Team

Chris Beall is a Founder and the Managing Partner of NOVA. Chris is an experienced infrastructure investor with 28 years of experience in private equity, investment banking, infrastructure operations, and engineering. He serves as Chair of NOVA’s Investment Committee and on the Executive and Valuation Committees. Currently, Chris serves on the Boards of Directors for Fund I/II’s portfolio companies Integrated Waste Solutions Group, Nopetro Energy Holdings, and UGE.

Since 2017, Chris has built NOVA with Allison Kingsley, forming the NOVA Team and leading the execution of infrastructure investments in NOVA’s Target Sectors. Previously, from 2014 to 2017, Chris served as a Managing Director and Co-Portfolio Manager for the Oaktree Capital Group LLC (Oaktree) Infrastructure Investing strategy, acquired by Oaktree from Highstar Capital L.P. (Highstar) in 2014. Prior to Oaktree’s acquisition, he was one of four owners and a Partner of Highstar, the manager of a fourth-generation infrastructure fund responsible for a more than $6.3 billion portfolio of infrastructure investments. Prior to joining Highstar in 2004, Chris was CFO of the Aslan Group, an environmental services and communications firm. From 2000 to 2003, he also worked as an Investment Banking Associate in the Global Natural Resources Group at Lehman Brothers, Inc. Prior to business school, Chris worked in operations and engineering at Koch Gateway Pipeline Company and Koch Refining Company.

From 2013 through 2022, Chris was appointed to and served on the Board of Directors of the National Passenger Rail Corporation (Amtrak), the largest provider of passenger rail service in the U.S.

Chris earned an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Oklahoma State University.

Allison Kingsley is a Founder of NOVA and a Partner. Allison is an experienced infrastructure investor with 26 years of professional experience, including work in infrastructure investing, investment banking, and global strategy and risk. She serves on NOVA’s Investment, Valuation, and Executive Committees. Currently, Allison serves on the Boards of Directors for Fund I/II’s portfolio companies Bold Ocean (realized), Harbor Logistics, and DartPoints.

Since 2017, Allison has built NOVA with Chris Beall, forming the NOVA Team and leading the execution of infrastructure investments in NOVA’s Target Sectors. Since 2001, Allison has sourced, structured, and invested in numerous transactions across global infrastructure sectors and geographies as Founder & Partner at NOVA Infrastructure, Director at PartnerRe and its sponsored asset manager Reformation Group, Vice President in the Emerging Markets and Project Finance Groups at Ambac, and Investment Banking Associate in the M&A Group at Lehman Brothers. Allison is also a political economist and former tenured Associate Professor, teaching and publishing research at New York University, Yale University, and University of Vermont.

Currently, Allison also serves on the Board of Directors for Phillips Infrastructure Holdings.

Allison earned a Ph.D. in political economy from Columbia University, an M.S.L. from Yale Law School, and a B.A. with honors from Rice University.

Donna Toth is a Partner and the CFO of NOVA. Donna has 34 years of experience overseeing the financial, operating, and administrative functions of various global advisory and private equity businesses. Donna serves as Chair of the Valuation Committee and on the Investment and Executive Committees.

Prior to joining NOVA in 2018, Donna was the CFO at Strata Energy, a middle-market energy infrastructure investment firm. From 2011 to 2013, she served as COO of Alternative Investment Management, a hedge fund and private equity fund of funds, managing all of the firm’s non-investment management functions. From 2005 to 2011, Donna was the CFO and one of six founding partners of Park Hill Group (Park Hill). During a period of rapid growth and expansion, she built and oversaw the organization’s operational infrastructure and was responsible for its integration upon the acquisition by Blackstone in 2007. Prior to Park Hill, from 1999 to 2004, Donna was CFO of Atlantic-Pacific Capital. From 1996 to 1999, she worked at Ziff Brothers Investments after beginning her career as an audit and tax associate at Price Waterhouse.

Donna is a CPA and holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Connecticut.

