Bill Sherman, Managing Director

Bill Sherman brings nearly 26 years of investment banking experience to VRA Partners. Prior to co-founding VRA partners, Mr. Sherman held several senior positions at The Robinson-Humphrey Company and its successor, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

Mr. Sherman was hired as a Managing Director at The Robinson-Humphrey Company in 1992, and within five years was promoted to Co-Head of Investment Banking and Head of the Mergers and Acquisitions Group. He became the sole Head of Investment Banking in 2002. In 2003 he was named President of the Equity Capital Markets Group at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. In addition to his responsibilities as President, Mr. Sherman was responsible for the execution of investment banking transactions including merger and acquisition assignments, financial advisory assignments, private placements and public offerings of equity and convertible securities.

During his 10 years as Head or Co-Head of Investment Banking, the firm completed 390 merger and acquisition transactions with aggregate value of $40 billion, and 460 public and private financings with aggregate value of $60 billion. Mr. Sherman was a member of the Board of Directors, Executive Committee and Capital Commitment Committee. He also served as a Managing Partner of RH Capital Partners, the firm’s private equity investment fund.

From 1982 to 1992 he worked in the Investment Banking Division of Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., initially in New York and subsequently in Atlanta, where he was responsible for generating and executing investment banking transactions. Prior to his years at Dean Witter Reynolds, he was a Vice President at The Citizens & Southern National Bank.

Mr. Sherman earned his bachelor’s degree in commerce from the University of Virginia in 1976, and his Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1982.

Contact Information:
404.835.1003

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Mark Loeffler, Managing Director

With successful careers in both law and investment banking, Mark Loeffler brings a wide range of experience to VRA Partners. Prior to co-founding VRA Partners, Mr. Loeffler was employed for six years at The Robinson-Humphrey Company and its successor, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

Mr. Loeffler became Managing Director and Co-Head of the Private Markets Group at SunTrust Robinson Humphrey in 2004. He was also a senior member of the Mergers & Acquisitions Group. His responsibilities included the management of sell-side and buy-side merger and acquisition assignments, and management of the firm’s activities with all sources of private capital.

Prior to joining the investment banking industry, Mr. Loeffler practiced law for more than 10 years. He began his career as an associate in the Atlanta office of Jones Day. From 1995 to 2000, he was a partner at Powell Goldstein, LLP. He was a senior member of the firm’s corporate finance group and co-head of Eagle Partners, a practice group focused on emerging growth companies.

During Mr. Loeffler’s legal career he was involved in representing registrants and underwriters in public offerings, private companies in venture and growth capital financings, and public and private companies in negotiated mergers, acquisitions and divestitures. His counsel was also frequently sought for advice on general corporate law matters.

Mr. Loeffler earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from The University of Georgia in 1986, and his Juris Doctorate degree from The University of Georgia School of Law in 1989.

Contact Information:
404.835.1004

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Andy Mason, Managing Director

Andy Mason’s investment banking and private equity investing experience contributes significantly to the leadership of VRA Partners. Prior to co-founding VRA Partners, Mr. Mason served in several key roles at The Robinson-Humphrey Company and its successor, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

He joined The Robinson-Humphrey Company in 1998 and served as Managing Director and Co-Head of the Private Markets Group, and as senior member of the Mergers and Acquisitions Group. In these roles, he was responsible for the management of sell-side and buy-side merger and acquisition assignments and the firm’s activities with all sources of private capital. He was also a member of the investment committee of SunTrust Equity Partners, the private equity vehicle for SunTrust Bank.

From 1995 to 1998, Mr. Mason was a Principal and General Partner of River Capital, a private equity firm focused on the acquisition of middle-market companies. In these positions he was responsible for identifying, underwriting, structuring, closing and managing investments. Prior to River Capital, Mr. Mason held vice president positions at Trivest Inc., a Miami-based private equity firm, and the GE Capital Corporate Finance Group.

Mr. Mason earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Auburn University in 1980, and his Master of Business Administration from Emory University in 1989.

Contact Information:
404.835.1005

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Brock Matthias, Managing Director

Brock Matthias brings a wealth of investment banking experience to VRA Partners. From 2000 to 2006, Mr. Matthias worked for The Robinson-Humphrey Company and its successor, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

Mr. Matthias held several leadership positions while with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, most recently Director and a senior member of the Private Markets Group. He also headed the firm’s document management and business process outsourcing efforts.

From 1996 to 1998 he was an Associate with Croft & Bender, an Atlanta-based investment banking firm. Prior to that he was a member of the Mergers and Acquisitions and Business Development Group at First Physician Care, and led the company’s Midwest development efforts. He began his career as an analyst in the Investment Banking Group of Dain Bosworth, a full-service investment banking firm and predecessor to RBC Capital Markets.

Mr. Matthias earned his bachelor’s degree in economics from Princeton University in 1992, and his Master of Business Administration, with concentrations in finance and private equity, from The University of Chicago in 2000.

Contact Information:
404.835.1007

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Doug McCartney, Managing Director

Prior to co-founding VRA Partners, Doug McCartney held several leadership positions in his nearly 15 years with The Robinson-Humphrey Company and its successor, SunTrust Robinson Humphrey.

Mr. McCartney became Managing Director and head of the Technology Investment Banking Practice Group in 1999, and assumed the role of Chief Operating Officer of the Investment Banking Department in 2002. In these roles he was responsible for the execution of investment banking transactions including merger and acquisition assignments, financial advisory assignments, private placements and public offerings of equity and convertible securities. He was also a member of the firm’s Capital Commitment Committee and Operating Committee.

Prior to joining The Robinson-Humphrey Company, he was with Bowles Hollowell Conner & Co., an investment banking firm based in Charlotte, N.C., where he provided merger and acquisition advisory services to middle-market companies.

Mr. McCartney graduated cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in economics and political science, from Duke University in 1987. He earned his Master of Business Administration from the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina in 1992. He was one of two recipients of The Richard H. Jenrette Fellowship.

Contact Information:
404.835.1006

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