Rootstock Software Board of Directors & Advisors

Jon Cheek joined Gryphon Investors in 2019 and currently serves as Gryphon’s Deal Partner & Head of Software Group. Jon is responsible for sourcing, analyzing, executing, and monitoring Gryphon’s software investments across all industry verticals in sectors such as field service management, human capital management, ERP, business management/system of record, and workflow management and collaboration. Jon is currently a board member at Gryphon portfolio companies Meazure Learning, Ncontracts, RegEd, and Rootstock, and was previously a Director at FieldRoutes.

Prior to Gryphon, Jon’s experience included:

• Serent Capital, Principal – At Serent, Jon led eight platform investments in software and technology-enabled services companies including Safety Services, Avionte, FranConnect, TalentWave, Compeat, Apex HCM, Motility, and CoConstruct.
• Vector Capital, Associate.
• McKinsey & Company, Business Analyst.

Education & Professional Affiliations:

B.S., Management Science & Engineering, Stanford University
M.B.A., Stanford University, Arjay Miller Scholar

Sandy McKinnon joined Gryphon Investors in 2019 and currently serves as Principal of Gryphon’s Software Group. Sandy is responsible for sourcing, analyzing, executing, and monitoring Gryphon’s software investments across all industry verticals in sectors such as field service management, human capital management, ERP, business management/system of record, and workflow management and collaboration. Sandy currently is a Director on the board of Gryphon portfolio company Rootstock.

Prior to Gryphon, Sandy’s experience included:

• Mainsail Partners, Software Growth Equity – Sourced, executed, and managed control growth investments in B2B Software companies.
• Francisco Partners, Technology Private Equity – Evaluated, executed, and monitored control middle-market investments in the Software, Tech Services, and Hardware sectors.
• Gleacher & Company, Investment Banking – Worked on M&A, equity, and debt transactions across a variety of sectors.

Education & Professional Affiliations:

B.S.E., Mechanical Engineering, Economics, Duke University
M.E.M., Finance, Duke University
M.B.A., Stanford University

Jeff Ralyea is a seasoned senior executive in the software industry, with a diverse skill set that includes product portfolio management, software release management, and go-to-market strategy development. He also possesses expertise in internationalization and localization, competitive intelligence development, and mergers and acquisitions, among others. Additionally, Jeff is a seasoned public speaker and event organizer.

Pat Garrehy is the Founder and Board Member for Rootstock Software and has an extensive background as a software architect and engineer. With over 30 years of management, sales and technical experience, Mr. Garrehy brings a unique blend of analytical focus and business savvy to the table.

As former CEO of Rootstock, Mr. Garrehy applied his extensive background to the development of Rootstock’s powerful and highly agile cloud-based (SaaS) solution. In addition, Mr. Garrehy set the company’s strategic direction and provided overall leadership for the entire management team.

Mr. Garrehy is also the founder and former CEO of Relevant Business Systems, a client-server ERP software provider with an exclusive focus on discrete manufacturing companies. Relevant, which was sold in 2006, remains the most profitable division of the acquirer to date. The software is currently utilized in a number of business operations, including major divisions of Lockheed and Solectron with sales of over one billion dollars.

As a University of California at Berkeley graduate, he holds a BS degree in business and mathematics as well as a MBA in finance from the University of Southern California.

Connor Marsden joined Salesforce in 2014 and is currently the Executive Vice President for North America Industrial, Consumer, & Energy Industries + Service Cloud. In his current role, he oversees Distribution, Customer Success, Marketing and works closely with the Product teams on future innovations. Throughout his time at Salesforce, his teams have supported Strategic accounts across the Manufacturing, Travel, & Hospitality, Financial Services and Consumer Business segments helping them execute their digital transformation journeys. 

Before his time at Salesforce, Connor led Microsoft’s CRM division in the U.S., managing a diverse team of Marketing, Sales, and Channel Managers to propel the Microsoft Dynamics CRM business. Connor serves on the board of Opportunity Scholars, assisting low- and middle-income high school students and their families in finding affordable pathways to high-paying jobs. Connor sits on the board of Morven Park, is the former President of the University of Richmond Alumni Association (URAA), and holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Richmond, class of 1999. He resides in Leesburg, Virginia, with his wife, Diane, and their two children. 

