Advisory Board

We prize experience and knowledge in bank management, lending and credit, and governance and financial oversight.  As banking has become more complex with advances in technology, regulatory changes, and enhancements in management techniques, we have found it increasingly helpful to consult others who have broad exposure to banking.  We have created a unique group of advisory directors who are either investors in one of our funds or who represent investors in one of the funds.  Each of them also brings a wealth of experience to their advisory roles.  Our advisory directors meet with our staff periodically to discuss the performance of the funds we manage with special focus on the performance of the banks and thrifts owned in those funds.  Specifically, for the funds investing in non-publicly traded banks and thrifts, the advisory board addresses conflicts of interest and valuation issues as they may arise.  In addition, our advisory directors provide support between meetings by assisting in due diligence on new investments and ongoing review of specific institutions and markets.  Naturally, Fortress Partners Capital Management staff retains ultimate responsibility for all decisions relating to fund investments.

William J. Hickmann

Bill is an attorney and a long-time bank investor  and, along with Jon, co-founded Town Bankshares, Ltd., and The Delafield State Bank in 1998.  Bill served as director and chairman of that bank and bank holding company.  As chairman, he established the shareholder value optimization strategy that resulted in the sale of Town Bankshares in 2004 to Wintrust Financial Corporation (WTFC).  Bill currently serves as a director of MW Bank and its holding company, Capital Commerce Bancorp, Inc.

Richard Brown

Rick is a CPA and a recently retired bank and financial services audit partner in KPMG's Milwaukee office.  Rick has extensive experience in the financial services industry, especially with banks and thrifts.  While at KPMG he acted as audit partner on publicly traded banks, including Firstar Corporation, and many smaller closely held banks.  Rick serves as a director of Bank Mutual Corporation (BKMU), a Milwaukee based publicly traded savings bank; Partnership Community Bancshares, Inc., a closely held Wisconsin bank holding company; and several not-for-profit organizations. He also serves as a consultant to some of his former clients and continues to follow the banking industry closely.

James R. Lang

Jim currently is owner and president of Advantech Manufacturing, Inc., a manufacturer of laboratory test equipment.  He is also active in real estate development and venture capital.  He serves as a director of a number of closely held companies and several not-for-profit organizations.  Jim served as president and CEO of Firstar Bank of Madison and later as president and CEO of Firstar Banks of Iowa.  (Firstar is now part of US Bank.)  Jim was active in the supervision of many of the Firstar community banks as President and CEO of Firstar Bank-Madison.  He directed the acquisition and merger of the $3 billion Firstar Banks of Iowa and became its President and CEO, prior to retiring to pursue his own investment activities which include his interests in banking.

Thomas S. Ross

Tom is Senior Managing Director and Chief Credit Officer of B.C. Ziegler & Company and has been with that company for over 25 years.   His primary responsibility as Ziegler's Chief Credit Officer is the review of all non-rated transactions underwritten by the firm.  In addition, he reviews and approves all private equity investments made by Ziegler or its investors.  Mr. Ross also serves as chairman of the Credit and the Business Acceptance Committees of B.C. Ziegler and Company.  Tom represents the placement agent, B. C. Ziegler & Company, for Fortress Partners Banc Ventures II, LP, on the advisory board.

Randall S. Knox

Randy is Vice President of Finance of W. D. Hoard Co. in Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin.He has served as an advisory director of Fortress Partners Capital Management, Ltd. since 2006.  Randy invested with Jon in Fortress Bancshares in 1992 and he or his family have been involved in Jon’s banking and bank-related activities since then.  Randy’s family has managed and owned a printing and publishing business in Fort Atkinson for decades and currently publishes Hoard’s Dairyman and a score of weekly and bi-weekly newspapers in Wisconsin.  Randy serves as a director of 145 year-old PremierBank of Fort Atkinson and its holding company, First American Bankshares, Inc.

William F. Bruss

Bill is an elected director of Fortress Partners Capital Management, Ltd., and holds the position of Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary of Wauwatosa Savings Bank and its publicly traded holding company, Wauwatosa Holdings, Inc. (WAUW).  He has served Wauwatosa Savings as General Counsel for 11 years.  He assisted in the conversion of Wauwatosa Savings to a mutual holding company (MHC) in 2005.  In 2006 he supervised the conversion of the company’s core processing system while having responsibility during that interim for the company’s information technology function.  His responsibilities include management of the company’s legal affairs and its legal staff, the human resources department, and compliance functions.