What's Driving The Recent Sell-Side Frenzy?

Paul’s practice focuses on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions and corporate finance, securities and private equity, with experience in tax, franchise law and real estate for clients in various industries. Paul counsels companies from startups to emerging and growing businesses, to companies that are downsizing or preparing to sell or whose owners are preparing for an exit, including transactions involving privately held and public companies and private equity.

Liz has over 30 years of experience in capital markets, leveraged finance, and restructuring. She currently leads the Debt Capital Markets at Thompson Street Capital Partners and sits on Investment Committee. While at TSCP, she has raised capital for over 100 platforms and add-on investments and sits on several boards. Prior to TSCP, she was a partner at Giuliani Capital Advisors and a Managing Director at Bank of America. She is also a Court Appointed Special Advocate for the foster care system in St. Louis, Missouri. Liz has an MBA from New York University and B.S. in Economics, from the Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania.

Andrew is responsible for ensuring that Solarity is a great company for all stakeholders – customers, employees, partners, and shareholders. He joined Solarity in 2008 and has been instrumental in the evolution and growth of the healthcare technology company. Andrew received a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in entrepreneurship from Saint Louis University. In 2022, Andrew was named Saint Louis University Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship Entrepreneur of the Year, and in 2024 he was inducted into the Saint Louis University Chaifetz Center for Entrepreneurship hall of fame.

Mr. Olsta is a Managing Director with CIBC Cleary Gull. He joined Cleary Gull in 2004 and has 20 years of transaction experience. Mr. Olsta is responsible for executing transactions, business development and private equity coverage. Mr. Olsta has advised numerous clients in a variety of industries and has significant experience in the Technology, Tech-Enabled Business Services, Industrial Manufacturing, and Foundry industries.

Mr. Olsta previously worked as an Associate for A.G. Edwards investment banking with an emphasis in middle market public and private equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and financial advisory assignments. He was also a Senior Accountant with Deloitte & Touche.

Mr. Olsta earned an MBA from Washington University in St. Louis, a BBA with a concentration in Accountancy from the University of Notre Dame and the professional designations of CPA and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

In the last 18 years, Nathan Stooke went from programming PCs to building Wisper into a successful multi-million dollar Internet service provider. With headquarters in Mascoutah, IL, Wisper now services Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. In 2018, the FCC announced that Wisper ISP won $220.3 million of federal funding in the FCC's rural broadband auction, the Connect America Fund Phase II. This money will be distributed to Wisper over a period of ten years. Wisper was one of 103 providers to win financial support from across the country.

As CEO of Wisper, Nathan has provided high-speed Internet service to tens of thousands of happy customers; many in rural, underserved areas where previous service providers had been spotty or nonexistent. Stooke is a well-respected businessman in the St. Louis area; he was selected as a "Top 30 Under 30" by the St. Louis Business Journal and named on the list of the "Top 100 St. Louisans to Know" by the St. Louis Small Business Monthly. Wisper was named one of the Top 20 Small Businesses in 2014 and one of the 50 Fastest-Growing companies in St. Louis by St. Louis Small Business Monthly.

Nathan credits his battle with Dyslexia, and his competitive nature gleaned from hours of intense training, which earned him a spot on the. U.S National Swim Team as his catalyst for success. His vision is to create standards in the wireless industry, establish Wisper as a household name, and continue to serve exceptional customers in rural and metropolitan communities.