Venture Back Office

Lauren Cozzarelli

Staff Accountant

lcozzarelli@venturebackoffice.com

• Experienced in Accounts Payable, as well as Client Billings and Collections
• Recent audit experience includes internships with Battelle Memorial Institute and PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Bachelor's Degree in Accounting from Wofford College in Spartanburg, South Carolina
• Currently pursuing Masters of Accountancy at NC State University in Raleigh, North Carolina

Sheila R. Gibson

Director

sgibson@venturebackoffice.com

• Over 20 years of experience in both public and industry accounting, including 4 years private equity experience
• Extensive experience in financial reporting and treasury management for companies in the financial services industry
• Professional organizations include AICPA, NCACPA
• Masters of Business Administration from University of Maryland in College Park, Maryland
• Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Towson University in Towson, Maryland

Wm. Michael Gorman

Managing Director/Founder

mgorman@venturebackoffice.com

• Over 12 years of private equity experience, including 5 years as the Chief Financial Officer of The Aurora Funds, Inc.
• Over 6 years in public accounting with Ernst & Young, including 2+ years of venture firm audit experience
• Extensive experience in various financial and operational executive roles in both public and private companies
• Over 5 years' experience in running an international shared service center
• Professional organizations include PECFOA, VCBC, NVCA, AICPA, NCACPA, IMA
• Other credentials include Bachelors of Science in Accounting from Canisius College in Buffalo, New York

Andrew R Holtgrewe

Manager

aholtgrewe@venturebackoffice.com

• Over 10 years of progressive accounting and finance experience
• Extensive experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial planning, and financial reporting across a variety of industries, most recently serving as the Director of Finance for a $500M information services company
• 5 years of public and private audit experience, including 3 years in Ernst & Young's real estate audit and assurance practice
• Bachelors and Masters degrees of Accountancy from Wake Forest University in Winston Salem, North Carolina

Robert Ivy

Director

rivy@venturebackoffice.com

• Over 15 years of venture experience, including 9 years as the Chief Financial Officer of Salix Ventures
• 5 years in public accounting at Arthur Andersen (tax division)
• Highly skilled in equity and debt financing, as well as M&A transactions
• Extensive experience in numerous financial and operational roles, including tax and regulatory compliance; portfolio company transactions; fund reporting and administration, and technology planning and implementation
• Professional organizations include PECFOA, VCBC, AICPA, TSCPA
• Bachelors and Masters degrees in Accounting from Mississippi State University in Starkville, Mississippi

Melissa Pearl

Operations Specialist

mpearl@venturebackoffice.com

• Over 10 years administrative and operational support for CPA and CFP firms
• Proficient in core office administrative functions and at resolving a range of administrative issues and inquiries
• Experience in account payable and receivables using multiple accounting applications and maintaining high quality standards
• Strong interpersonal and organizational skills with a keen ability to multitask a variety of challenges and responsibilities
• Skilled in developing and expanding client relationships

Christopher Smith

Manager

csmith@venturebackoffice.com

• More than 6 years in public accounting with Ernst & Young LLP, including 3+ years of private equity and hedge fund firm audit experience
• Extensive private equity and hedge fund financial reporting experience, including SEC Registered Investment Company filings
• Professional organizations include AICPA, NCACPA
• Masters of Business Administration from the University of Massachusetts in Boston, Massachusetts
• Bachelors Degree in Accounting from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina

Colleen Suite

Director/Founder

csuite@venturebackoffice.com

• Extensive experience communicating with limited partners, employees, and customers
• Over 24 years of progressive accounting experience in a variety of industries
• Over 23 years of HR and benefit administration experience
• Over 7 years of venture firm experience, most recently as Controller with The Aurora Funds, Inc.
• Professional organizations include SHRM, TSHRM, VCBC, NVCA, and the National Investor Institute
• Associates in Computer/Accounting and a Bachelors Degree in Finance/Management from State University of New York at Utica

Rhonda Thomas

Manager

rthomas@venturebackoffice.com

• Over 10 years of accounting experience in both the public and corporate sector
• Experiences include general ledger, tax accounting and tax preparation for a variety of industries
• Bachelors Degree in Education and Masters Degree in Accounting from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina

Michelle Virgilio

Operations Manager

mvirgilio@venturebackoffice.com

• Over 16 years of diversified professional experience in various industries
• Over 7 years of experience leading a production-driven, customer service orientated workforce
• Early professional career included positions in desktop publishing, marketing, advertising, and public relations
• Skilled at building and sustaining long-term client relationships while upholding the highest quality and service standards
• Masters of Business Administration from Strayer University in Garner, North Carolina
• Bachelors Degree in Mass Communications from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

Susan Ward

Operations Specialist

sward@venturebackoffice.com

• Over 10 years of administrative and operational experience in a variety of sectors including architecture, law and retail
• Focused on building and maintaining client relationships within a production-driven environment
• International business experience comprised of 4 years in retail operations while based in London
• Bachelor's Degree in Sociology from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts

Liz Whitt

Manager

lwhitt@venturebackoffice.com

• Over 4 years of private equity accounting experience
• Over 10 years of tax experience in public accounting with Ernst & Young
• Extensive corporate tax return preparation and fund-of-fund financial reporting experience
• Bachelors and Masters degrees in Accounting from East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina