Our Team
Steve Ross, President
P 216.839.5123
F 216.839.5124
M 216.526.1653
Steven Ross is President of Squire Ridge Company, a private equity firm with committed capital that acquires niche manufacturing, value-added distribution and specialty service companies for long-term ownership. Prior to founding Squire Ridge in 2013, Steve was a General Partner of MCM Capital Partners, a private equity firm, where he spent 15 years. Steve serves as a board member on a number of privately held businesses including EnviroScience, Inc., Allegheny Performance Plastics, Louver Shop and Proformex, Inc. Steve is currently co-chair of the board for the Alliance of Merger and Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA) Northeast Ohio chapter and is a member of the Cleveland Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG).
Mr. Ross currently serves as a Vice Chair of the Hawken School Board of Trustees and a member of the Board of Trustees of the Musical Arts Association, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital and The Human Fund. Additionally, he serves on the President’s Visiting Committee at Case Western Reserve University and as Chair of the Leadership Council for Cleveland Clinic Children’s. Mr. Ross also served on the Dean’s Advisory Board for Boston University’s Questrom School of Business. Mr. Ross holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University and a Master’s Degree in Business from Boston University’s Questrom School of Business.
Jeff Lowe, Operating Partner; Former Founder and CEO of Hardware Resources
P 318.469.0638
Jeff@lafortis.com
Jeff Lowe is the founder and former CEO of Hardware Resources. Formed in 1990 in Bossier City, LA, HR began as a manufacturer of metal furniture hardware. During his 20 years as CEO Jeff led the company to become a full line cabinet supply firm with 5 distribution locations in the United States and a joint venture factory in China. In 2004 controlling interest of Hardware Resources was acquired by The Riverside Company with Jeff remaining as CEO and a minority shareholder. He remained with the company until the acquisition of HR by The Harbour Group in late 2010.
Jeff has over 32 years of hardware, cabinet and building product experience serving a national market. He also has over 30 years of Asian sourcing experience with over 20 years in China. Jeff speaks some Mandarin Chinese and has extensive knowledge of Chinese culture and business practice with many business contacts in Guangdong and other provinces.
Tom Richmond, Operating Partner; Former President of The Little Tikes Company
Tom Richmond is the former President of The Little Tikes Company, a $500 million multi-national retailer, manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, innovative children's products. At The Little Tikes Company, Mr. Richmond is credited with resurrecting The Little Tikes Company from a distressed asset previously owned by Rubbermaid into a profitable $500 million global branded products company with an e-commerce business in excess of $100MM.
Mr. Richmond brings to Squire Ridge Company over 25 years of senior executive experience in general management in B2B and B2C companies. Mr. Richmond has had P&L experience at numerous manufacturing companies that have ranged in size from single plant businesses generating $20 million in annual sales to multi-plant companies with global operations generating over $500 million in annual sales.
Jacqui Rini, Business Development Officer
P 330.495.2947
Jacqui joined Squire Ridge in 2014 and manages the firm’s intermediary relationships and is responsible for sourcing investment opportunities from the firms investment banking and buy-side intermediary community. Jacqui had more than 10 years of sales experience prior to joining Squire Ridge Company. She worked for Lifeshare Community Blood Services as a Donor Recruitment Representative where her responsibilities were canvassing a new territory, securing accounts and maintaining relationships with those clients. Prior to that she held a position as a Pharmaceutical Sales Representative with GlaxoSmithKline, specializing in cardiology, dermatology and respiratory therapeutic classes. Jacqui received her Bachelor of Arts in Business and Organizational Communication with a Public Relations focus from The University of Akron with a minor in Sales and Marketing Management.