Our Team
The Grant Avenue Capital team has decades of healthcare investing experience, deep industry knowledge, and a broad network of relationships that actively support our portfolio companies’ growth initiatives.
Investment Professionals
Buddy Gumina is the Founder and Managing Partner of Grant Avenue Capital. Prior to founding Grant Avenue Capital, Buddy was the Senior Equity Partner of the global healthcare group at the international private equity firm, Apax Partners. Starting in 1998 at the middle-market PE firm, Saunders Karp & Megrue, which was subsequently merged into Apax in 2005, Buddy initiated and built the healthcare buyout franchise in the United States over the course of nearly 20 years and through multiple economic cycles into one of the private equity industry leaders. He invested over $4 billion, with an additional $1.5 billion of co-investment from Limited Partners and Strategic Investors, in numerous deals across the healthcare industry, including services, devices, pharma, and HCIT. In addition, Buddy is also the Founder of the Grant Avenue Foundation, which supports Grant Avenue Capital employees and portfolio companies involved in community initiatives that increase access to quality healthcare or improve awareness regarding healthy choices. A portion of Grant Avenue Capital profits are allocated to the Grant Avenue Foundation.
Prior to joining Apax Partners, Buddy worked for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Merchant Banking Partners and was on the high-yield capital markets desk of Kidder, Peabody.
Buddy graduated from Yale University with a BA in Political Science, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He also has an MBA from the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration.
Brian Berkin is a Partner with Grant Avenue Capital and has spent his career focused on the healthcare sector. Prior to Grant Avenue Capital, Brian was a Partner with Tailwind Capital, a middle-market private equity fund. At Tailwind Capital, Brian originated, executed, and monitored healthcare investments on behalf of the fund and served on the Board of Directors for Abode Healthcare (hospice services), EverVet Partners (veterinary services), and DermaRite Industries (wound care manufacturer). Brian has held other private equity and investment banking roles, including with Chicago Pacific Founders, LLR Partners, RoundTable Healthcare Partners, Credit Suisse, and Bear Stearns.
Brian earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and holds a BA in business administration from the University of Michigan, where he graduated with distinction.
Alex is a Principal with Grant Avenue Capital. Prior to joining Grant Avenue Capital in 2019, Alex was an Associate at Audax Private Equity in Boston. During this time, he executed and supported numerous investments across the healthcare and consumer sectors.
Alex graduated summa cum laude from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S. in Economics and concentrations in Finance and Operations, Information & Decisions.
Eric is a Principal with Grant Avenue Capital. Prior to joining Grant Avenue Capital in 2019, Eric was an Associate at Morgan Stanley Capital Partners in New York. During this time, he executed and supported numerous investments across the healthcare and industrial sectors. Prior, he was an Analyst in the Healthcare Investment Banking group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch and Citigroup Capital Markets.
Eric graduated from Duke University with a B.S. in Economics.
Stew Jamieson is Director of Business Development with Grant Advantage, an operational excellence team within Grant Avenue Capital that is focused on driving equity value within portfolio companies through the implementation of impactful initiatives in partnership with management.
Stew currently serves as a Senior Vice President of M&A at Ovation Healthcare, an existing Grant Avenue Capital portfolio company. Previously, he spent five years with H2C Securities, a middle-market investment banking firm focused on healthcare services. Most recently at H2C, Stew was a director focused on hospitals and health systems. Before joining H2C Securities, he spent two years at Citi as an associate in the healthcare investment banking group.
Stew earned an MBA from Pennsylvania State University’s Smeal College of Business and holds a BS in business administration from Ohio University, where he was a member of the varsity golf team.
Avishee joined Grant Avenue Capital as an MBA intern in 2022, beginning her full-time position as a Senior Associate during the summer of 2023. She now serves as the Director, Strategy & Operational Excellence. Previously, Avishee was a Manager at Kearney in their Healthcare and Private Equity practices.
Avishee graduated from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business with a B.S. in Finance and Economics. Avishee also earned an MBA from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where she graduated as a Palmer Scholar.
Ben is a Vice President with Grant Avenue Capital. Prior to joining Grant Avenue Capital in 2021, Ben was an Analyst at Hammond Hanlon Camp (H2C) in New York. During this time, he executed and supported numerous transactions in the healthcare sector.
Ben graduated from New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business with a B.S. in Finance and Computing & Data Science.
Laura is a Senior Associate with Grant Avenue Capital. Prior to joining Grant Avenue Capital in 2023, Laura was an Associate at Cerberus Capital Management in New York. During this time, she executed and supported numerous transactions in the healthcare sector. Prior, she was an Analyst in the Healthcare Investment Banking group at Goldman Sachs.
Laura graduated from the New York University's Leonard N. Stern School of Business with a B.S. in Business and Political Economy.
Edward is an Associate with Grant Avenue Capital. Prior to joining Grant Avenue Capital in 2024, Edward was an Analyst in Lincoln International’s Healthcare M&A Group in New York. During his tenure, he facilitated and advised on numerous transactions in the healthcare sector.
Edward graduated from Villanova University with a B.B.A in Finance and Economics.
Josh is an Associate with Grant Avenue Capital. Prior to joining Grant Avenue Capital in 2025, Josh Hawn was an Analyst in Houlihan Lokey's Healthcare M&A Group in Dallas. During his tenure, he facilitated and advised on numerous transactions in the healthcare sector.
Josh graduated from Southern Methodist University with a B.B.A in Finance and specializations in Alternative Asset Management and Entrepreneurship.
Graham joined Grant Avenue Capital in 2024 as a Business Development Analyst.
He graduated with a B.A. in Economics & Sustainable Business from Cornell University where he was a member of the varsity rowing team.
Finance & Operations
Brian is both the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at Grant Avenue Capital. Prior to joining Grant Avenue Capital in 2023, Brian served as the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer at Sagewind Capital, a middle-market private equity fund. At Sagewind Capital, Brian was responsible for managing all financial and operational matters at the firm. Prior to Sagewind Capital, Brian was the Chief Financial Officer of InTandem Capital Partners, a middle-market healthcare-focused private equity fund. Previously, he was the Controller and Director of Investor Relations at Enlightened Hospitality Investments and Fund Controller at SV Health Investors.
Brian graduated from Ithaca College with a BS in Accounting. He also earned an MBA from the Carroll School of Management at Boston College.
Sari is the Chief of Staff and Administration at Grant Avenue Capital. In addition, Sari collaborates with the Grant Avenue Foundation. Prior to joining Grant Avenue Capital, Sari worked for two leading nonprofits, the Alzheimer's Association, as an External Relationships Specialist, and Best Buddies.
Sari graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in Sociology and a concentration in Philosophy.
Emma is the Office Manager and Executive Assistant at Grant Avenue Capital. Prior to joining Grant Avenue Capital, Emma worked as an Administrative Assistant at Thoma Bravo, and completed a two year service with Teach for America.
Emma graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in Human Rights and Education. She also completed a Masters in Teaching from the Relay Graduate School of Education.