The Forge52 Team
The Forge52 team combines deep operational and transaction expertise with a commitment to hard work, strong values, and a practical mindset. We prioritize and respect a company’s deeply-rooted culture and view our relationship with management teams as a genuine partnership. Together, we're dedicated to creating enduring value and helping to build a legacy of success for our partner companies.
Mauricio Gutierrez
Managing Partner
“At Forge52, we believe preserving a company’s culture is essential to long-term success. Culture is what drives trust, collaboration, and resilience, and we’re committed to supporting our management teams in protecting and building on that foundation.”
Mauricio brings 19 years of expertise in commercial strategy, enterprise sales, add-on integration, and cross-border trade to Forge52, where he oversees partner operations, fund operations, and LP relations. Previously, he served as Chief Commercial Officer at Deacero. Mauricio led Deacero’s successful market incursions into North and South America. He also led the operational integration of multiple acquisitions. Mauricio holds a degree in Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences from Northwestern University.
Mauricio loves spending time with his wife and four children. He is an avid reader, digs music, and enjoys traveling with friends and family.
Daniel Ron
Managing Director
“At Forge52, our process is to clearly define success and align every step we take towards achieving that larger goal. We’re always ready to adapt to reflect the realities of the market, but we maintain an unwavering focus on continuous advancement. Every part of our process contributes to the same goal—driving measurable results and long-term success.”
Daniel Ron has over 15 years of middle market private equity experience. Prior to Forge52 Capital Partners, Daniel worked with two middle market private equity firms, investing in family- and founder-owned businesses in manufacturing and a range of other industries. Prior to that, Daniel worked at the Ford Motor Company in manufacturing and product development. Daniel began his career at Investor Growth Capital. He holds a BS from Wharton and an MBA from Harvard.
Outside of work, Daniel spends his time with his wife and two young children. He is a devoted Yankees fan and in the rare quiet moment, enjoys a good cigar.
Eric Brandley
Vice President
Eric Brandley has worked in M&A and financial services for over 13 years. Most recently, he was with CDX Advisors, advising on M&A transactions, LBOs, and financings. Before that, he was an outsourced CFO at Withum, guiding capital raises and managing the finance functions of middle-market companies. Eric started his career at PwC and holds a BS from Georgetown University.
When not at work, Eric enjoys staying active, diving into a good book, or catching an Arsenal match. He also loves exploring local restaurants and discovering unique craft beers.
"Value creation isn’t just about financial outcomes; it’s about fostering sustainable growth and unlocking potential within our partner companies. By working closely with management teams, we ensure every move is strategic, purposeful, and geared toward long-term success."
Forge52 Operating Partners
Our operating partners serve as key partners to management, lending the benefit of their experience and ensuring alignment with our joint strategic goals. With a deep bench of operating partners and advisors, we offer expertise and resources to drive success and operational excellence across our partner companies.
John R. Celoni, Jr.
Operating Partner
“Integrity and character are essential in leadership. My approach is to galvanize teams and partners by building trust to not only achieve goals but to exceed them and enjoy the process. I help partner companies excel by fostering strong relationships while delivering transformative improvements.”
John Celoni has a long, successful track record in leadership and growth. As President and CEO of Ramsey Industries, he stabilized a struggling capital equipment company during the 2009 recession, growing revenue 183% and EBITDA over 280% weathering two recessions (including the Great Recession), COVID, and the worst supply side shortages and inflationary period in recent history. He built and led a high-performing management team, culminating in a successful sale to a private equity firm. Previously, as EVP at Masterbrand Cabinets, John had full P&L responsibility for three divisions with $650M+ in sales and was responsible for sales in the dealer channel for five additional divisions, totaling over $1B in sales.
John has two daughters and two young grandsons. He enjoys taking them on the golf course and tearing up the sand traps with them! When he’s not out on the golf course, John enjoys traveling internationally and domestically and hiking with his family.
Thomas W. Olive
Operating Partner
"As an operating partner, my focus is on building motivated teams that execute strategies centered around growth and value creation. I believe in blending data-driven decision-making with a people-centric approach to drive sustainable success. By understanding both the history and the future potential of a business, we can unlock new opportunities and create lasting value."
Tom Olive has a proven track record in driving growth and value. As CFO then President and CEO of Elan Nutrition, he stabilized and expanded a private equity-backed manufacturer, nearly tripling revenues and turning an EBITDA loss to industry-leading 20% margins. He completed two dividend recapitalizations and led a successful sale with a 44% IRR. At Crystal Flash, Tom transformed a third-generation family-owned fuels business into an employee-owned company, doubling EBITDA and achieving a 29% CAGR in equity value over six years through organic growth, acquisitions, and productivity improvements. Tom has held senior roles at Procter & Gamble, Campbell Soup, and American Italian Pasta Company.
Away from work, Tom enjoys sunset walks on the beach with his wife and their dogs, time with their four adult children and their families, and cheering for the Vikings.
James J. Lapointe
Operating Partner
“Drawing on 40 years of experience, I focus on integrating strategy with execution. My aim is always to enhance operations and deliver impactful outcomes.”
James has extensive experience in global operations and supply chain management. As Sr. Vice President of Global Operations at CIRCOR International, he led 26 manufacturing sites and 1,700 employees, transforming the company into an integrated manufacturing organization with new low-cost facilities in Mexico and India. James also developed the CIRCOR Operating System, driving LEAN manufacturing, quality systems, and continuous improvement. Previously, as Sr. Vice President of Operations at DRS Technologies, Integrated Defense Systems and Services, he directed multiple factory sites improving manufacturing excellence through implementation of an enterprise-wide business system focused on sustained performance and enhanced customer satisfaction. Earlier, at Hamilton Sundstrand, James led global supply chain management, overseeing $2.5B in annual procurement.
Jay always looks forward to quality time with his wife and kids. He is a forever Boston sports fanatic, an avid golfer, and enjoys Cape Cod beaches.
Robert Herzog
Operating Partner
“With a track record of transforming companies into industry leaders, I believe in rallying teams around ambitious yet achievable goals. My approach is to work with my team to identify growth opportunities where others might not and to empower management teams to excel and achieve industry leading results.”
Bob is a seasoned CEO with a track record of transforming companies into industry leaders. At Corporate Imaging Concepts, he turned a founder-run distributor into a top-tier, technology-enabled firm, growing revenue from $36M to $110M and tripling EBITDA. Bob led the acquisition and integration of a $30M competitor, recruited a new executive team, and secured a purchase offer from a PE firm in excess of 9x TTM EBITDA. Previously, as CEO of Bullet Line, he grew revenues from $49M to $137M and EBITDA from $8.6M to $21.3M, cutting SG&A costs from 40% to 32% through strategic process improvements.
When not at work, Bob loves spending time with his wife and two children, staying fit, and in rare quiet moments—reading a good book.