About Us
Helping Business Owners Maximize the Value
About Our Name
Crown Point is a basalt promontory in the Columbia River Gorge, about 15 miles east of Portland, Oregon — our hometown. At its great height, it’s the best scenic lookout along the Historic Columbia River Highway, providing a panoramic view up and down the Columbia River from the Vista House, a beautiful stone observatory and memorial.
We think the location is an appropriate symbol for those who are engaged in an M&A process — illustrating the value of looking upstream to see what’s coming, while also understanding the importance of relying on the experience that comes from a look downriver and remembering what has already gone by.
Like the river itself, our experience is both deep and broad. To learn more about our accomplishments and qualifications, check out our complete bios below.
Rodger Adams has been a merchant banker and investment banker for over 35 years. He has served as both an advisor and a principal in structuring and negotiating asset and stock sales, leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, recapitalizations, and corporate restructurings. His industry scope is well diversified with concentration on manufacturing, distribution, healthcare, business services, forest products and airlines.
Rodger began his professional career as an instructor and research advisor at the University of Oregon and the Oregon Institute of Marine Biology and then began a career as a land-use and environmental planner. After a career switch which involved earning an MBA, he joined Oregon Bank/Security Pacific Bank in 1984 in international and commercial banking. In 1987, he joined PacifiCorp Financial Services working in Portland and New York City, and was a Managing Director of merchant banking and commercial finance when he left to join Veber Partners in 1994 as a founding partner. Rodger was a senior partner with Veber for 28 years, the last 10 as a co-owner of the firm. In 2022, upon the retirement of founding partner Gayle Veber, Rodger joined with Nick Stanley to establish Crown Point Partners.
Rodger has served on the Board of Directors of CRU Data Security Group, Mass Ingenuity, International Composites Corp, CrossCurrent, Northwest Polymers, and Pony Lumber. In addition, he has served on the Board of Associated Oregon Industries and as a Trustee of the Lutheran Family Service Foundation.
Rodger earned his bachelor’s degree in Geography from California State Polytechnic University, Humboldt, and a master’s degree in Geography from the University of Oregon. Rodger also earned an MBA in finance from the University of Oregon where he was a Beta Gamma Sigma Scholar. He has received a Series 7 and Series 63 securities registration with FINRA.
Nick has been selling businesses in the Pacific Northwest for over 20 years. He is a financial engineer, negotiator, tactician, and strategic thinker who has helped dozens of business owners reach their ultimate objectives and successfully optimize the sale of their business. He has experience representing companies in manufacturing, distribution, software, technology, consumer, retail, energy, healthcare, and service businesses.
Nick was with CMS Companies in Philadelphia from 1987 to 1990, working with successful entrepreneurs to build, diversify, and transfer wealth through asset allocation analysis, private equity placement, and estate planning strategies.
Nick moved back to Portland in 1991, and acquired Fine Arts Graphics, a corporate stationery manufacturing company, where he served as President and CEO. In 1999 he hired Veber Partners, a Portland Oregon-based boutique investment bank, to represent him in selling the company to ImageX.com. He stayed with the company through its IPO in 2000, and then joined Veber Partners in 2001 as a Partner doing lower middle market M&A and corporate finance.
Upon the retirement of Gayle Veber in 2022, Nick and Rodger Adams formed Crown Point Partners to focus exclusively on sell-side and buy-side representation.
Nick has served on the Boards of Motive Power Industries (NYSE MPI), ProteoGenix, and Mass Ingenuity. In addition, he has committed time to community interests and has served on the Board of Directors of the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry, the Oregon Independent College Foundation, the Citizens Crime Commission, The Citizens Education Commission, The Multiple Sclerosis Society, The Oregon Forum, Self Enhancement Inc., Outward Bound West, Young Presidents Organization — Oregon, Entrepreneurs Organization, Social Venture Partners — Portland, and Oregon Episcopal School. Nick currently serves on the Board of Directors of St. Anthony Village Enterprise, Services for All Generations, and the Advisory Board of The OHSU Knight Cancer Council.
Nick earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Finance and Psychology from Georgetown University. He holds a Series 7 securities license.
Since 1995 he has served as the Honorary Consul General to the Kingdom of Thailand for the Pacific Northwest.
