Our Team

Richard C. Klaffky, Managing Principal
rklaffky@fnec.com

Richard Klaffky co-founded First New England Capital L.P. in 1987 and has over 25 years experience investing in middle market operating companies. Prior to the formation of FNEC, he spent 14 years with Aetna Business Credit, Inc., which, through acquisition, became Barclays Business Credit, Inc. Rick's positions at Barclays included Vice President and Manager for the Intermediate Term Lending Division and Senior Vice President with the Asset Based Lending Division, responsible for New Business Development in the Northeast region. Prior to joining Aetna Business Credit, he spent three years with the Travelers Corporation as a Securities Analyst in the Private Placement Department.

Rick is a graduate of Brown University and the Columbia University Graduate School of Business. He has served on the Board of Governors of the National Association of SBICs and is the past President of the Northeast Regional Association of SBICs.

Seth W. Alvord, Principal
salvord@fnec.com

Seth joined FNEC in early 2007 as a Principal. Seth has over twelve years of investment banking experience providing equity and debt financings, merger and advisory services and strategic consulting services to middle market companies. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Connecticut College, and received an MBA from Cornell University. From 1993 to 1996, Mr. Alvord worked for Advest, Inc. in the Corporate Finance Department where he served as an Analyst and Associate. In 1997, he joined Morgan Stanley as an Associate and then Vice President in the Investment Banking Department as a member of the Financial Sponsors Group serving the private equity market. In 2003, Mr. Alvord joined CRT Capital Group, LLC, and was most recently a Senior Vice President in the firm's Investment Banking Group, focusing on middle market companies and private equity sponsors. Mr. Alvord currently serves as a Trustee of the Northfield Mount Hermon School where he serves on the Investment and Audit Committees.

John L. Ritter, Principal
jritter@fnec.com

John Ritter has over twenty years of experience in providing mezzanine and equity capital to small businesses. Prior to co-founding First New England Capital L.P., John was a practicing attorney, focusing on commercial litigation, first at Blume and Elbaum and thereafter as General Counsel at Independent Energy Corporation. John has a Bachelor of Arts from Macalester College, a Master of Arts in Religion from Yale University and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Connecticut School of Law. He serves on the Board of Directors of various companies, including two not-for-profit organizations. In addition, he has served as a member of the West Hartford Town Council and as a Legislator in the Connecticut State House of Representatives. John currently serves on the Board of the Northeast Regional Association of SBICs.

Robert J. Gibson, Senior Vice President
rgibson@fnec.com

Rob Gibson joined First New England Capital L.P. in early 2009. He has over eight years of investment banking experience providing capital raising, mergers and acquisitions and financial advisory services. Prior to joining FNEC, Rob was an Analyst, Associate and, most recently, a Vice President in the Investment Banking division of CRT Capital Group LLC, a middle-market investment bank, where he structured and executed debt and equity financings for and advised small- and mid-sized companies in a wide range of industries. Before joining CRT, Rob began his career as an Analyst in the Healthcare Investment Banking Group at Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.

Rob is a graduate of Amherst College, magna cum laude, where he received his degree in Political Science.

Anthony Mandile, Controller
tmandile@fnec.com

Anthony Mandile is a Certified Public Accountant with 20 years of experience providing consulting and accounting services. Besides providing consulting and financial reporting for First New England Capital, Tony is the managing partner of Ciampi & Mandile and Company. He is a member of the Connecticut Society of Certified Public Accountants and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Mandile's firm also provides investment advisory services through related entities. Prior to forming Ciampi, Mandile and Company, his positions included financial reporting for Aetna Life and Casualty Company and Aetna Separate Accounts. He also was an Associate with Blum Shapiro and Company, in their tax department.

Tony is a graduate of Central Connecticut State University where he received a Bachelor's degree in Accounting.

Kelli Schaller, Executive Assistant
kschaller@fnec.com

Kelli joined First New England Capital L.P. in July 2003 as Executive Assistant. Prior to joining FNEC, Kelli was Program Administrator and Tutor Trainer for Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut from 1999 to 2003. Kelli has 10 years experience in the area of Marketing, as Account Representative for Chubb Corporation, where she earned a license in Property & Casualty Insurance, and as Marketing Supervisor for a national healthcare publication, The Little Blue Book, a division of Web MD.

Kelli is a graduate of The University of Connecticut with a B.A. in Business Administration. She is a fundraising volunteer for Literacy Volunteers of Central Connecticut.