Paul joined Gryphon in 2019 as an Operations Advisor in Gryphon’s Software Group. He has more than 40 years’ experience managing and investing in software and related services companies during which he participated in over 50 investments in software and related services companies and served on the board of directors of over 30 software and related services companies.

At Gryphon, Paul works with Gryphon’s investment professionals to evaluate new investments and then works with the management teams of Gryphon portfolio companies to maximize short- and long-term operating and financial performance through strategic, commercial, and operational improvements. Paul previously was a Director of the board of Gryphon portfolio company FieldRoutes.

Prior to Gryphon, Paul’s experience included:

• Private Equity Operating Advisor and Investor – Led and participated in private equity investments in software companies. Member of Board of Directors and advisor to management teams.
• Longworth Venture Partners – Founding Partner of venture capital company investing in software companies. Raised multiple funds, invested in 52 software companies, member of board of directors of 14 companies.
• Marcam Corporation – Founder and CEO. Led company from founding through successful IPO and growth to a company with over $200 million in revenue and 1,200 employees globally.

Education & Professional Affiliations:

B.A., Brown University
M.B.A., Harvard Business School

Community Outreach:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Massachusetts Bay, former Chairman of the Board and Director for 16 years.

Carl joined Gryphon in 2019 as an Operating Partner to Gryphon’s Software Team. He is a seasoned technology executive with more than 25 years’ experience driving rapid growth for software and SaaS companies through innovation, product vision, and execution.

At Gryphon, Carl works closely with the senior management teams of Gryphon portfolio companies to maximize short- and long-term operating and financial performance through strategic, commercial, and operational improvements. He is also a member of the investment review committee and assists Gryphon deal teams in identifying, evaluating, and executing investments. In addition to his board seats listed above, Carl is a former Director at FieldRoutes and currently serves as a Board Advisor to the board at RichRelevance where he was previously CEO. Carl serves on Gryphon Company Boards for Meazure Learning, Ncontracts, RegEd, Rootstock.

Prior to Gryphon, Carl’s experience included:

• RichRelevance – CEO and member of the board for the global leader in Experience Personalization, driving digital growth and brand loyalty for over 200 of the world’s largest B2C and B2B brands and retailers
• FollowAnalytics – CEO and member of the board for the leader in 1:1 Mobile Marketing Automation, increasing customer loyalty and engagement for the Global 1000
• 2checkout (FKA Avangate) – CEO and member of the board for a leading digital commerce platform driving recurring revenue growth for over 17,000 customers worldwide
• Serena Software – SVP of Products & Customer Service
• Rubiconsoft – Co-Founder & VP of Engineering
• Oracle – VP of CRM and multiple other executive roles within the product organization
• Novasoft Systems – Development Manager

Education & Professional Affiliations:

M.S.E., Engineering-Economic Systems, Stanford University
B.S., Electrical Engineering, Princeton University

Mike Ehrenberg is a Microsoft Technical Fellow, and is the CTO for the Dynamics 365 applications at Microsoft. Ehrenberg joined Microsoft in 2003, after 25 years leading business application development across banking and brokerage transaction systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) for process manufacturing, and supplier relationship management (SRM) solutions. Mike lives in Seattle with his wife and their Golden Retriever Sunny, and loves spending time cycling, skiing, and cheering on the Boston Red Sox.

Scott Berg is a highly experienced CEO Advisor and Executive Coach with over 25 years of experience in the technology industry. He has a proven track-record of successfully scaling companies into market leaders, navigating through various investment climates, IPO’s, company sales, and private equity deals. Scott is a problem solver in all functions of a company, including Sales, Marketing, Product, and Engineering, and has built a reputation as a trusted leader and culture-creator who attracts and develops top talent to help organizations reach their full potential. With his expertise and skills, Scott has helped numerous companies achieve success and growth.