Christopher J. Andersen - Founder & CEO
Chris has nearly 25 years of professional experience as an entrepreneur and as an executive working for a number of well known American companies. Prior to founding Atlas, he was a principal founding and growing five businesses including the sale of some of these companies.
He was the General Manger of a division for Harley-Davidson Motorcycles (no he doesn't have any tattoos) and was responsible for marketing and public relations for a division of A&E Television Networks. In addition, he previously founded a database marketing company and merged it with a larger enterprise. Prior lives included a stint as a Vice President of client services with one of the largest advertising agencies in the world and six years in the financial services industry in operations, marketing and finance. In addition, Chris started his career in business in the real estate industry.
Chris is involved in a number of organizations that seek to foster the growth of middle market companies. He is a Past President of the San Francisco chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and is a member of the board of directors for Pacific Community Ventures.
He is a graduate of the Fox School of Business at Temple University in Philadelphia. Chris holds degrees in both corporate finance and marketing. And he lives in San Francisco with his wife and two sons.
Chris@AtlasCapitalStrategies.com
Sara Klinges - Managing Director
Sara keeps the wheels on the track for Atlas. She is responsible for all marketing and business development initiatives. She has built and managed the firm’s operational infrastructure to support a four-fold increase in transaction volume. She also manages back office operations for client engagements, performing a variety of research, analysis and modeling activities for the firm.
Sara spent the bulk of her career on the business side in a number of well-known architecture firms in Philadelphia, Chicago and San Francisco. She founded a construction management business and merged her practice into a larger architecture firm.
Sara has a B.A. from Lehigh University and a M.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. She lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and two children.
Sara@AtlasCapitalStrategies.com
Dan Finkelstein - M&A Advisor
Dan has over 35 years of experience in a variety of leadership and operational roles, in both public and privately held companies. He is the former Chairman and CEO of Macys California/Macys West. In addition, Dan has been CEO of a number of retail businesses, including Breuners Home Furnishings, Britches of Georgetowne, and the Walking Company. He has spent the past six years building Finkelstein Associates, a consulting business that specialized in advising retail and wholesale consumer products businesses.
Dan is a graduate of the Claremont McKenna College. He has four children and lives in Mill Valley, California with his wife.
Dan@AtlasCapitalStrategies.com
Ellen Hui - M&A Advisor
Ellen began her career in a variety of financial management roles at Levi Strauss & Company and Bank of America. For the past 22 years Ellen founded and grew a restaurant management services company with more than a dozen locations throughout the East Bay along with a real estate development company. She has served on a number of industry boards and guest speaker at franchise industry conferences.
Ellen earned a MBA from Golden Gate University and a Bachelors Degree from San Francisco State University. She is a current member of ICSC, IFA, WFF and is a California licensed Real Estate Broker. She has three children and lives in San Francisco, California.
Ellen@AtlasCapitalStrategies.com
Bruce Sorenson - M&A Advisor
For the past 25 years Bruce has been a successful entrepreneur in a number of commercial ventures, after spending the early part of my career in the sporting goods industry. After acquiring a business, he grew and ran the company to serve clients in the Consumer Products, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Professional Services and Healthcare industries. During Bruce's tenure as CEO he executed three successful acquisitions. As a business owner and operating executive, Bruce understands the challenges and rewards of business ownership as well as the issues involved in the mergers and acquisition process, exploring appropriate options, and preparing to successfully exit a business.
Bruce earned an MBA from John F. Kennedy University, and a Bachelors Degree in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. He lives in Blackhawk with his wife and has three daughters.
Bruce@AtlasCapitalStrategies.com