Our Team
CURT ROCCA
MANAGING PARTNER
Email: crocca@dcapartners.com
Curtis M. Rocca serves as Managing Partner of DCA Partners, responsible for all aspects of the organization, and also functions as a General Partner to the Firm’s affiliated private equity fund. Curt is a seasoned chief executive with a background in leading high growth organizations from inception to exit.
Prior to DCA, Curt was Chief Executive Officer of Dental Partners, Inc. During his stint at Dental Partners, he led the growth and operations of this multi–state healthcare consolidation from a standing start to over $30 million in revenues in 18 months, before driving negotiations for the Company’s sale in late 2000.
Prior to Dental Partners, Curt was President, Chief Executive Officer, and Chairman of the Board of Bio-Dental Technologies Corp. Under his leadership, Bio-Dental quickly became one of the nation’s fastest growing public companies. Prior to Bio-Dental, Curt served as Executive Vice President and Board Member of Celebrity Inc. Earlier in his career, Curt worked in various management functions with Marriott International, Inc. and Pacific Bell.
Throughout his career, Curt has served as a Senior Advisor and Board Member to a number of public and private organizations. Curt earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics from the University of California, Davis, where he graduated cum laude.
Non-profit involvement & professional affiliations: American Cancer Society, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, St. John’s Center for Real Change, Capital Region Family Business Center, Comstock’s Magazine, Financial Executives International, River City Bank Executive Forum, Vistage, Sacramento Capital Cup.
STEVE MILLS
PARTNER
Email: smills@dcapartners.com
Steven R. Mills serves as both a Partner in the Firm’s investment banking business as well as a General Partner of the Company’s affiliated private equity fund.
Steve brings more than 25 years of executive financial management and transactional experience to the Firm. Prior to joining DCA, he served as the Chief Financial Officer of Responsys, Inc. Prior to Responsys, he was the Chief Financial Officer of AnyTime Access, Inc. Steve also served as a member of the Board, designated as a Financial Expert, and was the Audit Committee Chairman for Humboldt Bancorp (NASD: HBEK) for approximately two years prior to its merger with Umpqua Bank in 2004.
Prior to AnyTime Access, Steve was a Partner with Ernst & Young, LLP, where he specialized in consulting with technology companies and other organizations in various sectors concerning all elements of their financial and tax affairs. Steve started his professional career with Deloitte & Touche, LLP.
Steve is an Attorney, holding a Juris Doctor of Law from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, where he also earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration.
Non-profit involvement & professional affiliations: Crocker Art Museum, Entrepreneurs’ Organization, Sacramento Entrepreneurship Academy, Verge Center for the Arts, and Valley Vision.
CRAIG MITCHELL
PARTNER
Email: cmitchell@dcapartners.com
Craig Mitchell serves as a Partner, focusing on the Firm’s investment banking business and affiliated private equity fund. Mr. Mitchell brings to DCA over twenty years of finance, accounting and consulting experience across a broad range of industries, and has worked on over 40 transactions that have ranged in size from $1 million to over $5 billion.
Prior to joining DCA Partners, Craig was a Director at LP Capital Advisors, where he advised large, institutional investors with over $100 billion in private equity commitments. Craig has also held roles at Wachovia Securities, Banc of America Securities, Lids, Noodles & Co., TargetSmart, Epicor, and Ernst & Young. He has also owned and operated his own businesses, including Rainbow Tavern & Lodge and Triple Peak Beverages.
Craig earned his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley and his Master’s in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.
Non-profit and professional affiliations: Junior Achievement; Berkeley-Haas Alumni Network of Greater Sacramento.
BRENT HAAPANEN
PARTNER
Email: bhaapanen@dcapartners.com
Brent is responsible for origination, evaluation, and execution of the firm’s investment banking business. He is an experienced advisor, leveraging his 15+ years of experience in capital markets to advise clients across all stages of M&A transactions. Brent has a broad range of experience representing both public and private companies globally, including complex corporate carve-outs, broad process sellside, and buyside engagements and negotiated transactions.
