K. Ivan F. Gothner  (“Van”)

Mr. Gothner is Managing Director and founder of Adirondack Partners.

Mr. Gothner has been active as a merchant banker focusing on small and mid-size growth companies for his entire career and has advised and worked with clients on a broad array of issues. Mr. Gothner started his career with Svenska Handelsbanken in New York in 1982 and joined Kleinwort Benson Limited in 1986. From 1987 through 1990 Mr. Gothner was a Senior Vice President of the Kleinwort Benson and the General Manager of the KB Mezzanine Fund, L.P., a specialized fund that invested in the equity and junior capital of small and mid-sized businesses. As a major investor in the portfolio companies of the fund he was an active member of the Board of Directors of various portfolio companies where he dealt with issues ranging from sales and marketing strategies, compensation and succession planning to acquisition reviews and capital planning.

In 1990, Mr. Gothner joined Barclays Bank as Senior Vice President responsible for establishing an investment banking unit to serve small and mid-sized companies. Upon the sale of Barclays’ "middle market" businesses at the end of 1992, Mr. Gothner founded Adirondack.

Mr. Gothner has served as a director of The Ashton Technology Group and as a senior advisor to its Chairman.  In this capacity Mr. Gothner was involved in numerous of the company’s strategic initiatives including the formation of Gomez Advisors, where he was a founding director.  Recently, Mr. Gothner’s activities have included a significant number of reverse merger transactions.  Since mid-2005 he has completed over 25 reverse mergers.

Currently, Mr. Gothner serves on the Board of Directors of ArtID, LLC, AgFeed Industries, Inc., Covenant Group of China, Inc., and Best Buddies of Massachusetts.

Mr. Gothner received a BA from Columbia College majoring in Political Science & Economics and a MIA from Columbia University’s School of International Affairs with a concentration in International Finance and Economic Policy. While at Columbia Mr. Gothner was captain of the Cross Country team and was awarded the Edgar “Dick” Mason Award.  He also served as treasurer of St. Anthony Hall (ΔΨ) and was elected to the senior society of Sachems.