view profileSheldon Lubar is the founder and Chairman of Lubar & Co. and originator of our “Professional Ownership®” our investment model. He is currently a director of several public companies, including Star Gas and Hallador Energy as well as other private companies. Previously, he served as Chairman and CEO of Christiana Companies, Inc., chairman of C2 Inc. and a director of MassMutual Life Insurance Co., U.S. Bancorp, MGIC Investment Corp., Ameritech Corporation, Weatherford International, Grant Prideco, Approach Resources, EnLink Midstream and other public companies. During his career, Mr. Lubar has held governmental appointments under three U.S. Presidents. President Jimmy Carter named him Commissioner of the White House Conference on Small Business in 1979-80. President Richard M. Nixon appointed him Assistant Secretary, Housing Production and Mortgage Credit, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration, and Director of the Federal National Mortgage Association, in 1973-74. He completed this service under President Gerald Ford. Mr. Lubar served as a member of the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and as its President. In 1991, Mr. Lubar served as Co-Chairman of the Governor’s Conference on Small Business. He was Trustee and Acting Chairman of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board and President of the Milwaukee Art Museum. Mr. Lubar holds degrees in Business Administration and Law from the University of Wisconsin Madison and has honorary doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, and the Medical College of Wisconsin.
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Lubar & Co. Team
David Lubar is president and CEO of Lubar & Co. He began his career in 1977 at Norwest Bank (n/k/a Wells Fargo Bank) in Minneapolis, where he spent 6 years in commercial and correspondent banking. David joined Lubar & Co. in 1983 and has served as lead investor to over 20 companies in a wide range of industries and various stages of development. He currently serves as a director of each of the Lubar Companies as well as Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., BMO Financial Corp., Milwaukee Brewers Baseball Team, and several other private companies. He also serves or has served in leadership positions on the Board of numerous community organizations, including Milwaukee Jewish Federation (former chairman), Froedtert Health (former chairman), United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County (former chairman), Greater Milwaukee Foundation (former vice-chair), and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Lubar School Business Advisory Council (chairman). Mr. Lubar received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Bowdoin College in 1977 and a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Minnesota in 1982.
Vince Shiely joined Lubar & Co. as a Partner in January 2011. Previously, he was an Officer at Briggs & Stratton Corporation, where over 12 years he held a variety of senior operating roles including President-Yard Power Products Group, President-Home Power Products Group and VP/GM-Engine Products Group. Prior to that, Mr. Shiely worked at Johnson Controls in the Battery Group, serving as VP/GM of the Specialty Battery Division, VP of Technology and VP of Automotive Battery Operations. He also spent over 12 years with Allen-Bradley in a variety of positions including Director of Operations and Director of Manufacturing. He serves on the boards of directors of Lubar & Co. companies including American Pasteurization, ChemDesign, Drilltec, Lake Express, Rockland, Shared Imaging and Zero Zone. He also serves on the board of Ixonia Bank and The Brewer Company, a medical equipment manufacturer Mr. Shiely earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1983 and a Master of Business Administration degree from Marquette University in 1987. He is involved with a variety of non-profit organizations in the Milwaukee area.
Dave Bauer joined Lubar & Co. in 2005 as Chief Investment Officer. His work experience includes 5 years with Facilitator Capital Fund, a Wisconsin-based Small Business Investment Company, and 10 years with the accounting firm of Arthur Andersen, where he led the Wisconsin transaction advisory team assisting private equity funds and large corporations with their acquisitions and divestitures. He currently serves on the board or is an officer of Zero Zone, Lake Express and Shared Imaging. Mr. Bauer earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Marquette University in 2005 and a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from Marquette University in 1991. He is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Wisconsin Institute of CPAs and the American Institute of CPAs. In addition, Mr. Bauer is actively involved with several local charitable organizations including the Milwaukee Art Museum.
