Biography
As a Senior Managing Director of the Mason Wells Buyout Funds, Mr. Kenealey is responsible for initiating investment opportunities, negotiating transactions, supervising due diligence, serving on the Boards of Directors of portfolio companies, and working with portfolio company management teams. Mr. Kenealey is a member of the investment committee of each Mason Wells Buyout Fund.
Mr. Kenealey has over 25 years of experience in the private equity industry. Prior to joining Mason Wells in 1999, he was an attorney in the private equity group of Kirkland & Ellis, a Chicago-based law firm with a national private equity practice. Mr. Kenealey has been involved in more than 50 private equity transactions, including leveraged buyouts and recapitalizations, venture capital financings, and private equity fund formations. He joined Mason Wells shortly after the formation of the firm.
Mr. Kenealey has a Juris Doctorate degree from the Northwestern University School of Law, a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management, and a Bachelor of Economics degree from the University of Minnesota.
Active Board Memberships
Packaging Materials and Converting
Industrial Labels Holdings Corp.
Ingleside, IL
Current
Platform Acquisitions
Packaging Materials and Converting
Industrial Labels Holdings Corp.
Ingleside, IL
Current
Industrial Labels Holdings Corp. is the buy-and-build investment platform in the durable industrial labels industry, consisting of IDENTCO International Company, LLC and Reliance Label Solutions, LLC.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund V
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Chris Pummill, Managing Director
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Packaging Materials and Converting
Reliance Label Solutions, LLC
Paola, KS
Current
Reliance Label Solutions, LLC designs and manufactures industrial labels for hazardous chemical containers, warehouse management, and other asset-tracking applications. The Company’s products are mandated and regulated by OSHA’s Hazard Communication Standards which require labels to accurately disclose hazardous chemical content. Since its foundation in 2003, Reliance Label Solutions, LLC exceeds quality and service thresholds through the Company’s material science knowledge, precision manufacturing, and digital ordering tools.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund V
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Chris Pummill, Managing Director
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Outsourced Business Services
RJW Logistics Group
Woodridge, IL
Current
RJW Logistics Group is a leading provider of retail logistics for consumer packaged goods companies supplying traditional and e-commerce retailers. RJW's supply chain solutions include Less-Than-Truckload (LTL) consolidation, freight management, warehousing, and asset-based transportation for shippers requiring retail logistics expertise.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund IV
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Chris Markgraf, Managing Director
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Outsourced Business Services
SWAT Group, Inc.
Milwaukee, WI
Current
SWAT installs and services radon mitigation systems in residential and commercial properties. SWAT radon mitigation systems are installed by highly-trained field service technicians located across the United States.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund IV
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Chris Markgraf, Managing Director
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Prior Board Memberships
Outsourced Business Services
A&R Logistics, Inc.
Morris, IL
Former
A&R Logistics, Inc. is a leading provider of dry bulk transportation, packaging, distribution, and logistics solutions to numerous multinational companies within the chemical and plastic industries. A&R provides a comprehensive suite of services including over-the-road transportation, transloading, packaging, warehousing, and end-to-end outsourced transportation management.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund III
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Chris Markgraf, Managing Director
Packaging Materials and Converting
Creative Forming, Inc.
Ripon, WI
Former
Vertically integrated manufacturer of custom thermoformed plastic packaging products and an extruder of plastic sheet. Creative Forming sells custom-designed and engineered packaging to the food, foodservice, and consumer products industries.
Mason Wells Leveraged Buyout Fund I
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Tom Smith, Chairman
Engineered Products and Services
HyperEdge Corp.
Batavia, IL
Former
Designs and markets equipment and systems that enable broadband access within the “last mile” of the telecommunications network. HyperEdge is an established provider of T1-based broadband access products. The T1 access lines enabled by HyperEdge’s products are the primary means of delivering broadband access to large and medium-sized commercial customers.
Mason Wells Leveraged Buyout Fund I
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Outsourced Business Services
InterBay Technologies
St. Charles, IL
Former
Provider of engineering, furnishment, and installation ("EF&I") services to the telecommunications industry.
Mason Wells Leveraged Buyout Fund I
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Consumer Packaged Goods
King Juice Company, Inc.
Milwaukee, WI
Current
King Juice is the manufacturer and marketer of the Calypso brand of flavored lemonades and limeades. Calypso branded beverages are sold nationwide and internationally through convenience, grocery, and other retail channels.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund IV
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Ben Holbrook, Senior Managing Director
Michael Graves, Director
Outsourced Business Services
NGI Holdings Corp.
Minneapolis, MN
Former
Business process outsourcing provider focused on accounts receivable management and collection services for national credit card issuers, retailers, and debt purchasers. The Company uses proprietary analytics to support a unique letter-based collection strategy and a staff of experienced call-center-based collectors. NGI primarily services later-stage receivables that have been charged off by credit card issuers.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund II
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Chris Markgraf, Managing Director
Engineered Products and Services
Oilgear Company, The
Traverse City, MI
Former
Manufacturer of fluid power components, hydraulic pumps, valves, motors, and meters. Oilgear designs, manufactures, and installs fluid power systems. Oilgear also provides aftermarket support services.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund II
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Tom Smith, Chairman
Michael Graves, Director
Outsourced Business Services
Paragon Development Systems, Inc.
Brookfield, WI
Former
Information technology integrator that provides hardware, software, and services to medium and large organizations in healthcare, government, education, and corporate sectors.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund III
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Tom Smith, Chairman
Michael Graves, Director
Consumer Packaged Goods
Paris Presents
Gurnee, IL
Former
Merchandiser, designer, and developer of branded and exclusive branded beauty and bath accessories for the mass merchant, drug store, and specialty beauty channel.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund III
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Chris Markgraf, Managing Director
Outsourced Business Services
Prime Distribution
Indianapolis, IN
Former
Non-asset-based third-party logistics (3PL) provider specializing in warehousing, multi-vendor consolidation, cross-docking, transportation management, and other value-added logistics services. The company services medium-sized suppliers to large retailers.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund II
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Chris Markgraf, Managing Director
Outsourced Business Services
Qualus Power Services
Cincinnati, OH
Former
Qualus Power Services Corp. provides outsourced electrical power engineering, testing, maintenance, and related services to utility, industrial, and commercial clients. The Company provides services for complex high, medium, and low voltage power applications with a particular focus on the generation and substation portions of the power grid.
Mason Wells Buyout Fund III
Mason Wells Deal Team Leads
Kevin Kenealey, Senior Managing Director
Damon Thome, Managing Director