Team
R. Nicholas Brack, Jr.
Managing Partner
Mr. Brack is the Founder of Aduro Asset Group, LLC, and has over 16 years of experience in investment management, private equity, and corporate finance. Mr. Brack is the former Founder and Chairman of STS Technologies LLC, an electronic financial transaction company focused on anti-fraud measures for card-not-present credit card transactions and point-of-sale technology. Mr. Brack served as Principal of INI-Novum, Inc., a US and German seed stage equity fund, focusing on commercialization and capitalization of patented technologies emanating from Fraunhofer CRCG, one of over 50 institutes of Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FhG), the leading organization for institutes of applied research in Europe, with a global patent portfolio in excess of US $1B. Mr. Brack received his BA Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies – Neurobiology/Medical Ethics from the University of Florida, and his MBA in International Business from Florida Atlantic University.
Hershel F. Smith, Jr.
Senior Advisor
Mr. Smith has over 35 years experience in financial services including asset management, investment banking and syndication. Mr. Smith was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Cardinal Capital Management, Inc. a successful asset management firm headquartered in Miami, FL. Mr. Smith's responsibilities included the Chairmanship of the investment policy committee, in addition to serving as the firm’s CEO from its inception in 1989 to 2004. Prior to joining Cardinal Capital, Mr. Smith had a distinguished career in the financial sector, including esteemed positions at North Carolina National Bank's securities division, Southeast Bank's Brokerage Services, Fidelity Brokerage Services, and as a Senior Officer with Commission Discount Corporation, First Equity Corporation of Florida and Johnson Lane Space. For more than 16 years Mr. Smith served as a Board Member of The Villa Maria Foundation, a Catholic Health Services Nursing Home and Rehabilitation Center—serving as the Foundation Chairman during the last 6 years of his tenure. Mr. Smith also served 12 years as a member of The Board of Directors and Board of Trustees for Catholic Charities of The Archdiocese of Miami—serving 6 years as the Chairman of the Board. He further served 9 years as a member of the Board of Directors for The Malta Human Services Foundation—the last 3 years of which he served as the foundation’s President. Currently, Mr. Smith continues his active service in Catholic Philanthropy as the Treasurer for Malta Projects of Southeast Florida where he is also a Member of the Board of Directors.
John H. “Jack” Trescot
Senior Advisor
Mr. Trescot has over 30 years of senior management and investment experience in multiple industries, including but not limited to: energy, communications, insurance, and manufacturing. A former Director of Magnum Hunter Resources (NYSE:MHR) until its purchase by Cimarex Energy (NYSE:XEC), Mr. Trescot is a Principal of AWA Management Corporation which specializes in operational and financial evaluations for companies and entities such as OPIC (Overseas Private Investment Corp). Mr. Trescot was the Chief Executive Officer of JARI, a timber, pulp and mining operation in the Amazon Basin of Brazil, owned by billionaire D.K. Ludwig. Prior to JARI, Mr. Trescot served as Vice President of The Charter Company, a multi-billion dollar enterprise focused on oil, communications, and insurance. Mr. Trescot also served as Senior Vice President of Southern Operations for Hudson Pulp and Paper and as an engineer with Shell Oil. Mr. Trescot received his BME from Clemson University and his MBA from the Harvard Business School.