Who We Are
Jon C. Bruss
CEO & Managing Principal
E-Mail: bruss@fortresspartners.com
Direct Line: 262-369-5369
The founder of Fortress Partners Capital Management, Ltd., Jon has more than 40 years of experience in commercial banking, finance, and investment banking. He formed and now manages a sector-specific private investment fund that invests in publicly-traded micro and small cap banks and thrifts, and two funds that invest in closely held banks & thrifts.
Jon has planned, executed and managed the start-up of 20 businesses, ranging from banks and bank holding companies to mutual funds, private equity funds, and private equity fund management companies. He has also started tax-oriented equipment leasing companies and partnerships, merger and acquisition advisory firms for financial institutions, and captive and non-captive equipment finance companies. Jon organized and managed Town Bankshares and Town Bank, which were sold in 2004 to a northern Illinois based publicly traded bank holding company. He also formed Fortress Bancshares in 1992 which acquired three banks and was, in turn, acquired 10 years later by a publicly traded bank holding company. He formerly served as Senior VP and Director of Investment Banking with Blunt Ellis & Loewi in Milwaukee and former President & CEO of AgriStor Credit Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of A.O. Smith Corporation, a Fortune 1000 company at which he later served as Vice President—Corporate Finance. Jon has served in lending, equipment leasing, and management capacities in large publicly traded banks in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Omaha, Nebraska.
Jon has an AB in Political Science and Economics from Marquette University and has completed extensive graduate studies in micro-economics and economic history at Marquette. In addition, Jon has successfully completed the Uniform Investment Advisers Law (Series 65) examination.
Cindy Kowis
Manager of Investor & Client Service Operations
Email: ckowis@fortresspartners.com
Direct Line: 262-369-6529
Cindy has been with Fortress since 2004. Her responsibilities, in addition to day-to-day operations, include month-end reporting, investor communications, and website administration. She has an extensive background in Human Resources, Affirmative Action, and Office Administration.
Cindy graduated from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater (Cum Laude) with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and has successfully completed the Uniform Investment Advisers Law (Series 65) examination.
James M. Bruss
Bank Research Analyst
E-Mail: jamesbruss@fortresspartners.com
Direct Line: 262-369-5742
Jamie joined Fortress Partners in early 2008 after pursuing a law career upon graduating from Marquette Law School in Milwaukee. Mr. Bruss is a registered investment advisor representative and is responsible for assisting Jon Bruss in the research and analysis of banks and the bank industry. He follows banks and thrifts around the country in support of the objectives of Foundation Financial Partners, LLC, Fortress Partners Banc Ventures I, LP, and Fortress Partners Banc Ventures II, LP, in addition to providing support with the firm's private managed accounts. His experience in dealing with regulatory agencies on behalf of former legal clients also equips him to support the compliance function at Fortress Partners Capital Management, Ltd.
Jamie earned a BA in Philosophy from St. Olaf College and a JD (Cum Laude) from Marquette University Law School, where he was a member of the Marquette Law Review.
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