Our Team
Our team is made up of successful entrepreneurs and investment professionals with a unique perspective into the challenges and keys to success in smaller companies. They work closely with our portfolio companies to ensure that mutual long-term objectives are achieved.
Greg Peterson, Managing Partner
Mr. Peterson co-founded Aptus Advisors in 2006 and is managing partner. He has more than 20 years of experience in entrepreneurial operations and professional investment experience. Prior to founding Aptus Advisors, Mr. Peterson has been an active entrepreneur, investor, and co-investor in various industries including manufacturing, distribution, online technology, and natural resources. Mr. Peterson’s portfolio over the last decade has returned more than 10x on invested capital. His most recent exit in June of 2009 returned 5.0x on invested capital.
In addition to his work in the private sector, Mr. Peterson also has been an Adjunct Professional instructing undergraduate and graduate students at the Marriott School for more than 5 years in the areas of new venture finance, private equity, commercial debt, capital structure, and valuation methodologies. He is a member of the founders group at the Center for Entrepreneurship at the Marriott School. He has been recognized annually by his peers as a VSpring 100 Top 100 Venture Entrepreneur. Mr. Peterson holds a B.S. degree in Accounting from the Huntsman School and an M.B.A. from the Marriott School. He is also a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants.
Trent Read, Partner
Mr. Read co-founded Aptus Advisors in 2006. He has more than seven years of investment banking and finance experience. Mr. Read's experience in investment banking has been focused on Mergers & Acquisitions and raising capital for Technology and Business Services companies. Investment banking firms with which Mr. Read has worked include Sagent Advisors, Wachovia Securities and Deutsche Bank. He also did all planning, budgeting and reporting for a $200 million business unit within Honeywell International. Beyond his investment banking and corporate finance experience Mr. Read has a passion for entrepreneurship and helping entrepreneurs achieve their goals.
He received both his B.A. and M.B.A. from Brigham Young University. While in BYU's M.B.A. program he helped run BYU's Business Plan Competition, co-founded Cougar Capital, a student-run VC/PE investment fund, and received the prestigious Hawes Scholarship as an outstanding contributor to the M.B.A. program.