Jean Ellen joined Lubar & Co. in 2007 as the Director of Tax and is currently the Managing Director of the Family Office. She works with the companies and the Lubar & Co shareholders to develop tax efficient strategies and structures that minimize income taxes and wealth transfer taxes. Jean Ellen also develops shareholder education programs focusing on shareholder goals and values, financial literacy and responsible ownership. Jean Ellen meets twice yearly with other family office executives around the country to share best practices in all of these areas. Jean Ellen began her career at Price Waterhouse where she provided audit, review and consulting services to small businesses. She was a tax manager at Goossen & Schultz, where she focused on tax strategy and compliance for partnerships and individuals. Jean Ellen is a Certified Public Accountant and graduated with honors from the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Accounting.
Jamie Ward joined Lubar & Co. in 2006 as Controller. Previously, Ms. Ward was a manager at the accounting firm of Baker Tilly, formerly known as Virchow Krause & Co., an internal auditor for M&I Corporation, and a financial analyst with a regional truck dealership. In addition, she has also served for many years as treasurer on the board of directors for a local non-profit arts organization. Ms. Ward is a CPA and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse in 1989.
Cortnie joined Lubar & Co in 2016 as a Tax Manager. Previously, Ms. Pfarr was a Tax Senior at Foley & Lardner LLP, where she focused on tax compliance and planning of the law firm’s Federal and many state returns. Prior to Foley & Lardner LLP, Ms. Pfarr provided extensive tax planning and compliance for businesses and high-wealth individuals as a Tax Manager at Clifton Larsen Allen, LLP. Ms. Pfarr earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin – Parkside in 2005. She is a Certified Public Accountant and a member of the Wisconsin Institute of CPAs.
Wendy Cartwright joined Lubar & Co. in 2012 as Assistant Controller. Previously, Ms. Cartwright was Assistant Controller for a local industrial vacuum equipment manufacturing company, and a senior financial analyst and internal auditor with Manpower Inc. She also worked for Vrakas Blum & Co. S.C. and Grant Thornton LLP, providing audit and review services to small businesses. Ms. Cartwright earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Accounting from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1993. She is a Certified Public Accountant, a member of the Wisconsin Institute of CPAs and serves on the finance committee of a local non-profit educational foundation.
Jeanne Wallace’s early career was spent in the publishing field. She transitioned in 2007 joining Lubar & Co. In 2008, she resumed her college education at the Lubar School of Business, and with the support of the Lubar staff, graduated in 2012.
Teresa Lee joined Lubar & Co. in 2006. Previously, Ms. Lee was an Executive Assistant for a local investment banking firm, assisting the owner, CEO and managing the office. She also worked for a family office assisting the CEO and managed the office including coordination of procedures, IT, bookkeeping, payroll, personnel, marketing, and scheduling. Ms. Lee serves on several community boards and committees and is an active volunteer at her church. She studied at WCTC and has taken various courses and seminars on business management.
Seema Talwalker joined Lubar & Co. in 2016. Previously, Ms. Talwalker worked for KPW Partners, LLC supporting the President in business operations. Prior to that, Seema worked for Schwartz Capital Group (formerly TCS Group, LLC) supporting the Founder and Chairman, and was a leading member of the technology team. Ms. Talwalker studied Mathematics at the University of Illinois and holds an M.S. in Communications from Northwestern University.
Mitch Rzentkowski joined Lubar & Co. in 2018 as an Investment Analyst. Mitch is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s (UWM) Investment Management Certificate Program (IMCP). The IMCP is a demanding CFA Institute Recognized Program where Mitch obtained hands-on experience actively managing a small-cap value portfolio. Additionally, Mr. Rzentkowski holds a Masters in Taxation (MS-T) from UWM and two Bachelor degrees in Accounting and Finance. Before Lubar & Co., Mitch worked for Grant Thornton in their private wealth tax department.
Holly Games joined Lubar & Co. in 2018. Prior to joining Lubar & Co., Holly worked for a Milwaukee-area law firm training legal support staff, and supporting the Accounting Administrator. Holly studied at the Sheldon B. Lubar School of Business at the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and graduated with a BBA in Marketing.