Big Shoulders Capital Expands Leadership Team

Northbrook-based private equity firm plans for succession

Big Shoulders Capital Chairman David Muslin has announced an expanded leadership team as the company plans for the next generation of growth. Joe Prudden has been promoted to President of the company from Chief Financial Officer, Alex Mazer is promoted to Executive Vice President from Vice President, Howard Spivack is promoted to Chief Financial Officer from Finance Director, and Evan Zwerman joins the company as Senior Vice President of Originations.

“I’m excited to have a strong team of executives leading our next chapter of growth,” said Muslin. “We are providing ownership opportunities to the next generation of leaders as we continue to grow our loan portfolio, buy operating companies, and build asset disposition deals via our sister company PPL Group. Perpetuating this business is deeply important to me, and I’m committed to it.”

Big Shoulders Capital is a family office that makes debt and equity investments in underperforming lower middle-market operating companies. The company has significant experience in machinery and manufacturing businesses, finding value and improving operations. Investing its own funds allows it to be fast, flexible, and creative in its deals.

Before joining Big Shoulders nearly a decade ago, Joe Prudden worked in the Financial Services Office at Ernst & Young. He is a certified public accountant with an MBA in finance. As president of Big Shoulders he will work closely with Muslin to provide strategic direction while seeking new opportunities for investment.

Executive Vice President Alex Mazer has been an integral part of company leadership for several years while focused on deal sourcing and underwriting. He holds an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Prior to joining Big Shoulders he worked in both Hong Kong and China and founded a national inventory liquidation firm.

Evan Zwerman sources, originates and structures deals including working capital financing, equity investments, DIP loans, note purchases, and acquisition financing. Based in New York, he has 20 years of corporate finance experience, chairs the lenders committee at the Association for Corporate Growth in New York, and holds a finance degree from Albany State University of New York.

Big Shoulders Capital is committed to being the most trusted acquirer of and lender to businesses in transition. More information is available at the company website, www.bigshoulderscap.com.