What Makes Redwood Growth Different?
At Redwood Growth, we bring the best of both worlds—experienced operators and seasoned investors. Having built and scaled businesses ourselves, we understand the challenges you face. Our team combines hands-on operational expertise with smart investment strategies to drive sustainable growth. We offer flexible deal structures and prioritize preserving your company’s culture and vision. By partnering with you, we create long-term value and ensure your business thrives well into the future.
Meet the Team
Arun Shekar
CEO
Arun Shekar is a seasoned entrepreneur, operator, and investor with a demonstrated ability to build, scale, and transform businesses. As the founder of Redwood Growth, Arun leverages his extensive M&A expertise, strategic insight, and operational leadership to acquire and grow lower-middle-market companies. Throughout his career, he has driven impressive results, including 80% P&L growth over four years and a 2.5x value increase at Redwood Growth’s portfolio company.
Prior to founding Redwood Growth, Arun held senior leadership roles at both global corporations and startups. He led organizations with 100+ team members, improved business processes across multi-site operations, and developed innovative strategies that contributed to significant top- and bottom-line growth. Arun’s entrepreneurial background includes founding two companies and developing robust sales strategies that delivered a 33% increase in deal flow. With an MBA from UC Berkeley and a Master’s in Computer Science, Arun combines strategic, data-driven insights with hands-on operational expertise to unlock value for business owners and investors alike.
Bryan Stevens
Business Development & Partnerships
Bryan is a prior entrepreneur with a strong background in marketing and business development in both large corporations and smaller companies. Bryan leads the efforts for business development and origination at Redwood growth. Prior to this Bryan has been leading marketing and business development for eBay where he had the chance to work with their corporate development team. Bryan is also a prior entrepreneur and had built a technology business from scratch.
Neil Meltzer
Operating Advisor
Neil is currently the CEO of LifeBridge Health, a leader in community focused healthcare services with 5 acute centers and nearly 150 locations in the Maryland area. Prior to this, Neil has held multiple CEO and other C-Suite roles in major hospital systems.
Neil serves on the boards of the Greater Baltimore Committee, Maryland Hospital Association and the Hippodrome Foundation and on the national boards of United WE, Get Well Network and Premier. Additionally, Neil serves on the advisory board of the Tulane University School of Public Health and Notre Dame of Maryland University. On the national level, he continues to work with the American Heart Association after serving as national chairman. In January 2024, Neil was appointed to the American Hospital Association’s health systems committee. In June 2023, Neil became chair of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE), a federal healthcare advisory committee to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. He was also one of 15 national workforce healthcare champions appointed by former President Barack Obama.
Mark Monson
Operating Advisor
Mark is an accomplished executive leader with over 40 years of experience in diverse healthcare operations. Mark has held multiple CEO and other C-Suite roles in large hospital systems and healthcare services providers where Mark has been instrumental in growing the business.
Mark has demonstrated success in business acquisition, driving organizational growth, optimizing financial performance, and developing initiatives to improve employee and patient satisfaction. Proven track record in quality improvement and regulatory compliance. Served as a National Malcolm Baldrige Examiner and CARF Administrative Surveyor.
Dennis Empey
Operating Advisor
Dennis has been a CFO in various healthcare systems for 30+ years where Dennis has led financial operations for the health systems, revenue cycle process, supply chain, cash management, cash management, capital budgets and IT application review and approval. Dennis has worked closely with hospital boards, banks, physicians and management of the health systems. Within healthcare, Dennis has in depth experience with hospitals, clinics, physicians practices and nursing homes.
Craig Jones
Investments Advisor
Craig Jones is a veteran of the venture capital and private equity industries and runs the private equity firm TPE Boulder. He has invested extensively in software, healthcare, and business services companies, leading investments in over 75 companies. He has also served as Chairman of Board of numerous companies. He is a member of the Board of several of TPE Boulder portfolio companies. Craig is a past member of the Board of Directors of the National Venture Capital Association and was the founding Chairman of a charter school which has over 2,000 graduates.
Kerry Barrett
Operating Advisor
Kerry Barrett is President of Eliassen’s Financial, Risk and Compliance, and Advisory Solutions business pillar. Prior to joining Eliassen, Kerry was an ELT member of Advanced Group, first as Chief Operating Officer, and later as President and CEO of WunderLand Group, the creative/digital marketing division, where she led the division to market beating growth. Previously as President and CEO at Accretive Solutions, the company’s growth led to its acquisition by Resources Global Professionals (RGP). She held previous leadership roles at Tatum LLC, Deloitte, Hudson Financial Solutions and Parson Group.
Kerry has a BA from Lehigh University and an MBA from the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business. Kerry lives in San Francisco where she spends as much time as possible outdoors, cheering on her three children in their sports, coaching girls’ soccer, or playing golf with her husband Jeff. She is an advisory council member to Ada-Marie and other organizations whose missions surround the advancement of women in the workforce.