Recent deals include:
- Fore A Partner’s sale to Quest Technology Group
- Grow West’s acquisitions of Hammer Transport and Clark Trucking
- Tri HoldCo’s strategic investment in Quick Quack Car Wash
- Raley’s sale of Aisle 1 to Anabi
- Cascade’s sale to Ottobock
Before joining DCA, Brent worked as Executive Director at JPMorgan Chase, where he played a pivotal role in expanding Chase’s presence throughout the region. Prior to that, he spent eight plus years at Deutsche Bank, working with large-cap technology companies globally.
Brent earned an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and a BA from Pepperdine University. He is a Board member at The ARC of Placer County, the Placer County Sherriff’s Council and Haas School of Business Alumni Network.
CASEY LAYTON
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Email: clayton@dcapartners.com
Casey is a cornerstone of DCA. As Chief Financial Officer, he is responsible for accounting, reporting, and compliance for all DCA and non-SBIC DCA entities. Casey is the hub for human resources and administration, as well as tax and audit-related functions. He also serves as an Investment Banking Vice President, focusing on financial analysis and modeling for M&A deals.
It should come as no surprise that Casey strives to over-deliver for DCA, its clients, and its Fund portfolio companies. His modeling skills are the envy of many finance professionals, honed through a delight for problem solving since joining DCA in 2005.
Casey is a Certified Public Accountant and is a member of Financial Executives International. He serves as a Trustee for the UCP Foundation and has volunteered on the Capital Cup planning committee for six years.
Recent deals include:
- Several acquisitions by Flyers
- Hogan Mfg. Inc.’s acquisition of Murray Trailers
- Raley’s sale of Aisle 1 to Anabi
- Cascade’s sale to Ottobock
Prior to DCA, Casey worked for Resources Global Professionals, Sierra Office Systems, Dental Partners, The McClatchy Company, and others.
Casey earned his B.S. from CSU Fresno.
RON CRANE
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Email: rcrane@dcapartners.com
Ronald G. Crane serves as Managing Director and head of sell-side Mergers & Acquisitions for the firm. Ron brings more than 30 years of executive responsibility owning, managing, and selling companies. Ron is passionate about helping business owners receive maximum value for their years of hard work and sacrifice in building their business. Prior to joining DCA, he served as Managing Director at Vercor and Wall Street Ventures, both M&A firms headquartered in Sacramento. Ron worked primarily with privately held companies throughout the western United States, with a particular emphasis on the Sacramento and Central Valleys.
Ron has also served as President and CEO of Watson General; General Manager of ProData; and Partner at Sartoris, Inc.
As an entrepreneur or corporate executive, Ron successfully completed several M&A transactions, and has since helped dozens of successful business owners realize similar success and liquidity. The experience gained as a buyer or seller in these transactions gives him an owner’s unique perspective and insight: not only relative to the M&A process, but also to the emotional aspects inherent in this type of transaction.
Ron has been enthusiastically involved in many charities and volunteer organizations, including Make-A-Wish, Big Brothers, Big Sisters, Habitat for Humanity and Shoulder to Shoulder.
RON FLAHERTY
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Email: rflaherty@dcapartners.com
Ron has over 35 years of investment banking experience, specializing in the agribusiness and food & beverage industries. His investment banking expertise includes financial advisory services, mergers & acquisitions, and capital raising. Ron has worked on private equity fund management, buy/sell side mergers and acquisitions, management buyouts, restructurings and recapitalizations, as well as growth debt, mezzanine, and equity placements.
Prior to DCA, Ron was the Founder and Managing Partner of Flaherty Capital Markets. He was also one of the founding members of Cybus Capital Markets, LLC., a national investment banking firm and private equity fund manager specializing in the food and agribusiness industries.
