RVK Team

The RVK Team is a select group of professionals of complementary strengths, experience, and specialization. We possess practical corporate experience heightened by expertise in strategic planning, product development, sales and marketing, manufacturing, and finance. Though we are geographically diverse, we are closely linked through proprietary technology and a common focus on our clients.

• Richard Vander Kaay
  richard@vanderkaay.com
  Richard Vander Kaay has served as Managing Director of RVK & Associates, Inc. since founding the firm in 1982. Previously, he held executive management positions with consumer products and electronics companies whose revenues ranged in size from $100 million to $2 billion. His background includes significant experience in strategic planning and corporate development. Richard entered the world of mergers and acquisitions while attempting to acquire a business for his own account. Through this effort, he contacted Portland, Oregon-based Sentrol, Inc., a manufacturer of high-security intrusion sensors, which he sold to The Berwind Corporation of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1983. The company was subsequently acquired by General Electric. This success led to the formation of RVK & Associates. A member of the Association for Corporate Growth and an avid runner, Richard earned a BS in Business Administration from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
• Mark A. Duss
  mad@vanderkaay.com
  Mark Duss joined RVK after four years with The Harry Roman Company of Los Angeles, where he conducted acquisition work for private and public companies. Mark, whose strengths include strong strategic planning and organizational skills, brings more than ten years of expertise in creating proprietary deal flow to his interactions with our private equity and corporate clients. Mark received a BS from the University of Evansville and a MBA from Northeastern University. A dedicated athlete, he participates in several triathlons per year.
• John F. Briscoe
  john@vanderkaay.com
  Medical industry veteran, John Briscoe, joined RVK in 2003 to increase deal flow in the healthcare and medical equipment markets. Before coming on-board, John held the position of Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Medical Data Electronics— a former subsidiary of VIASYS Healthcare, Inc. Over his 30 plus years of experience in the medical field, he has held executive management positions with numerous international companies, including Ohmeda (now part of GE Medical) and Spacelabs Medical. His areas of specialty include patient monitoring, anesthesia systems, medical transportation, infant care, and respiratory products. John studied mechanical engineering at Huddersfield University in England and played professional soccer for the Los Angeles Wolves in his early years. Having held executive positions in Europe and Africa, he adds a global perspective to our firm.
• Rebecca Votto
  rebecca@vanderkaay.com
  Rebecca Votto joined RVK in 2004. Rebecca conducts specific buyer search engagements with a focus on business services, engineered product manufacturing, healthcare, outsourced industrial services, and software. She has over ten years of M&A advisory experience. Prior to joining Richard Vander Kaay & Associates, Rebecca worked at Cook Associates, Inc., a Chicago-based buy-side mergers and acquisitions consultant. She earned her BA from Saint Mary's College of Notre Dame and her MS from DePaul University. An active volunteer, Rebecca has helped raise funds and coordinate events and volunteer groups for the Saint Mary's College and children’s charities in Southern California.
• William H. Schaffer
  bill@vanderkaay.com
  William Schaffer broadens our firm's depth with his extensive industrial and manufacturing competencies, which include automotive parts manufacturing, iron and aluminum casting, die casting, forging, and stamping and machining. He has also directed operations in the making of power transmission equipment, heavy-duty truck components, material handing equipment, industrial rubber products, and job shop machining. William worked for Eaton Corporation for 22 years before serving as President of Shelby Die Casting Company and Crossville Rubber Products. Currently, he serves on the boards of two manufacturing companies. A graduate of St. Lawrence University, he also earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. For recreation, William skis in the Colorado Mountains.
• Charles H. Handley
  charles@vanderkaay.com
  Charles Handley rejoins RVK after 10 years in Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive Officer positions at radio frequency telemetry and energy-saving products companies. Previously, he served as a general management consultant to companies in the ocean freight, metal stamping, farm cooperatives, and security products industries. He also served on the Board of Directors of Elexsys Corporation prior to its acquisition by Sanmina-SCI. Charles earned a BA in electrical engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno and a MBA with a depth field in finance from Stanford University.
• Jeff M. Gill
  jeff@vanderkaay.com
  Jeff Gill joined RVK in April of 2007, after serving as Chief Operating Officer of IPC Information Systems, Inc., a leading provider of mission-critical communications solutions to the world's largest financial services firms as well as to public safety; government security; energy and power; and transportation organizations. Jeff also formerly held the position of President & Chief Executive Officer of British Telecom Financial Systems. His background involves building businesses in start-up, turn-around, IPO, and multi-national environments. Additionally, he has had P&L responsibility in the positions of President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chief Operating Officer in the U.K. and the U.S. Finally, Jeff has extensive global experience of M&A, reorganization, and consolidation in various industries, including telecommunications and business-to-business products and services. Jeff studied accountancy and business administration at Essex College of Advanced Technology, England.
• David Sidney
  david@vanderkaay.com
  David Sidney joined RVK in March of 2007, after serving as Vice President of Arbitrage at AmerisourceBergen, where he managed a $15 billion investment portfolio. Prior to that, he was Director of Mergers and Acquisitions for Apria Healthcare, where he closed over thirty transactions. He has held corporate finance and strategic planning positions in the healthcare, distribution, retail, and food and beverage industries. David earned his BA at UCLA and his MBA at USC. He obtained his CPA working with Deloitte & Touche in their Los Angeles office.