Michael Gruppuso is the COO and the CCO of NOVA. Michael is an experienced executive with over 42 years of experience leading the operations, compliance, finance and administrative functions of both financial services organizations and financial sponsored portfolio companies. Michael serves as Chair of Nova’s Executive Committee and is a member of the Valuation and Investment Committees.

Prior to joining NOVA in 2024, Michael was CFO and CCO of Rothschild and Co’s. US Corporate Private Equity strategy (Five Arrows Capital Partners) in New York. Michael was a Managing Director and Strategy CFO with the Oaktree Capital LP Infrastructure Investing team from 2012 to 2017. Prior to joining Oaktree, which acquired Highstar Capital LP in 2014, Michael served as CFO for two of Highstar Capital’s portfolio companies. He started his career at Ernst & Young.

Michael holds a B.S. from New York University (1983).

John Livingston is a Partner and responsible for the sales and marketing efforts of NOVA. John is an experienced sales and marketing executive with 35 years of experience in institutional markets. Since 1999, he has participated in numerous fundraisers and has raised capital in various asset classes, including private equity, private debt, private real estate, infrastructure equity, and infrastructure debt. Mr. Livingston sits on NOVA’s Executive Committee.

Prior to joining NOVA in 2018, John served as Partner at Pinnacle Trust Partners, where he led the infrastructure sales effort. Prior to joining Pinnacle in 2013, John spent 13 years with American International Group (AIG), and then as a Managing Director at PineBridge Investments, after its acquisition of AIG’s third-party investment business. Prior to AIG, he worked at TCW Group and as a bond trader at Rittenhouse Capital Management and at Insurance Advisory Services.

John holds a B.S. from Widener University and previously served in the United States Air Force.

Erik Ludtke is an Operating Partner of NOVA. Erik has 40 years of experience in the global energy industry serving in various executive roles in business development and operations in which he identified potential acquisitions, integrated operations, and fully commercialized business assets. Erik serves on NOVA’s Investment and Executive Committees. Currently, Erik serves on the Boards of Directors for Fund I’s portfolio companies Ascension FBO Network and Nopetro Renewables.

Prior to joining NOVA in 2019, Erik was the Chief Commercial Officer at NextDecade, a liquified natural gas development company based in Houston, Texas. Prior to NextDecade, from 2015 to 2018, Erik was a Senior Vice President of Commercial and Business Development at Northstar Midstream, a portfolio company of Highstar Capital Fund IV, L.P., where he was responsible for the commercialization of existing assets and development of new midstream business opportunities. He also previously served as Chief Operating Officer at Kiewit Midstream and as Vice President of Gas Marketing and Transportation, Americas at Talisman Energy. Earlier in his career, Erik worked at Peabody Energy and Apache and also served in various in-country executive roles in Argentina, Israel, India and London with BG Group, Duke Energy and Enron.

Erik holds a B.S. in Economics from Texas A&M University and certificates from Wharton School of Business Executive Development Program and International Development Program in Kyoto, Japan.

Rob Denious is an Operating Partner at NOVA and has more than 25 years of experience improving businesses across multiple industries as an investor/portfolio manager, board member, consultant, and C-suite executive. Currently, Rob serves on the Board of Directors for NOVA Fund I’s portfolio company Nopetro Renewables.

Prior to joining NOVA, Rob was CEO of Polar Corporation, a $500M manufacturing, distribution and aftermarket parts and service business; Interim CEO of a foodservice tabletop company during its acquisition and integration of a CPG retail business; and Interim CFO of a $240M manufacturing, distribution and B2B retail business with operations in the US, Canada, and Taiwan. Previously, Rob was a Partner at Questor, a middle-market PE fund focused on turnarounds. Across his career, Rob has worked with numerous companies and firms, focusing on balance sheet restructuring, operational change, and strategic growth initiatives.

Rob holds a J.D. from Harvard Law School and a B.A. from Amherst College.

Stephen Denis is a Managing Director at NOVA and has 14 years of experience in infrastructure-focused private equity, project development, and investment banking. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Fund I/II’s portfolio companies telMAX, Skywire Networks, and DartPoints.