Ron is a graduate the Kellogg Graduate School of Management’s Mergers and Acquisitions Executive Program, and earned B.S. degrees in Agricultural Business and Agricultural Economics from South Dakota State University. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for several companies and holds FINRA Series 24 (Principal) and Series 7 (Registered Representative) licenses. Ron is involved in several trade associations and addresses various industry groups throughout the food industry.
BRENDEN WILSON
PRINCIPAL
Email: bwilson@dcapartners.com
Brenden Wilson serves as Principal where he is responsible for leading the evaluation and execution of new investments for the firm’s affiliated private equity fund. Prior to joining DCA, Brenden held private equity positions at Kayne Anderson and K1 Capital, both in Los Angeles. In these roles Brenden was involved in evaluating and managing growth equity, structured debt and leveraged buyout transactions primarily in middle market growth stage companies across a broad spectrum of industries, with a particular focus on technology-based companies. Brenden has also held several board advisory and operational restructuring roles where he was responsible for implementing cost restructuring and system implementation programs.
Brenden graduated with a B.A. in political science from the University of Southern California.
SHAWN GREWAL
VICE PRESIDENT
Email: sgrewal@dcapartners.com
Shawn Grewal is a Vice President of Private Equity. He is responsible for leading the evaluation and execution of new investments for the firm’s private equity fund.
Prior to joining DCA, Shawn worked at Oak Hill Capital, a middle market private equity firm in the Bay Area, where he was involved in the evaluation and execution of leveraged buyout and growth equity transactions across the Media & Communications and Services industries. While at Oak Hill, Shawn supported the successful execution of four platform acquisitions along with several other add-on acquisitions for his portfolio companies. Prior to Oak Hill, Shawn was a member of the Mergers & Acquisitions group at Morgan Stanley.
Shawn earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Economics, magna cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles.
BARBARA URBANI
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND ADMINISTRATION
Email: burbani@dcapartners.com
Barbara Urbani is the Director of Marketing and Administration at DCA Partners, where she is responsible for office administration, marketing, branding, events, and public relations. She has a passion for education and team collaboration, and previously worked as a Firm Administrator and Marketing Manager at the Trainor Fairbrook law firm. Barbara has experience in marketing and operations in both commercial and residential real estate. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Art History from San Francisco State University and serves on the board of Single Mom Strong, a non-profit in Sacramento.
MELODIE PUFFER
DIRECTOR OF FINANCIAL PLANNING & ANALYSIS
Email: mpuffer@dcapartners.com
Melodie is DCA’s Director of Financial Planning & Analysis and focuses on instituting and managing FP&A programs across DCA portfolio companies. She is also involved with the implementation of modern software systems, managing strategic programs, developing best practices, and participating with the PE investment team at DCA.
Prior to DCA, Melodie held Director of FP&A roles in the software industry, most recently at health technology company Rethink First and before that at financial technology company Certent. In both roles, she led reporting efforts to private equity stakeholders as well as managed budgeting, forecasting, and other business analytics activities. Prior to her time in tech, Melodie spent 12 years at Union Pacific Railroad, holding various roles in Operations Finance, Financial Analysis, and Corporate Audit.
Melodie earned her MBA from UC Berkeley Haas School of Business and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Nebraska Lincoln, majoring in Finance.
BEN URBANEK
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Email: burbanek@dcapartners.com
Benjamin Urbanek is a Private Equity Associate, primarily focusing on performing financial modeling, forecasting, completing business due diligence, and supporting execution of buyout and structured capital investments.
Before joining DCA, Ben provided financial due diligence consulting for KPMG in their deal advisory practice, focusing on a wide array of industries with an EBITDA range of $1 million to $50 million.
Ben earned his Masters in Financial Management and Bachelors of Business Administration in Accounting from Texas A&M University.
