Your Charter Team

John R. Kerschen, Managing Director

John Kerschen has more than 20 years of financial experience in commercial banking, merger and acquisition advisory, and private capital investment. Since joining The Charter Group in 1996, he has been responsible for more than 60 acquisition transactions. These transactions include diverse industries, such as manufacturing of metal parts, plastics, electronics, and medical devices, as well as construction services, energy services, business services, and various distribution industries. John’s significant banking and financial background combined with his strong transaction management skills have been instrumental to Charter’s success over the years.

John is also active in various investment funds and capital raise. Through the formation of Charter Capital Funds, John is an investor/acquirer in growth companies seeking investment capital or an outright acquisition. As a member of the Michigan Pre-Seed Investment Fund investment review committee, he is responsible for vetting business plans for investment by the Fund. John is also Managing Director for Michigan Accelerator Fund I, a venture capital fund investing in early-stage Michigan companies, focused primarily on life sciences technology.

John is a current national Board member for the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and a board member for three private companies.

He holds a BA from Michigan State University and an MBA from DePaul University.

Dale Grogan, Vice President, Business and Transaction Management

Dale Grogan has more than 20 years of professional business dealings on every side of transactions, including entrepreneur, buyer, seller, and investment banker. Dale has launched and owned businesses including an NASD broker/dealer firm, several technology companies, and consulting firms focused on start-up businesses. Dale has served as CEO of a public company, sat on the Boards of several private companies and advisory councils, and helped develop federal governmental standards for emerging technology. He has developed a unique executive skill set, strong in finance, marketing, and strategic planning.

Dale was an original member of the GSA Interoperability Standards Committee for the development and usage of Smart card applications within the federal government. He is currently a Board Member of the Smart Card Alliance, the smart card industry’s non-profit trade association, and sits on the Board of SMART Association, Inc. among others.

As a member of the Michigan Pre-Seed Investment Fund investment review committee, Dale is responsible for vetting business plans for investment by the Fund. He is also Managing Director for Michigan Accelerator Fund I, a venture capital fund investing in early-stage Michigan companies, focused primarily on life sciences technology.

Dale attended Huntington College (Montgomery, AL) where he studied chemistry and biology and was granted early admission to the University of Alabama School of Optometry (Birmingham, AL), where he studied general optometry and physiological optics.

Kevin Griffin, Vice President, Business and Transaction Management

Kevin Griffin has more than 30 years of business and financial experience in a wide breadth of industries including manufacturing, financial services and public accounting.

Most recently, he served as Director of Finance for X-Rite, Inc, a publicly traded provider of color measurement equipment and services. In this role, Kevin was actively involved in both product line and company acquisitions in the United States and Europe.  In addition to M&A activity, He was also responsible for all treasury, tax and financial reporting functions at X-Rite.

Kevin began his career in public accounting in the Saginaw office of Rehmann and Co, and is a member of both the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Michigan Association of Certified Public Accountants. He has also worked in the financial services sector, having served as Vice President and Treasurer in the life insurance industry.

Kevin earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University.

Andrew Williams, Vice President, Business and Transaction Management

Andrew Williams brings a broad level of business experience to The Charter Group. After beginning his career with a major West Michigan automotive supplier, he then spent a decade as COO and co-owner of a family owned home furnishings manufacturer.

Upon leaving the manufacturing sector, he launched a Sales and Global Sourcing group which served the Home Furnishings, Office Furniture and Recreational Vehicle industries. Andrew is past CEO and current board member of Vision Outreach International, an eye surgery Mission organization.

Andrew is a graduate of Michigan State University’s Engineering School. In 2011, he was awarded Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor certification by The Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors. He is one of an elite group of approximately 375 advisors worldwide to have earned the certification. The CM&AA designation serves to distinguish those individuals who have mastered a comprehensive body of essential knowledge and also have committed to staying abreast of continuing new developments in the M&A profession.

Brian Bascom, Associate Vice President, Business and Transaction Management

Brian Bascom brings a specialized level of business and industry experience to Charter. For more than a decade he has provided management consulting, M&A advisory, and value enhancement strategies to executives and management of leading architectural, furniture and furnishings products manufacturers.

He is currently a partner of Velocity Partners Inc., a Holland Michigan based management and marketing consulting firm that has served clients in Australia, North America and Europe.
 
Brian holds a BA from Taylor University and is pursuing an MBA with the San Francisco Institute of Architecture.  He also is active with Feeding America, a hunger-relief charity.

Prem Bodagala, Merger and Acquisition Associate

Prem leads the analysis, research, and administrative processes for The Charter Group and is actively involved in our expanding private capital investment activities.

Prem offers a strong background in financial analysis and market research. Most recently, he served as Senior Manager for a regional company providing administrative services to the healthcare industry. His responsibilities included identifying contract opportunities, networking with specialty healthcare professionals, and optimizing ROI through the implementation of a divisional budget.

Prior to that, Prem was an intern with The Charter Group, where he analyzed financial data, built valuation models, and performed research for acquisitions. He also worked with the Michigan Small Business and Technology Development Center, performing market research, analyzing data, and co-authoring the 2008 Demographic Profile for the West Michigan region. Prem’s additional experience as a financial analyst includes preparing financial models, creating monthly financial statements, and developing budgets and forecasts.

Prem’s combination of analytical expertise and healthcare industry knowledge is an excellent fit for Charter. He brings a high level of personal energy and initiative to the position.

Prem graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Western Michigan University. He is scheduled to graduate with a Master of Business Administration from Grand Valley State University this summer.

Kristin Sheline, Marketing Coordinator

Kristin Sheline has been managing marketing and communications programs for more than 15 years, for companies ranging in size from three employees to 50,000.

She spent the early part of her career writing and managing projects for companies including AT&T, NCR, ABB, Dow Chemical, Rapistan, Steelcase, and Turnstone. She then moved into an account management role for West Michigan’s leading interactive agency at the time. Most recently, Kristin developed a marketing communications program that enabled a start-up company to achieve its goal of doubling sales in a single year.

As part of the Charter team, Kristin oversees all aspects of marketing and communications, including public relations, e-marketing, sales support, and event planning.

Kristin is currently President of the Grand Rapids Gymnastics Booster Club. She holds a BS in Television Production from Ferris State University, and an MA in Communications from Ohio University.