services to ESOP trustees and other corporate fiduciaries.

Professional Involvement & Certification

Chris is a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), The ESOP Association, the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), and Employee-Owned S Corporations of America (ESCA). He is a regular presenter to these national trade associations on a variety of topics including capital structures, ESOPs, M&A, ownership transition, and valuation issues. Chris is also a frequent speaker for employee and professional groups, boards of directors, and ESOP trustees.

Chris is designated as an Accredited Senior Appraiser (ASA) in Business Valuation by the American Society of Appraisers. He is also a registered representative with Chartwell affiliate CCS Transactions, LLC and holds FINRA Series 63 and 79 licenses.

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Ryan is a leader in Chartwell’s consulting practice, providing ESOP-owned companies a holistic approach to corporate sustainability. Ryan has been assisting privately-held business owners and management teams in analyzing the financial impact of transactions and the ongoing repurchase obligation for ESOP companies since 2004. He is recognized nationally as a leader in ESOP sustainability and repurchase obligation forecasting. Throughout his career, Ryan has worked with companies of many different sizes in diverse industries across the country. Ryan has worked with over a third of NCEO’s “The Employee Ownership 100: America’s Largest Majority Employee-Owned Companies.”

Professional Involvement

Ryan is an active member of The ESOP Association, where he currently serves on the Administration Advisory Committee, the Programming Committee for the Wisconsin chapter, and the Advocacy Committee for the Minnesota/Dakotas chapter. Ryan is also a member of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO).

Ryan has presented to employee groups, management teams, boards of directors, investors, and trustees on the topics of ESOP sustainability, ESOP repurchase obligation, and the benefits of ESOP ownership.

Professional Experience

Prior to Chartwell, Ryan led the ESOP Financial Analysis Team at Principal Financial Group, providing repurchase liability, feasibility, sustainability and benefit-level modeling to ESOP companies, and helped develop the online repurchase liability modeling software used by hundreds of ESOP companies annually.

Matt leads Chartwell’s executive compensation practice. He works with privately-held companies to obtain relevant pay data and achieve key goals for compensation programs, with a special focus on ESOP companies and equity-based incentives. His passion is helping companies implement successful ownership transition strategies while aligning shareholders, executives, and employees in the achievement of mutually beneficial outcomes. For over 30 years, Matt has worked with companies on all aspects of qualified and non-qualified plan origination, operation, and termination.

Professional Involvement

Matt currently serves on the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) Board of Directors and on the Advisory Committee for Employee-Owned S Corporations of America (ESCA). In addition, Matt is a member of The ESOP Association, where he has previously held leadership positions within the organization. Matt also participates in the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC).

Matt is a frequent speaker and writer at the national level on topics relating to executive compensation, ownership transition alternatives, and qualified and non-qualified plan operational issues.

Professional Experience

Prior to Chartwell, Matt spent 10 years with a leading ESOP consulting firm and 12 years with a Big Four accounting firm where he worked in the National Tax Department advising field employees on rulings and developments affecting employers’ compensation and benefits programs.

For over 15 years, Tina has worked with boards of directors, trustees, and management teams of ESOP-owned companies to develop custom solutions for achieving long-term sustainability. With a deep expertise in ESOP repurchase obligation and plan design consulting, she leads the execution of comprehensive studies which provide analyses of the financial impact of funding all future capital claims, considering a company’s strategic objectives in relation to its ownership structure, and exploring issues related to compensation programs and optimal capital structure. Throughout her career, Tina has worked with hundreds of companies of all sizes in diverse industries across the country.

Professional Involvement

Tina is an active member of The ESOP Association, where she currently serves on the Fiduciary Advisory Committee and is also an officer for the Pennsylvania/Delaware chapter. In addition, Tina is a member of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO), the Ohio Employee Ownership Center (OEOC), and Employee-Owned S Corporations of America (ESCA).

Tina has presented at conferences and events across the country on the topics of ESOP repurchase obligation and sustainability.

Professional Experience

Prior to Chartwell, Tina was a Director and Repurchase Obligation Study and Consulting Practice Manager for ESOP Economics.

Ashleigh is a leader in Chartwell’s consulting practice, where she advises privately held companies with a special focus on ESOP-owned businesses. Ashleigh brings significant experience in executive incentive design, ESOP repurchase obligation planning, and financial modeling and analysis. She enjoys helping a diverse range of clients develop successful compensation and ownership strategies tailored to their unique philosophies and objectives.

In addition to financial advisory, Ashleigh is passionate about fostering an inclusive culture and promoting equity in our surrounding communities. She leads Chartwell’s diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.

Professional Involvement

Ashleigh is an active member of The ESOP Association, where she currently serves on the Administration Advisory Committee. She is also a member of the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO).

Ashleigh speaks regularly at national and regional conferences on topics related to executive compensation and ESOP planning.

Professional Experience

Prior to Chartwell, Ashleigh was a Director and Software Practice Manager for ESOP Economics.