Prior to joining NOVA, Stephen was the Vice President of Finance at Spire Holdco, a private equity-backed midstream operator developing a large hydrocarbon liquids export terminal project in Western Canada. Stephen was also a Vice President at Strata Energy, a middle-market energy infrastructure investment firm. Prior to Strata, Stephen was a Private Equity Analyst at TPH Partners and an Investment Banking Analyst at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co.

Stephen holds a B.S.M. with honors in Finance and Legal Studies in Business from Tulane University.

Philip Moor is a Managing Director at NOVA and has 18 years of experience in the development and financing of power and infrastructure investments. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Fund I/II’s portfolio companies Integrated Waste Solutions Group, Ascension FBO Network, and UGE.

Prior to joining NOVA, Philip worked in the Power & Infrastructure Finance - North America Group at Investec USA Holdings Corp. Previously, he was an Associate at eleQtra / InfraCo, Inc., an infrastructure development firm specializing in international greenfield energy and transportation projects. Earlier in his career, Philip worked as a Registered Client Service Associate at UBS Financial Services, Inc. and as a Financial Consultant in São Paulo for Mining Ventures Brasil, a Denham Capital portfolio company.

Philip holds a B.A. in Economics from New York University and is a CFA® Charterholder.

Bryant Dang is a Senior Vice President at NOVA and has 10 years of experience in private equity and investment banking in the infrastructure and energy sectors. He currently serves on the Boards of Directors of Fund I’s portfolio companies Harbor Logistics; he previously served on the Board of Bold Ocean (realized).

Prior to joining NOVA, Bryant was an Associate at EIV Capital, a middle market energy-focused private equity firm, where he was responsible for evaluating investment opportunities in the midstream, downstream, oilfield services, and renewable energy sectors in addition to ongoing portfolio management activities. Previously, Bryant was an Investment Banking Analyst at Moelis & Company where he worked on M&A, recapitalizations, and restructuring transactions in the energy sector.

Bryant holds an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and a B.B.A. in Finance from Texas A&M University.

Matthew Altman is a Vice President at NOVA and has more than 10 years of infrastructure and energy experience in project development, investment banking and credit and private equity investing.

Prior to joining NOVA, Matthew was a Senior Associate at Basalt Infrastructure Partners, a mid-market private equity investor and owner of infrastructure assets. Previously, Matthew was an Associate at Apollo Global Management focusing on private and public investments across power and infrastructure. Earlier, he was an investment banker at BMO Capital Markets and a credit analyst at Fitch Ratings.

Matthew holds a B.A. in Economics from Drew University.

Noah Frick is a Vice President at NOVA Infrastructure and has 9 years of experience in investment management, management consulting, and military and intelligence operations.

Prior to joining NOVA, Noah was an Investment Fellow at Mobility Capital, a transportation-focused investment manager, and a Summer Associate at McKinsey & Co, where he worked on projects covering the aerospace and electric mobility sectors. For five years prior to business school, Noah served as an Intelligence Officer in the U.S. Army, including as a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment, Special Operations Command, where he operated in various capacities including as the Regiment’s designated liaison in Washington D.C. and as a Task Force Intelligence Chief leading a team of analysts focused on sourcing, processing, and operationalizing signals, cyber, human, and geo-spatial intelligence in an overseas combat zone.

Noah holds an M.B.A. from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Applied Mechanics from the University of Pennsylvania.

Michael Troy is a Vice President at NOVA and has 9 years of experience in investment banking and corporate finance.

Prior to joining NOVA, Michael was an Analyst at Lincoln International, a middle market investment bank, where he was responsible for independent third-party valuations for private equity clients across all industries. Prior to Lincoln International, Michael was a financial analyst in the Scenario Planning and Stress Testing group at AIG.

Michael holds an M.B.A. from Anderson School of Management at the University of California, Los Angeles, and a B.S. in Mathematical Business from Wake Forest University.

Jeremy Feinstein is a Senior Associate at NOVA and has 8 years of experience in investment banking and corporate finance.

