Lara Straussfeld is the Director of Mergers and Acquisitions at Vertical Bridge. She is responsible for managing and leading a team of analysts dedicated to acquiring telecommunication assets and overseeing their integration into the company.

Ms. Straussfeld is a co-founder of Emerging Wireless Professionals, a group dedicated to supporting and connecting emerging professionals in the industry.

She also holds a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Business from Texas A&M University.

George Woodward is a Managing Director at Alpina Capital. With a focus on the wireless infrastructure sector, he specializes in advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, equity capital raises, and other strategic transactions. 

George holds dual B.S./B.A. degrees in Finance and Accounting, with a minor in Economics, from the University of Colorado’s Leeds School of Business. 

Shawn Needham is a Vice President at EMEGC, Inc. where he oversees Operations.  He leads multiple departments with key areas of focus of In-Building Solutions, Large Venue Solutions, Campus Solutions, Service, and the Maintenance and Monitoring of existing infrastructure. 

Mr. Needham joined the Emerging Wireless Professional as the Treasurer in January 2025 and looks to leverage his background in finance and entrepreneurship to help further EWPs mission.

Mr. Needham holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Financial Economics from Binghamton University and is an EMBA candidate at the University of Texas at Austin McCombs Business School.

Kelly Reidy-Kaczmarek is the Director of Operations and a Senior Environmental Professional at Lotis Environmental, a nationwide due diligence firm specializing in telecommunications infrastructure. She oversees operations and project delivery, working closely with clients and internal teams to streamline environmental reviews and maintain high-quality standards.

Ms. Reidy-Kaczmarek began her environmental career overseeing asbestos abatement projects before transitioning into environmental due diligence within the banking sector. Since 2015, her work has primarily focused on the communications industry.

She holds a Bachelor of Science from the College at Brockport and lives in Buffalo, NY, with her husband and twin boys.

Brenton Atcheson is the Vice President of Corporate Development for Everest Infrastructure Partners. He is responsible for evaluating domestic and international strategic opportunities, investor relations, and overseeing internal FP&A activities.

Prior to joining Everest, Mr. Atcheson worked at Raymond James Investment Banking where he participated in the M&A advisory, public, and private capital raising efforts for clients in the Communications industry.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Entrepreneurship from the University of South Carolina.