Mel has been investing in private equity for over 20 years and is also a seasoned entrepreneur.
Before founding TrueBridge with longtime friend Edwin Poston, Mel cofounded UNC Management Company (UNCMC), where he worked closely with the President/CIO to manage over $2 billion of endowment capital for the University of North Carolina, along with other North Carolina-based institutions. As part of the senior management team, Mel had primary portfolio management responsibility for all illiquid asset classes, including UNCMC’s venture portfolio. During his time at UNCMC, Mel formed strong ties with some of the industry’s top-performing managers, which he has continued to develop at TrueBridge.
Prior to UNCMC, Mel helped co-found two venture-backed companies. He also spent time as an entrepreneur-in-residence with Commonwealth Capital Ventures in Boston.
Throughout his career, Mel has served on the advisory boards of private capital partnerships. He has also spoken at a number of global private equity conferences and appeared as a guest lecturer at UNC and Duke University. In 2012, he was named an Honorary Kauffman Fellow by the Center for Venture Education, in appreciation of TrueBridge’s contribution and commitment to the Kauffman Fellows Program.
Early in his post-graduate career, Mel worked as a manager with both the General Electric Capital Company and the General Electric Corporate Audit Staff.
Mel received his MBA from Harvard University and his BA with honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