Prior to joining NOVA, Jeremy was an Associate in the Global Industrials Group at Deutsche Bank, a global investment bank where he advised M&A transactions and facilitated corporate financings across the transportation, logistics and industrials sectors. Prior to Deutsche Bank, Jeremy was an Analyst in the Industrials Group at Santander and a Summer Analyst at Citigroup.

Jeremy holds a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from the School of Management at the University at Buffalo, graduating with honors.

David Fuqua is an Associate at NOVA and has 9 years of experience across private equity-backed companies and investment banking.

Prior to joining NOVA, David was Director of Finance at Integrated Waste Solutions Group (IWSG). He played a key role in the sale of IWSG’s Austin-area assets. Earlier in his career, David was an Investment Banking Associate at Deloitte Corporate Finance and has held director-level finance roles at other private equity-backed businesses. He began his career as an Infantry Officer in the United States Marine Corps.

David holds an M.B.A. from The University of Texas at Austin and a B.A. from The Citadel.

David Wang is an Associate at NOVA and has 4 years of experience in investment banking and corporate finance.

Prior to joining NOVA, David was an investment banking Analyst in the Industrials groups at both Jefferies and Credit Suisse / UBS, where he advised diversified industrial, industrial technology, and environmental services companies and sponsors on a wide range of M&A transactions, carve-outs, debt financings, and IPOs.

David holds a B.A. in Financial Economics with a special concentration in Business Management from Columbia University, where he was also captain of the NCAA Division I Men’s Varsity Swimming Team.

Brooke Weiner is an Associate at NOVA and has 4 years of experience in private equity, investment banking, and corporate finance.

Prior to joining NOVA, Brooke was an Associate at Kingston Capital, an infrastructure private equity firm covering digital infrastructure, social infrastructure, energy, energy transition, and transportation. Previously, Brooke was an Investment Banking Analyst at Morgan Stanley in the Latin America M&A Coverage Group, where she advised on transactions across all sectors, including infrastructure, technology, and consumer & retail.

Brooke holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at University of Southern California, graduating magna cum laude.

Andrew Parsons is the Director of Finance and Operations at NOVA and has 12 years of experience in accounting, operations, and compliance, predominantly in the alternative investment management industry.

Prior to joining NOVA, Andrew was the Deputy CFO and Business Manager of White Marigold Capital Management, a hedge fund manager. Andrew helped launch the fund, designing and implementing the financial and back-office operations, managing third party service providers, and sitting on the Valuation and Risk Management committees. Previously, Andrew was an execution trader for the volatility arbitrage desk at BlueCrest Capital Management.

Andrew holds an M.B.A. with a concentration in Finance from Tulane University, graduating with honors, and a B.A. in Economics from Tulane University.

Liz Miller is an Accounting and Operations Associate at NOVA with over 11 years supporting executives in various industries.

Prior to joining NOVA, Liz worked as an Administrative Assistant to the managing members at Aesir Capital Management, a hedge fund in Greenwich, CT. Previously, she worked both in the C-suite at Cantor Fitzgerald and in medical private practices.

Liz holds a M.S. in Finance from I.E. International Business School in Madrid, Spain, and a B.S. in Accounting from the School of Business and Economics at Lehigh University.

Patrick Tanella is an Executive Assistant at NOVA and has 7 years of experience in administrative roles supporting executives in various industries, including finance, healthcare, art, and fashion.

Prior to joining NOVA, Patrick worked as the Executive Assistant for the compliance team at Moore Capital Management in New York City. Previously, he worked as the Operations Assistant at East Rock Capital.

Patrick holds an M.A. in History and Philosophy of Art from the University of Kent’s Paris School of Arts and Culture and a B.A. in Psychology from Vassar College.

Aimee Winnik is an Executive Assistant at NOVA and has 12 years of experience in administrative roles supporting senior executives in various industries, including finance, tech, and law.

Aimee holds a B.A in International & Comparative Politics from the American University of Paris, and LL.M. in International Development Law & Human Rights from Warwick University, Coventry, UK.