Team

Timothy Shannon, Managing Partner - Cedar Investors

Tim Shannon

Tim is the Managing Partner of Cedar Investors, and founded the firm in 2016. Prior to

launching Cedar, Tim was an operator in DaVita's Redwoods executive development program. At DaVita, one of the nation's largest operators of dialysis clinics and physician group practices, Tim served as administrator of the South Denver Dialysis Center and led a nationwide initiative to provide integrated care in novel accountable care models. Previously, Tim was an investor focused on healthcare at Zweig-DiMenna Associates, a $3 billion global investment partnership. He started his career at J.P. Morgan Investment Management as a research analyst covering healthcare services, medical devices, and biotechnology. Tim served as a board member and audit committee chair of Galata Acquisition Corp, an emerging markets focused special purpose acquisition company that completed its merger with Marti Technologies (NYSE: MRT), Turkey's leading ride hailing app in 2023. Tim also serves on the boards of the Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies and GPS LLC, an education and mentorship focused intercollegiate investment group at eight universities. Tim is a CFA charterholder. He holds a B.S., magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, from Georgetown University and an M.B.A. with distinction from the Kellogg School of Management.

 

Sam Mehrberg, Vice President - Cedar Investors

Sam Mehrberg

Sam is a Vice President at Cedar Investors, and joined the firm in 2017. Prior to joining Cedar, Sam was an Analyst at Sonenshine Partners, an investment bank based in New York. At Sonenshine, Sam focused on mergers & acquisitions across a variety of industries, and served clients in sectors including healthcare services, healthcare technology, consumer healthcare, and medical devices. Previously, Sam was a Summer Analyst with Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and prior to that Berkshire Hathaway Energy, where he focused on Corporate Development. He holds a B.S. cum laude from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with concentrations in Finance and Marketing.

 

Niyant Dholakia - Vice President - Cedar Investors

Niyant Dholakia

Niyant is a Vice President at Cedar Investors, and joined the firm in 2017.  Prior to joining Cedar, Niyant was a consultant at Sigma Cubed, a firm that provided engineering and operational solutions in the Oil and Gas sector.  At Sigma Cubed, Niyant focused on asset evaluation, development planning and management of projects up to $164 million.  Previously, Niyant was an Engineer at Halliburton Energy Services, where he managed projects with budgets up to $3 million.  Niyant also remains involved and consults on his family's operation of a select service hotel in New Braunfels, Texas.  He holds a B.S. from the University of Texas and an M.S. from the University of Colorado.

 

Cathy Fey, Executive Assistant - Cedar Investors

Cathy Fey

Cathy is an Executive Assistant at Cedar Investors and joined the firm in 2022. Prior to joining Cedar, Cathy was a Program Manager in the Energy industry.  Cathy previously acted as lead assistant for a real estate group of 12 independent agents with responsibility for scheduling, correspondence, and event planning. Cathy holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado.

Advisors

Michael Shannon

Mike Shannon is a private investor and former chairman, co-founder, and chief executive officer of KSL Capital Partners, a private equity firm specializing in hospitality and leisure investments. During Mike's tenure as chairman and CEO, KSL grew to become one of the largest private equity firms specializing in hospitality and consumer leisure investments. Before co-founding KSL Capital Partners and its predecessor KSL Recreation in 1992, Mike served as chairman and CEO of Vail Associates, the owner and operator of Vail and Beaver Creek Resorts from 1986 to 1992. Mike currently serves on the board of the Mayo Clinic, as vice chair of Northwestern University, and as the immediate past chair of both the University of Wisconsin Foundation and Eisenhower Health. He is the former board chair of Vail Health and was instrumental in establishing its affiliate Eagle Valley Behavioral Health as well as the Behavioral Health Innovation Center, a research unit aimed at improving access to quality mental health services in Eagle County. He also serves as finance chair of the Steadman Philippon Research Foundation and is a board member of the Papal Foundation. He is a former director of ING Americas, Conseco, ClubCorp, Startek, TCA Cable, and Safeway. He is a member of the Horatio Alger Association of Distinguished Americans. Mike earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a master's degree in management from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management.

George Dean Johnson, Jr.

George is Founder and Chairman of Johnson Development Associates, Inc. He previously founded and served as Chairman of Advance America Cash Advance Centers, Inc. (NYSE), and as CEO of Extended Stay America, Inc. Prior to Extended Stay America, he was division president and a director of Blockbuster Inc. His extensive public board service includes Duke Energy, Norfolk Southern, AutoNation Inc., and Boca Resorts. He served as president of the South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, and as a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1969-1974. Mr. Johnson received a B.A. from Wofford College and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina.

Justin Starzyk

Justin is an Operating Advisor of Cedar Investors and joined the firm in 2018.  He currently serves as the COO of United Urology Group, an Audax Private Equity portfolio company. Prior to joining UUG, Justin ran and transacted a range of private equity-backed healthcare services businesses spanning dental and value-based primary care. A seasoned operations professional with a track record of delivering high growth, Justin spent over 20 years in diverse leadership roles including successful tenures within Abbott Laboratories' professional development program, and the management consultancy, Bain & Company. He then spent eight years at DaVita, Inc., a Fortune 200 healthcare services company where he held multiple roles including co-leading growth & development nationally for DaVita Kidney Care, serving as chief of staff to the CEO, and launching & operating multiple successful internal startups in value-based care. Justin holds an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management, and a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern University.