Our Team

Partner

Duran Curis is a Founding Partner at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners where he focuses on special situation and small company investment opportunities. Prior to co-founding Ocean Avenue, he launched and managed the HRJ Special Opportunities Funds, a series of multi-manager funds focused exclusively on turnaround, distressed and restructuring investments on a global basis. Previously, he was Head of the U.S. office of LGT Capital Partners, where he managed LGT’s U.S. private equity investments. Duran began his private equity investment career at Pacific Corporate Group working with major global institutional investors. He received his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and his B.S. from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Duran is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.

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Partner

Jeff Ennis is a Founding Partner of Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. He is active in all aspects of firm operations and portfolio management. Prior to co-founding Ocean Avenue, Jeff was a co-founder of the Private Markets Group of Wilshire Associates Incorporated, helping to build the group to more than $6.0 billion under management and over 40 employees in five offices across the globe. During his tenure at Wilshire, Jeff served as Chief Investment Officer and led the oversight of the Private Markets Group’s substantial, global business operations. He has 18 years of private equity experience in all aspects of firm operations, investment strategy and process, and portfolio management. Jeff received his B.A. from Cal State Fullerton and his M.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

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Partner

Jacques Youssefmir is a Founding Partner at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners where he focuses on special situation and small company investment opportunities. In addition to his involvement in Ocean Avenue’s investment activities, Jacques serves as the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to co-founding Ocean Avenue, he was a Managing Director in the Private Markets Group of Wilshire Associates Incorporated where he oversaw the process for global co-investment and secondaries. Jacques also managed all legal matters relating to Wilshire Private Markets Group’s business and investment activities. Prior to joining Wilshire, he served as Vice President and General Counsel for STM Wireless, Inc., a NASDAQ listed communications company, and as an Associate with the law firm of Latham & Watkins. Jacques received his B.A., with highest honors, from Arizona State University and his J.D., with honors, from Harvard Law School.

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Partner

Pete Notz is a Partner at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, leading due diligence, portfolio monitoring, and oversight of portfolio administration. Prior to joining Ocean Avenue, Pete was a Vice President at Drum Capital and HRJ Capital where, working with Duran Curis, he was responsible for U.S. and European special situation investments and investor reporting. Pete began his career as an officer in the United States Navy, where he served as a naval aviator flying the F-14 Tomcat and the FA-18 Hornet. Pete received an MBA with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy.

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Chief Financial Officer

Melody Bamdad is the Chief Financial Officer at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. Her responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of accounting and financial reporting. She is also involved in investor reporting. Prior to joining Ocean Avenue, Melody was an Associate Vice President, Assistant Controller at Ares Management, where she managed the daily accounting and reporting requirements for a number of funds. Prior to Ares, Melody was an Audit Manager at PwC. Melody received her B.A. in Business Economics, emphasis in Accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is a Certified Public Accountant.

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Vice President

Toby D’Ambola is a Vice President at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, conducting investment due diligence, and portfolio monitoring. Prior to joining the firm, Toby was an Associate at Frontier Capital. He began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Harris Williams and Bowstring Advisors focusing on sell-side M&A. Toby graduated from Washington & Lee University with a B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration.

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Vice President

Matt Kahn is a Vice President at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include supporting all aspects of financial reporting and accounting, client reporting support, and database management. Prior to joining the firm, Matt was an Experienced Associate at PwC. Matt graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.S. in Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

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Vice President

Daniel Smith is a Vice President at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, conducting investment due diligence, and portfolio monitoring. Since joining the Firm, he has been instrumental in process improvement, system implementation, and partner network expansion. Daniel graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in Accountancy and International Business.

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Senior Associate

Tal Weiss is a Senior Associate at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include investment diligence support, client reporting support, and database management. Prior to joining the firm, Tal completed internships in wealth management at UBS Financial Services, private equity at Merion Investment Partners, and investment banking at Tavor Consultants. Tal graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business Administration.

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Associate

Colin Johnson is an Associate at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include investment diligence support, client reporting support, and database management. Prior to joining the firm, Colin worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Harris Williams focusing on technology and consumer sell-side M&A. Colin graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in Human Organizational Development.

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Business Development Associate

Alec Zwaneveld is a Business Development Associate at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, and expanding Ocean Avenue's partner network of independent sponsors and intermediaries. Prior to joining the firm, Alec was a Business Development Associate at Martis Capital, a healthcare-focused private equity firm. He began his career as a Business Development Analyst at K1 Investment Management, sourcing investments in the enterprise software space. Alec graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.A. in Psychology.

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Senior Analyst

Griffen Croft is a Senior Analyst at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include investment diligence support, sourcing, client reporting support, and database management. Prior to joining the firm, Griffen worked in HealthTech consulting at Simon-Kucher & Partners. Griffen graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics.

