Chair
Jim Howland is a Senior Advisor at Morgan Stanley Capital Partners, where he provides strategic guidance to drive value creation across portfolio companies. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Emler Swim School, Fairway Lawns, Sila Heating & Air Conditioning, World 50, Educate 360, Clarity Software Solutions, and 24 Seven Inc.
Jim joined Morgan Stanley Capital Partners in 2008 and retired as a Managing Director in 2024. During his tenure, he also served as Chairman of the Board for several companies, including EmployBridge, Access Cash, Smile America Partners, and Cadence Education. Before joining Morgan Stanley, Jim held senior leadership roles at Dun & Bradstreet, Edison Schools, and Regus Business Centers, and earlier in his career, held executive positions at American Express and McKinsey & Company.
He holds a B.A., magna cum laude, from Bucknell University and an MBA from Stanford University. Jim splits his time between Greenwich, CT and North Palm Beach, FL with his wife, Dinah. They have three adult children and two grandchildren.
David Thompson is a Managing Director at Morgan Stanley based in New York, where he plays a key role in sourcing, executing, and managing investments for Morgan Stanley Capital Partners. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Emler Swim School, Educate 360, AWT Labels & Packaging, and SpendMend.
David joined Morgan Stanley in 2009 and became a member of the Capital Partners team in 2011. He previously worked as an Analyst in the firm’s Investment Banking Division, focusing on the Financial Institutions Group. His prior board experience includes Cadence Education and PPC Flexible Packaging.
David holds a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia. He is recognized for his investment acumen, operational insight, and strategic oversight across multi-site, growth-oriented businesses.
Sharveen Seebaluck is an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley, based in New York, where she focuses on strategic growth, value creation, and operational performance within the Morgan Stanley Capital Partners portfolio.
Sharveen joined MSCP in 2019 after serving as a Senior Engagement Manager at McKinsey & Company, where she advised clients on strategy and growth transformation. She previously worked as an Associate at Goldman Sachs in the Commodities Power and Natural Gas division.
She holds both a B.S. and M.S. from Florida Institute of Technology and earned her MBA from Columbia Business School. Sharveen brings a global, analytical perspective to every engagement, blending financial discipline with strategic innovation.
Max Waterous is an Executive Director at Morgan Stanley, based in New York, where he supports investment strategy and value creation for Morgan Stanley Capital Partners portfolio companies. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Emler Swim School, FoodScience, AWT, and Comar.
Max joined Morgan Stanley in 2013 and has been part of the Capital Partners team since 2016. Before joining the private equity division, he worked as an Analyst in the M&A and Natural Resources groups within Morgan Stanley’s Investment Banking Division.
He holds a Bachelor of Commerce with First Class Joint Honors in Economics and Finance from McGill University, where he was awarded the Sir Edward Beatty Medal. Max is known for his sharp financial analysis and thoughtful board leadership across consumer and healthcare sectors.
Stacy DeWalt is the Chief Executive Officer of Salon Lofts, where she leads the growth and transformation of a national network of consumer service locations. She is recognized for scaling multi-unit businesses through operational excellence, marketing innovation, and a relentless focus on the customer experience.
Prior to Salon Lofts, Stacy served as EVP and Chief Marketing Officer at Heartland Dental, leading initiatives in patient acquisition, brand strategy, and market expansion. Her career also includes leadership roles at OneMain Financial, Quicken Loans, Isle of Capri Casinos, and Learning Care Group.
Stacy holds a master’s degree in communications from the University of Hartford and previously served as a Board Member for Cadence Education. She brings deep expertise in multi-site operations, consumer analytics, and growth strategy across diverse industries.
Dave Goldberg is a senior operating executive with over 30 years of experience leading multi-site service businesses in education, hospitality, and franchising. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Emler Swim School, Medi Weight Loss, 42 North Dental, and Endeavor Schools.
Dave was previously President and CEO of Cadence Education, where he led the company through rapid expansion and two successful private equity transactions. Under his leadership, the company achieved a 7x return for investors, acquired 152 schools, and significantly improved customer satisfaction and financial performance. He also played a key role in national childcare advocacy, helping secure over $50 billion in pandemic relief.
Earlier in his career, Dave held senior leadership roles at Choice Hotels, Sunrise Senior Living, 2U, and 1-800-Flowers.com. He holds a BSBA from Washington University in St. Louis and an MBA from Georgetown University, where he was co-valedictorian. Dave splits his time between Maryland and Arizona and is an avid marathoner, hiker, and mountain biker.
Greg Laird is the founder and managing member of Palatine Capital and served as CEO of Emler Swim School from 2015 to 2024. He led the company through a period of transformative growth, expanding it from 8 to over 60 locations nationwide. During his tenure, Emler earned numerous “Best Place to Work” honors and was named to the SMU Cox Dallas 100 list in 2020, 2023, and 2024.
Prior to Emler, Greg founded and led US Road Sports, producer of the Miami Marathon and other major endurance events. He scaled the company more than 7x before its sale to Life Time Fitness and was recognized as a Dallas 100 winner in 2011.
Earlier in his career, Greg practiced international law at Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP in Dallas, Texas, and Brussels, Belgium and served in the U.S. Department of Commerce. He holds degrees from the University of Texas and Stanford Graduate School of Business and has been named a “Texas Rising Star” and one of D Magazine’s “Best Lawyers Under 40.
He resides in Dallas, where he is a member of Park Cities Presbyterian Church and the proud father of Elizabeth, Katherine, and Preston.
Bio coming soon
Ashley Sheetz is the Chief Executive Officer of Emler Swim School, where she leads the organization’s strategic direction, operational growth, and mission to deliver life-saving swim instruction to families across the country. With a deep commitment to safety, customer experience, and team development, Ashley brings decades of leadership to one of the nation’s most trusted swim school networks.
Prior to joining Emler, Ashley served as Chief Operating Officer at At Home, where she was responsible for store operations, marketing, and supply chain. During her tenure, she held multiple executive roles including Chief Customer Officer, Chief Revenue Officer, and Chief Digital Officer. She played a pivotal role in scaling At Home’s loyalty program, launching e-commerce capabilities, and expanding the brand from $800M to over $2B in revenue. Earlier in her career, Ashley held CMO roles at Sally Beauty and GameStop, bringing a strong background in marketing, digital strategy, and customer engagement.
Ashley serves on the Board of California Pizza Kitchen and is Board Chair for Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity. She is also a member of the AEA Investors LP Senior Advisory Council. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Ashley lives in Dallas with her husband and son.
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