Nate Liebler
Strategic Partner
nliebler@crownpointpartners.com
Nate started his career at Harsch Investment Properties from 2003-2009, a premier west coast commercial real estate owner and operator, working in corporate finance and participating in the arrangement and negotiation of over $900 million of property and corporate debt in more than 70 transactions; establishing strong relationships with many brokers and institutional lenders, including banks and portfolio lenders.
He moved on in 2009 to work for ESCO Corporation, a global manufacturer of Mining, Oil & Gas and Construction & Industrial premium wear products. Initially he was involved with corporate finance and strategic planning, and later leveraging those skills along with his prior transactional experience into a corporate M&A role. Mr. Liebler was instrumental in playing lead roles, coordinating and completing numerous global acquisitions and divestitures ranging in size from $4 million to $325 million, and has experience with both domestic and international projects.
Aside from his direct M&A responsibilities, he was responsible for leading a $25 million Industrial Products business spanning multiple product lines, industries and international geographies. Concurrently, he directed the strategic planning, new market research and business development processes for the larger Construction and Industrial Division.
Nate additionally has served as a Partner with Veber Partners (now Crown Point) since 2016 and is currently aligned as a Strategic Partner with the firm leveraging his unique combination of hands-on operating, merger & acquisition, corporate finance & development, strategic planning, and commercial real estate experience.
Nate earned both his MBA and B. S. in Business Management from Oregon State University. Nate also held a Series 79 securities license.
Scott Farrell
Strategic Partner
Scott Farrell brings over 15 years of experience in private equity, investment banking, and business operations to Crown Point Partners. Prior to joining Crown Point as a Strategic Partner, Scott served as Vice President at GDG Capital, a New York-based private equity firm, where he most recently worked in portfolio operations as Chief Operating Officer for a leading Northwest transportation, warehousing, and logistics company. In this role, Scott led all day-to-day operations of the portfolio company, spearheading sales and business development efforts, streamlining operational efficiency, digitizing administrative processes, and implementing new ICT infrastructure across multiple functions and locations. These initiatives resulted in 41% revenue growth and an 11% improvement in EBITDA margin over three years.
As an investment banking professional, Scott has extensive experience in complex M&A transactions and private placements across the aerospace, cleantech, energy, natural resources, and other sectors, with total deal value exceeding $1 billion. He has served as buy-side advisor to international private equity funds acquiring targets across North America and as sell-side advisor for middle-market foreign and domestic clients.
An investor and entrepreneur, Scott was a founding partner of Aero Drone Corp., a full-service sUAS solutions provider. In his role as Director of Business Development, he negotiated and secured contracts with Fortune 500 utility companies as well as state and local government agencies.
Scott began his career in government as a researcher at the NYS Department of Financial Services, the largest state financial regulator in the U.S., where he led several projects, including assessments of state-wide regulatory filing systems.
Scott earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the Gabelli School of Business at Fordham University, with a dual concentration in Finance, and Management of Information and Communication Systems. He was previously registered with FINRA holding Series 79, 7, 82, and 63 securities licenses.
JEFF GRUBB
Strategic Partner
jgrubb@crownpointpartners.com
Jeff Grubb’s career in financial services spans more than 30 years. Jeff was the senior managing director for the Mountain Northwest region of Wells Fargo Wealth Management. As the senior leader in the region, Mr. Grubb was responsible for delivering an exceptional experience for clients of Wealth Management and Wells Fargo Private Bank. He actively led team members who helped clients meet their wealth management needs through a variety of wealth planning, investment management, private banking, and trust services.
Prior to joining Wells Fargo in 2005, he served as the regional CEO of the Pacific Northwest Region at U.S. Trust, responsible for wealth management and institutional trust. From 2002 to 2005 he was also president and CEO of CTC Consulting, a U.S. Trust subsidiary. Previous leadership positions included manager of Private Financial Services for U.S. Bank; chairman and CEO of Qualivest, an investment advisor and subsidiary of U.S. Bancorp, president of U.S. Bancorp Insurance Company, and division president for Progressive Insurance.