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Partner

Duran Curis is a Founding Partner at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners where he focuses on special situation and small company investment opportunities. Prior to co-founding Ocean Avenue, he launched and managed the HRJ Special Opportunities Funds, a series of multi-manager funds focused exclusively on turnaround, distressed and restructuring investments on a global basis. Previously, he was Head of the U.S. office of LGT Capital Partners, where he managed LGT’s U.S. private equity investments. Duran began his private equity investment career at Pacific Corporate Group working with major global institutional investors. He received his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University and his B.S. from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Duran is a CFA Charterholder and a member of the CFA Institute.

Email Duran

Partner

Jeff Ennis is a Founding Partner of Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. He is active in all aspects of firm operations and portfolio management. Prior to co-founding Ocean Avenue, Jeff was a co-founder of the Private Markets Group of Wilshire Associates Incorporated, helping to build the group to more than $6.0 billion under management and over 40 employees in five offices across the globe. During his tenure at Wilshire, Jeff served as Chief Investment Officer and led the oversight of the Private Markets Group’s substantial, global business operations. He has 18 years of private equity experience in all aspects of firm operations, investment strategy and process, and portfolio management. Jeff received his B.A. from Cal State Fullerton and his M.S. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Email Jeff

Partner

Jacques Youssefmir is a Founding Partner at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners where he focuses on special situation and small company investment opportunities. In addition to his involvement in Ocean Avenue’s investment activities, Jacques serves as the Firm’s Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to co-founding Ocean Avenue, he was a Managing Director in the Private Markets Group of Wilshire Associates Incorporated where he oversaw the process for global co-investment and secondaries. Jacques also managed all legal matters relating to Wilshire Private Markets Group’s business and investment activities. Prior to joining Wilshire, he served as Vice President and General Counsel for STM Wireless, Inc., a NASDAQ listed communications company, and as an Associate with the law firm of Latham & Watkins. Jacques received his B.A., with highest honors, from Arizona State University and his J.D., with honors, from Harvard Law School.

Email Jacques

Partner

Pete Notz is a Partner at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, leading due diligence, portfolio monitoring, and oversight of portfolio administration. Prior to joining Ocean Avenue, Pete was a Vice President at Drum Capital and HRJ Capital where, working with Duran Curis, he was responsible for U.S. and European special situation investments and investor reporting. Pete began his career as an officer in the United States Navy, where he served as a naval aviator flying the F-14 Tomcat and the FA-18 Hornet. Pete received an MBA with honors from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the United States Naval Academy.

Email Pete

Vice President

Toby D’Ambola is a Vice President at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, conducting investment due diligence, and portfolio monitoring. Prior to joining the firm, Toby was an Associate at Frontier Capital. He began his career as an Investment Banking Analyst at Harris Williams and Bowstring Advisors focusing on sell-side M&A. Toby graduated from Washington & Lee University with a B.S. in Accounting and Business Administration.

Email Toby

Vice President

Daniel Smith is a Vice President at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, conducting investment due diligence, and portfolio monitoring. Since joining the Firm, he has been instrumental in process improvement, system implementation, and partner network expansion. Daniel graduated with honors from the University of Notre Dame with a B.B.A. in Accountancy and International Business.

Email Daniel

Senior Associate

Tal Weiss is a Senior Associate at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include investment diligence support, client reporting support, and database management. Prior to joining the firm, Tal completed internships in wealth management at UBS Financial Services, private equity at Merion Investment Partners, and investment banking at Tavor Consultants. Tal graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.S. in Business Administration.

Email Tal

Associate

Colin Johnson is an Associate at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include investment diligence support, client reporting support, and database management. Prior to joining the firm, Colin worked as an Investment Banking Analyst at Harris Williams focusing on technology and consumer sell-side M&A. Colin graduated from Vanderbilt University with a B.S. in Human Organizational Development.

Email Colin

Business Development Associate

Alec Zwaneveld is a Business Development Associate at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, and expanding Ocean Avenue's partner network of independent sponsors and intermediaries. Prior to joining the firm, Alec was a Business Development Associate at Martis Capital, a healthcare-focused private equity firm. He began his career as a Business Development Analyst at K1 Investment Management, sourcing investments in the enterprise software space. Alec graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a B.A. in Psychology.

Email Alec

Senior Analyst

Griffen Croft is a Senior Analyst at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include investment diligence support, sourcing, client reporting support, and database management. Prior to joining the firm, Griffen worked in HealthTech consulting at Simon-Kucher & Partners. Griffen graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics.

Email Griffen

Chief Financial Officer

Melody Bamdad is the Chief Financial Officer at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. Her responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of accounting and financial reporting. She is also involved in investor reporting. Prior to joining Ocean Avenue, Melody was an Associate Vice President, Assistant Controller at Ares Management, where she managed the daily accounting and reporting requirements for a number of funds. Prior to Ares, Melody was an Audit Manager at PwC. Melody received her B.A. in Business Economics, emphasis in Accounting from the University of California, Santa Barbara. She is a Certified Public Accountant.

Email Melody

Vice President

Matt Kahn is a Vice President at Ocean Avenue Capital Partners. His responsibilities include supporting all aspects of financial reporting and accounting, client reporting support, and database management. Prior to joining the firm, Matt was an Experienced Associate at PwC. Matt graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.S. in Accounting. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Email Matt