We are one of the leading firms in the United States in structuring Employee Stock Ownership Plan transactions. Our ESOP Advisors bring more than 100 years of collective experience in structuring ESOP transactions. These officers and associates have participated in over 2,500 transactions.
John D. Menke
President
jmenke@menke.com | (415) 362-5200
John D. Menke is the founder and president of Menke & Associates, Inc. He has been involved in designing and administering ESOPs for over 30 years. Prior to founding Menke & Associates, Inc. in 1974, Mr. Menke was a Senior Tax Attorney with the Law Offices of Louis O. Kelso (1972-1974), General Counsel to Boothe Computer Investment Corporation (1971-1972), a venture capital firm, and from 1968 to 1971 was an associate with the law firm of Kelso, Cotton, Seligman & Ray. Mr. Menke has written over 20 articles regarding ESOPs, leveraged buyouts, and estate planning techniques, as well as a leading book on ESOPs. Mr. Menke also co-drafted the original ESOP legislation which helped to spawn employee ownership in this country. Mr. Menke received his B.A. degree from the University of Texas and his LL.B. degree from Yale Law School.
Trevor Gilmore
Chief Executive Officer
tgilmore@menke.com | (415) 318-1055
Trevor J. Gilmore joined the firm in 2015. Prior to joining Menke, He was the Director of Private Equity for a boutique accounting firm, where he oversaw accounting and finance for several opportunistic real estate private equity funds. His experience also includes entrepreneurship, as he founded an international green building product manufacturing cooperative during his senior year in college. An avid cyclist and community partner, Trevor is on the board of Giant Steps Therapeutic Equestrian Center and Dolce Vita Cycling. He is a member of CalCPA, AICPA, ESOP Association, and the National Center for Employee Ownership. He has a B.A. in Economics from San Francisco State University, a Certificate of Advanced Accounting Proficiency from Santa Clara University, a M.S. in Taxation from Golden Gate University, and is a licensed CPA and holds the Accredited in Business Valuation credential (ABV) from the AICPA. He also holds FINRA Series 24, 63, and 79 securities licenses.
Phillip DeDominicis
Managing Director – Investment Banking
pdedominicis@menke.com | (410) 885-2531
Mr. DeDominicis has advised over 300 companies on ESOP creations and transactions over his last 20 years at Menke & Associates. He also specializes in selling ESOP-owned businesses to financial or strategic buyers and helping ESOP-owned businesses buy other businesses. He previously spent 14 years as Director of Mergers & Acquisitions, Investment Banking for Morgan Stanley and Salomon Smith Barney, focusing on change of control advisory assignments to middle-market companies. Mr. DeDominicis received his degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Delaware in 1985, and his MBA degree in Finance and Accounting from the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA in 1989. He is a board member of six for-profit and not-for-profit organizations.
Matthew Nels
Managing Director – Investment Banking
mnels@menke.com | (847) 416-1498
Matthew Nels joined the firm in 2018 bringing over 15 years of commercial lending experience and over 10 years of ESOP experience. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Nels spent several years with BMO Harris Bank and Fifth Third Bank where he was responsible for marketing, structuring, underwriting and managing leveraged ESOP, private equity and traditional middle market debt transactions across the United States. Mr. Nels also spent time in underwriting and portfolio management roles at Pangaea Asset Management, LaSalle Bank, GE Capital and Heller Financial. Mr. Nels holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance and Marketing from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from DePaul University.
Chuck Bachman, Esq.
Managing Director – Investment Banking Senior Corporate Counsel
cbachman@menke.com | (415) 318-1003
Chuck Bachman is a tax attorney and ERISA specialist. He is a CPA as well as an attorney. Chuck specializes in the design and installation of ESOPs as well as the structuring of ESOP transactions. He has over 27 years of experience and has been involved in literally hundreds of ESOP transactions. Chuck is an author and frequent lecturer on ESOPs. Chuck is a member of the California Bar Association, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), and an ESOP Association Advisory Committee Member. He received his BA from UCLA where he graduated Magna Cum Laude. He received his Juris Doctor degree from Santa Clara University School of Law where he was Associated Editor for the Santa Clara Law Review.
Richard M. Acheson
President, BSI (Los Angeles Office)
racheson@bsiesop.com | (310) 207-8776 x104
Richard M. Acheson is an attorney in California. Prior to joining BSI as a principal in 1976, he was a revenue agent with the Internal Revenue Service and a tax manager with Arthur Young & Company. Mr. Acheson majored in accounting at Arizona State University and received his law degree from Loyola School of Law in Los Angeles. He is a member of the California, Federal and American Bar Association and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Mr. Acheson is a founder and a continuing member of the ESOP Association and the National Center for Employee Ownership. He has been involved in ESOPs both as a consultant and recordkeeper for over 30 years, and he writes and speaks on the subject frequently.
