Steelhead Partners, LLC

Co-founder, Managing Member, Equity Strategies

Michael co-founded Steelhead Partners, LLC in late 1996. He manages the firm’s equity strategies.
As senior vice president and senior portfolio manager at Loews Corporation, he co-managed over $5 billion in corporate bonds and managed an equity portfolio.
Michael began his investment career at Prudential Insurance as a high yield and investment grade credit analyst. He was promoted to co-portfolio manager of an $11 billion fixed income portfolio in 1991.
Other applicable experience includes responsibilities as a credit analyst at Texas American Bank from 1985 to 1987.
He graduated with honors from Texas Christian University in 1985 with a BA in finance and received his MBA from the Johnson Graduate School of Business at Cornell University in 1989.

Senior Portfolio Manager, Convertible Strategies

Scott joined Steelhead in 2005 from Loews Corporation. He and firm co-founder Michael Johnston were previously colleagues at both Loews and Prudential Insurance.
In 1992, Scott joined Loews as a senior vice president and senior portfolio manager. As co-manager of the investment-grade corporate portfolio, he was responsible for over $5 billion in assets. During this time he developed an interest in convertible securities and, with Loews' support, launched an in-house portfolio. By 2003 he was running convertible funds totaling $800 million.
Upon completing his MBA, Scott joined Prudential Insurance as a portfolio manager. He assumed responsibility for two fixed-income mutual funds, as well as the fixed-income components of two asset allocation funds. He became the designated investment-grade corporate bond expert in the mutual fund group.
Scott began his career at IBM in Bethesda, Maryland as a computer programmer. He was with IBM from 1984 to 1986.
He interned at The Travelers in 1987 as an investment analyst, modeling optionality in corporate bonds.
Scott was educated at Duke University (magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa). He graduated in 1984 with dual majors in economics and computer science and received his MBA in finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1988.

Co-founder, Managing Member

Brian co-founded Steelhead Partners, LLC in late 1996.
As vice president and executive director in the equities division at Goldman Sachs from 1991 to 1996, Brian worked with some of the world's largest institutional investors in Frankfurt, Germany, and Boston. During that time he also managed money on a discretionary basis.
Brian was trained in credit analysis at the Bayerische Vereinsbank in Munich, Germany. He started in the credit department in 1988 before serving as assistant to the director of investment banking from 1989 to 1991.
He graduated from Texas Christian University in 1980 with a BA in history and earned his MBA at Southern Methodist University in 1986.

Trader and analyst

Mike joined Steelhead Partners in 2000 to assist Michael Johnston with research and trading.
Prior to joining Steelhead, he was vice president and manager of institutional sales at Ragen MacKenzie, a regional, value-oriented research broker in Seattle. Mike also served as interim research analyst in 1998 and 1999, covering telecommunications, software, and network equipment companies.
Mike spent four years at Stellar International, a Seattle private holding company. He constructed, recommended, and implemented portfolio investment strategies based on fundamental analysis and a contrarian value methodology.
He received his undergraduate and MBA degrees from Seattle University in 1993 and 1997, respectively.

Analyst

J.D. joined Steelhead Partners in 2005 to support the firm's research activities.
Before joining Steelhead, J.D. was an associate at Newbridge Capital, LLC, an Asia-focused private equity fund formed by Texas Pacific Group and Blum Capital Partners. During his time at Newbridge, he participated in all aspects of transaction execution, including deal sourcing and legal, accounting and financial due diligence across Southeast Asia and Australia. He also participated in the monitoring and supervision of portfolio companies.
J.D. was a investment banking analyst for Lazard Freres, LLC in their New York mergers and acquisitions group. While at Lazard, he performed extensive valuation and strategic analysis for companies across a wide range of industries.
He graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Washington & Lee University in 1998 and received his MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2005.

Analyst

Nick joined Steelhead Partners in July 2008 to assist Scott Schaefer with research and analysis in the convertibles arena.
Prior to joining Steelhead, Nick worked at Franklin Templeton Investments, Odyssey Value Advisors, LLC, and Lumen Advisors, LLC, collectively performing credit analysis, building financial models, and developing trading strategies.
Nick spent six years in derivatives research and trading at Russell Investment Group (formerly Frank Russell Co.) and Rotella Capital Management.
He received a B.A. in Business Leadership (finance emphasis) from University of Puget Sound in 2000 and received his MBA from the Haas School of Business at the University of California, Berkeley, in 2008.