ASIM HASNAIN
ASSOCIATE
Email: ahasnain@dcapartners.com
Asim Hasnain is an Associate on the DCA Private Equity Team. As a key member of our Private Equity team, Asim Hasnain brings a wealth of expertise in origination. To date Asim has successfully sourced a demolition contractor, SaaS and Toxicology Lab business. His efforts are focused on leading the origination efforts for DCA Fund III through various channels including direct outreach, intermediary relationships, private equity firms and referral partners. Previous to his current role, Asim served as a Sr. Business Development Specialist leading business development efforts for both our private equity and M&A team.
Before joining DCA, Asim worked in business development at Asseta, a semiconductor company that has global reach.
Asim earned his B.S. from the University of Arizona.
LARS BECHERT
ASSOCIATE
Email: lbechert@dcapartners.com
Lars Bechert joined DCA from Zurich, Switzerland, where he worked at the investment banking firm Proventis Partners. As an Associate on the M&A team, Lars is responsible for supporting the execution of the firm’s investment banking engagements, from financial modeling and analysis, to target outreach, process management, and closing.
Lars earned a B.A. from University of Mannheim and an M.S. from Stockholm School of Economics.
TOM ARSTINGSTALL
ASSOCIATE
Email: Tom joined the firm in 2021 and is primarily responsible for the sourcing, evaluation, and execution of DCA’s investment banking business. He has 5+ years of advisory experience within private equity, spanning a wide variety of investment strategies and sectors, as well as direct financial consulting experience within healthcare and technology.
Prior to DCA, Tom most recently worked at PowerSchool, where he was a Senior Analyst within FP&A, primarily focusing on annual budgets, quarterly reforecasts, and various ad hoc analyses for senior executives. Before PowerSchool, Tom was a Senior Associate within the alternative assets space of Mercer Consulting, where he advised large, institutional investors seeking exposure to private equity and co-investment opportunities.
Tom earned his B.S. in Finance & Accounting from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
LOUIS SKIBICKI
ASSOCIATE
Email: lskibicki@dcapartners.com
Louis Skibicki is a Private Equity Associate, primarily focusing on performing financial modeling, forecasting, completing business due diligence, and supporting execution of buyout and structured capital investments. Prior to joining DCA, Louis worked for Mariani Landscape, a private equity backed commercial landscape services firm. Louis also spent three years at KPMG in the M&A transaction services group.
Louis earned his MBA and Bachelor of Applied Science in Accounting and Finance from Indiana University.
TREVOR STEPHENS
ASSOCIATE
Email: tstephens@dcapartners.com
Trevor Stephens is a Private Equity Associate, responsible for financial modeling, forecasting, completing business due diligence, and supporting execution of buyout and structured capital investments.
Prior to DCA, Trevor worked in the Technology Investment Banking Group at Jefferies, where he worked with software, internet, and semiconductor companies on a variety of M&A and capital raising engagements.
Trevor holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Brigham Young University.
LARRY EDGAR
CONTROLLER
Email: ledgar@dcapartners.com
Larry Edgar is our Controller. He has over 25 years of accounting experience including his roles at Hunt & Sons, Campora Propane, and the McClatchy Company. As the Director of Finance for Campora Propane, he was an integral part of the successful sale of the Company to Energy Distribution Partners.
Larry is a Certified Public Accountant and earned his BS from California State University, Sacramento.
FARHAN BILLAH
ANALYST
Email: fbillah@dcapartners.com
Farhan Billah is DCA’s Business Development Specialist, responsible for Private Equity & M&A deal sourcing.
Prior to joining DCA, Farhan was a commercial project management intern at Siemens. He focused on financial analysis for various light rail modernization projects in the U.S.
Farhan earned his Bachelor of Science in Economics from Santa Clara University.
MEGAN KAHN
ANALYST
Email: mkahn@dcapartners.com
Megan Kahn is an M&A Analyst. Her responsibilities include conducting detailed business analysis, developing pitch materials, conducting outreach, and building financial models.
Prior to DCA, Megan gained experience at Aritzia Fashion Company and The Walt Disney Company.
Megan earned a Bachelor of Science in Business and Political Economy from New York University.