Executive Connections Waveland International

Executive Connections Executive Connections is a program launched to unite the nation’s top entrepreneurial CEO’s with the appropriate private equity groups for the purpose of building industry-leading companies.

Executive Connections  We believe that successful businesses are built by outstanding leaders.  We provide a link with industry leading CEO’s who have proven leadership capabilities and the entrepreneurial desire to achieve a meaningful ownership stake in the business they operate.  The program creates a more efficient and focused transaction search process, facilitates deeper relationships and better communications and enhances ultimate investment performance for both the candidate and the client.  The outcome is mutual: strong management teams, substantial value and personal wealth.

Executive Connections  By helping to navigate executives through the world of Private Equity, we reduce the risk that coincides with indefinite future planning.  We focus on stability and precision throughout the process becoming trusted advisors and confidants.  We provide the initial introduction and continue to work with the executives and private equity clients as the relationship grows, to ensure continuous feedback and maximum productivity on both ends.

Benefits for the Executives  Facilitating introductions  Assisting the CEO to focus on their current position while determining the viability of their envisioned plan  Providing constant and continuous feedback on funding plans  Acting as a liaison to eliminate risk  Remaining actively involved until the final outcome  Role opportunities (Board, CEO, Consultant, etc.) within the Private Equity Firm or their portfolio companies

Benefits for Private Equity Groups  Strategic buyer positioning  Ability to enter industries which may be beyond the scope of previous experience  Research and information from the leading CEO’s to define a solid acquisition strategy  Unique deal flow sources including proprietary corporate divestiture/MBO opportunities  Detailed feedback for future acquisitions  Ability to build a virtual bench of talented executives

Executive Eligibility Executives eligible for the program should have:  Deep Industry experience with 10+ years in a P&L role  Preferred experience in private equity deals  Positive financial/operational achievements  Proven track record of creating value in the enterprises they have managed  Corporate development experience  Strong network of industry contacts  Experience integrating acquired business

Contact Information Should you match our requirements and have interest in our program, please provide a resume in MSWord format with additional information on your current situation and future goals to: (For all correspondence relating to this program please refer to Executive Connections in the subject line)

Executive Connections Executive Connections offers a unique type of relationship which many executives find compelling and refreshing. While the open-ended nature of the process may be unsettling at times, our executives take comfort in the fact that, Executive Connections is involved to maintain a continuous feedback loop and to ensure that no meaningful relationship gets lost in the shuffle. To many of our executives and Private Equity Clients, we are advisors and confidants. Our CEO partners have already enjoyed a strong measure of success, yet they are ready for another, more entrepreneurial experience and the considerable equity rewards that come with it.

NELSON D. RODRIGUEZ Managing Partner Nelson is a Managing Partner in the Chicago office of Waveland International where he specializes in working with Private Equity backed clients, and has a well rounded background conducting searches in a variety of industries and functional capacities for companies ranging from start-up to Fortune 100. Nelson joins Waveland from Cook Associates where he was the Managing Director of the Business Services & Technology Practice after they had acquired his Chicago-based retained executive search firm Cristal Partners. Nelson has significant experience in both executive search and consulting. Prior to starting his own firm, Nelson served as Executive Vice President and a member of the management team of IT Mergers and Acquisitions, a venture backed, start-up organization. The firm’s focus was M&A transactions and recruiting, specifically within the information technology services area. Additionally, he served as President of the Harris Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of IT Mergers and Acquisitions, specializing in information technology executive recruitment. Nelson began his executive search career with DHR International, where he served in a variety of capacities including his role as Senior Vice President, in which he had direct responsibility for the firm’s high rate of growth through acquisitions and recruitment of executives. He simultaneously managed client assignments for a wide range of industry sectors and functions throughout North America. His expertise in executive search as a specialist in professional services has been recognized by IT Global Consulting Report and InfoWorld, where he has served as an expert source in various articles. Prior to entering the executive search business, Nelson served as Director of Distribution for the publication, Pro Football Weekly. He also served as the assistant defensive coordinator for the North Central College varsity football team. Nelson earned a Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern College in Minnesota, where he was a scholar athlete, excelling in baseball and football. He is married with two sons and resides in Western Springs, a suburb of Chicago.