He serves on the board of trustees for the Murdock Charitable Trust, is the secretary for the Columbia Willamette Goodwill, and board member of Vision Finance in Rwanda. Mr. Grubb is a former chairman for the Oregon Young Presidents Organization, Social Venture Partners Portland, and the Portland Angel Network, and former board member for the Oregon Symphony, Portland Art Museum, World Affairs Council, Palau Foundation for World Evangelism, Junior Achievement, Portland State University Business School Advisory Council, and the Oregon Entrepreneurs Network.
Jeff earned a degree in economics and an MBA from Stanford University.
TAMMY MILLER
Strategic Partner
tmiller@crownpointpartners.com
Tammy Miller is an entrepreneur, investor, and strategic advisor with over 20 years of asset management and investment banking experience. Prior to joining Veber Partners in 2018, Ms. Miller was Founder and Managing Partner of Eight Bridges Capital Management, an alternative investment firm and hedge fund manager.
From 2005-2015, Tammy worked in the hedge fund and mutual fund industries, as a Portfolio Manager at Calamos Investments, American Independence Financial Services, and Acadia Fund, consistently growing assets under management. Previously, she held a number of roles with Mizuho Bank (1994-2005), where she had extensive experience in investment banking, corporate loan underwriting, leveraged finance, middle market transactions, and commercial loan obligations. During that time, she also served on the Creditor Committee in corporate bankruptcy proceedings, while managing the workouts of some of the largest bankruptcies in US history.
In 2016, Tammy was appointed to the Columbia River Gorge Oregon Investment Board by the Governor of the State of Oregon. Ms. Miller is or has served on the Finance & Budget Committee of the Multnomah Athletic Club, the Board of the Portland Art Museum’s Northwest Art Council, the Advisory Committee of Portland Women in Investment Management, the Distressed Debt Committee of the Loan Sales & Trading Association, and the Board of Directors of the Financial Women’s Association.
Ms. Miller is also a member of the Portland Business Journal’s Women’s Coalition, Portland Alternative Investment Association, California Alternative Investment Association, 100 Women in Finance, Junior League, National Charity League, and Les Dames d’Escoffier International. She and her husband also own Cerulean Skies Winery and Acadia Vineyards.
Tammy earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Politics and Economics from Middlebury College, and her MBA from Cornell University.
Terry Schumacher has been in and around the forest products and related industries for over 40 years and has a background in financial management, investment research, securities transactions, financing, strategic planning, and M&A. Companies he has worked for include Puget Sound Plywood, Merrill Lynch, International Paper, Forest City Trading Group, Wells Fargo Securities, and Jewett-Cameron Trading Company.
As a Senior Advisor to Veber Partners, Terry is involved in originating and executing investment banking engagements primarily in the forest products and related industries with occasional involvement in other end markets. His activities support Veber’s main practices areas of M&A transactions and raising debt and equity capital. He also helps identify merchant banking opportunities in which Veber Partners can jointly own businesses along with other qualified managers and investors.
Terry earned his MBA from Columbia University, along with an undergraduate degree from the University of Washington.
PHIL IOSCA
Strategic Partner
pjiosca@crownpointpartners.com
Phil has over 35 years of experience in the retail apparel sector. He has served in senior executive roles at Brooks Brothers and Lands End, and as CEO, President, or Chairman of Jos A. Bank Clothiers, Britches of Georgetown, Hanna Anderson, Reyn Spooner, and the Best Made Company. He has deep general management skills including strategic planning, operational management, financial planning, and marketing. Phil has specialized experience in merchandising including inventory and assortment planning, design management, pricing and margin development, and liquidation management. He is a performance driven and results proven executive.
As a Senior Advisor to Veber Partners, Phil is involved in originating and executing investment banking engagements primarily in the retail apparel and related industries. His activities support Veber’s main practices areas of M&A transactions and raising debt and equity capital. He also helps identify merchant banking opportunities in which Veber Partners can jointly own businesses along with other qualified managers and investors.
Phil earned his MBA from New York University, along with an undergraduate degree from St. Peter’s College in New Jersey.
Get the Best Outcome Possible
The good news is you don’t need to make any decisions right away.
However, it’s important to be informed so you can exit with grace when the day comes. Schedule a call with us and we can discuss your business, considerations around timing, and what a successful exit means to you.
