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. - Jerry Burdick
jerry@vanderkaay.com
Jerry’s strong operating background includes his most recent position as President, Founder and primary consultant for Burdick Management, Inc., where he provided guidance and assistance to small and middle-market companies in the areas of acquisitions/dispositions and SEC reporting and compliance.
Previously, Jerry served as Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary, and Director of SeraCare, Inc., a leading provider of source plasma- and biologically-based products focused on virology, serology, immunology, and molecular biology (1993-2004 - the Company was acquired by Grupo Grifols, S.A.).
Jerry also formerly held key financial positions at: International Rectifier Corporation, a world leader in the development and manufacturing of power semiconductors (MOSFET, IBGT, Diodes and Thyristors); Candle Corporation, a leading developer of diagnostic computer software products (acquired by IBM); Getty Oil Company (acquired by Texaco, Inc.); and Whittaker Corporation, a designer and manufacturer of fluid control devices and systems for commercial and military aircraft.
Jerry is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MBA in economics and marketing, a BBA in accounting, and a second BBA in business management from Woodbury University in Glendale, California. - Mark A. Duss
mad@vanderkaay.com
Mark Duss joined RVK in 1995 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 15 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. - 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. - Christine Lewis
christine@vanderkaay.com
With over 20 years of management experience in the construction products and homebuilding industries, Christine brings a history of delivering revenue, profit, and growth for start-up, turn-around, and rapid growth environments. Most recently, she served as General Sales Manager of one of the largest home builders in the nation—Pulte Homes, Corp. where she led a high-performing sales team in the management of several brands, including active adult, country club, and entry level segments, across several markets. During her 16-year tenure with Pulte Homes, Christine also developed sales training programs, cultivated internal and external relationships, and incorporated creative marketing concepts with strategic sales techniques, all of which enhanced the company’s bottom line. Christine received a BFA at CSULB in Architectural Interior Design. - 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. - Ingo Stralkowski
ingo@vanderkaay.com
Ingo Stralkowski rejoined RVK in 2010, after spending 2 years working at H.I.G. Europe’s London office, where he was responsible for new business development and deal execution. Having conducted major European search initiatives for our firm in a wide range of markets from chemicals to post-secondary education to internet marketing, Ingo has been instrumental in generating proprietary deal flow on RVK’s Europe behalf. Previously, he worked in the investment banking divisions of Lehman Brothers (Frankfurt) and Commerzbank AG (Frankfurt and New York). Born and raised in Germany, Ingo speaks German, English, and Spanish. He holds a B.Sc. (Hons) in Business Administration from Frankfurt School of Finance and Management and California State University, Long Beach, where he was a Fulbright Scholar. Currently, Ingo is a Joseph Wharton Fellow at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania (graduating with an MBA in 2012). He is also a former member of the German national field hockey team and the Rotary Club of Chelsea, London, where he served as Vice and Incoming President. Ingo's diverse background enables him to match the interests of RVK's U.S. and European clients, while bringing a global perspective to the firm. - Jeff Wakefield
jwakefield@vanderkaay.com
Jeff brings 15 years of experience in corporate leadership positions to our firm. Formerly, he served as President of two prominent U.S. companies in the financial services industry. For a decade, he was responsible for the overall leadership and direction for these companies, during which time he implemented and managed double-digit annual growth. Jeff’s expertise lies in corporate development, training, marketing, and operations management. His background also includes M&A, finance, deal flow creation, exit strategy consultation, and business start-up. He is an honor graduate of the University of Puget Sound and studied abroad at Waseda University in Tokyo, Japan. Jeff broadens our firm’s perspective through his understanding of the Japanese language and culture.