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Our Team

Russell Vernon | Ross Barrett | Richard Montgomery | Investment Advisors

Russell Vernon

Russ Vernon, a founder of the firm, is a member of General Partner and was formerly the President of Commerce Capital Markets, Inc. Prior to this he was Director of Operations at Barrett Associates, Inc., a New York based money management firm. Prior to co-founding Barrett Vernon Montgomery with Ross Barrett, he served as the Director of Investment Operations at Warburg Pincus Asset Management. He has had a distinguished career in both the public and private sectors.

Prior to joining co-founding VCE Capital with Ross Barrett, he served as the Director of Investment Operations at Warburg Pincus Asset Management. Prior to this, he served in a similar capacity at Chancellor Capital Management. In these roles he was directly responsible for building a state of the art infrastructure to support all client, business, product development and growth needs and served on numerous management and operating committees.

He has also served as a Senior Manager at Deloitte & Touche where his consulting practice focused on management, M&A, financial service and due diligence engagements and issues. Early on in his career, he was a Vice President of Citibank, NA.

In the public sector, Russ served as a full Colonel in the National Guard until 2005. He has served in numerous positions including Company Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, Commander of the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry "The Fighting 69th", the Inspector General of the 42nd Infantry Division and as Military Liaison to the New York State Department of Governmental Affairs. He currently commands the New York State ARFOR Command.

Russ holds a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy at West Point, a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University and a Master of Strategic Studies from the United States Army War College.

He is a notary public and holds the NASD Series 7,24,63 and 65 licenses. Among his numerous military decorations are the Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. His badges include the Expert Infantryman Badge, Air Assault and Airborne Wings and the coveted Ranger Tab.

He serves on the board of Jenrin Discovery, Inc., VCE Capital, the Hebrew Technical Institute and the West Point Society of the Mid Hudson.

Ross Barrett

Mr. Barrett is a General Partner with Louisiana Ventures, LP and a Partner at Barrett Vernon Montgomery. He was a Co-founder of VC Experts, Inc. Previously, he worked on Capitol Hill as a legislative aide to senior U.S. Senator, J. Bennett Johnston, where he specialized in risk assessment and regulatory reform.

Mr. Barrett received a masters degree in taxation from New York University School of Law.

Prior to NYU Law, he earned a J.D. from Louisiana State University School of Law. In law school, he was selected to participate in the National Tugel Moot Court Competition. Prior to that, he earned a B.A. in Political Science from Southern Methodist University, graduating with honors.

He is the co-author and editor of two books:

Advanced Private Equity: Series A Documents and Term Sheets (Am. Lawyer 2004).

Executive Compensation Structures for Venture-backed Companies (Aspatore 2003)

He is the author of several articles, including:

The New Markets Tax Credit: Good Opportunity But Needs Tweaking (Venture Capital Journal Oct. 2003);

The Private Equity Secondary Market: Direct Sales (Benefits & Risks) (Start-Up and Emerging Companies Newsletter 2003);

Investment Banks, Placement Agents and Full Ratchet Dilution (Start-Up and Emerging Companies Newsletter 2003);

Venture Capital Investing: Quick Facts (Louisiana Bar Journal 2001);

Project Financing of the Channel Tunnel; Private Company Valuation: Minority Discounts and the Estate & Gift Tax Regime.

Mr. Barrett sits on the Advisory Board of Hope for New York, an umbrella organization of thirty Christian charities associated with Redeemer Presbyterian Church that promotes volunteerism in New York. He is head of its due diligence committee.

Richard Montgomery

Mr. Montgomery is a member of the General Partner, and runs the firm's New Orleans office. Prior to that time, he was an attorney in the corporate and securities section of the New Orleans office of Jones, Walker, Waechter, Poitevent, Carrère & Denègre, LLP. His practice focused on mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance, private equity and venture capital financing transactions and entity formation. He is a member of the Louisiana State Bar Association.

Mr. Montgomery earned a J.D. in 1999 from the Louisiana State University School of Law, graduating as a member of the Order of the Coif. In law school, he was an associate on the Louisiana Law Review. Prior to that, he earned a B.A. in History from the University of Georgia.