Managing Directors
Kelly L. SouthallManaging DirectorMr. Southall is the Managing Director of Lexington Capital Group and brings 25 years of business management, strategy consulting, financial advisory and investment banking experience advising emerging growth companies, multi-national enterprises and middle-market businesses. From turnaround to restructurings to growth and expansion strategies, his broad-range of finance experience spans institutional capital raises of private equity, restructurings, debt and acquisition financings and strategic advisory services with diverse sector focus in information technology, telecommunications, life sciences, manufacturing and business services. Prior to founding Lexington, Mr. Southall was Managing Director for two boutique investment banks sourcing and structuring transactions and capital for both early-stage and lower and middle-market businesses; held several notable positions in the private sector at IBM, AT&T and served in various management and advisory roles spearheading a national business consulting operation for the Midwest. Mr. Southall served as a Fellow at the US Senate, attended the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business Executive Program in Corporate Strategy and the Kellogg Graduate School of Management Executive Program. He holds a B.B.A in Business Administration with concentration in Management and Economics from University of Northern Colorado.
Michael L. Janda Managing Director Mr. Janda specializes in debt financings and has been in the commercial finance business for over 27 years. His credentials span senior-level management positions with responsibilities encompassing all aspects of business including credit, operations and marketing and brings exceptional health-care and commercial lending expertise to the firm. Mr. Janda is founder of Citra Management, a firm specializing in providing capital solutions to health-care providers. Prior to Citra, he held senior positions with various leading financial institutions including COO of LINC Financial Services; a pioneer in the acquisition and financing of healthcare receivables and equipment financing; Managing Director of Healthcare Finance Group, Inc; V.P. of Finova Capital; and Sr. V.P. at Heller Financial. As Chief Credit Officer for Heller’s Current Asset Management Group, he oversaw a portfolio that included approximately $300 million of loans outstanding plus approximately $800 million of unsecured debt. Mr. Janda is an attorney licensed in Illinois, a Certified Public Accountant and also holds an Illinois real estate brokers license. He has a B.B.A. with a concentration in public accounting from Loyola University of Chicago and a J.D. from DePaul University College of Law.
William S.B. Gruits
Managing Director
Mr. Gruits distinguished credentials extend beyond his 30 years of corporate finance accomplishments with reputable firms such as GE Capital, Chase, Heller Financial and Fuji Bank. With a balance of industry and investment banking expertise, Mr. Gruits has earned the reputation of management in building shareholder value and executing growth strategies for both private and public companies. While his trademark began with capital leasing and tax equipment structures, his finance expertise spans equity, mezzanine and debt financings, M&A’s, private placements, IPO’s and restructuring and recapitalizations. While at GE Capital, he spearheaded over $3 Billion in transactions and authored the first tax-oriented grantor trust totaling over $1 Billion. With numerous achievements and awards under his belt, Mr. Gruits founded American Funding Group in 1992, specializing in medical and transportation leasing and financial restructurings. Between 1993 and 2001 alone, Mr. Gruits funded over $1 billion for client companies. In 2001, he then began acquiring manufacturing companies, structuring buy-outs in the automotive and transportation (heavy truck) industries. Mr. Gruits holds a BBA in Finance from Western Michigan University.
