Our Team

H. David de Laureal is Founder and Managing Partner of Carr’s Hill Partners. He brings nearly 20 years of direct investment experience to CHP, having completed numerous private equity, private credit, venture capital and real estate transactions over his career.

Prior to founding CHP, Mr. de Laureal was a Managing Director and founding member of Bernhard Capital Partners (“BCP”), a multibillion-dollar private equity firm focused on the infrastructure and industrial sectors. While at BCP, he played significant roles in fundraising, sourcing, portfolio management, and strategic firm development while also supporting the growth of – and, in one case, launch de novo – numerous successful industrial and infrastructure service businesses, including Brown & Root Industrial Services, Epic Piping and Bernhard Energy Solutions, among others. He was previously a long-term member of the Investment team at TowerBrook Capital, a private equity firm that has raised over $22Bn to date.

Through his career, Mr. de Laureal has served as a board member or observer at Smart Safety, Matthews Brothers Dredging, Arrow Waste, AXIS Industries, Gates Fuel Services, Epic Piping, Brown & Root Industrial Services, BevMo!, Vistage International, Wilton Brands, Bernhard Energy Solutions and Onvoy Communications.Mr. de Laureal received his M.B.A. from the Stanford Graduate School of Business and a B.S. in Commerce from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia, and currently holds his FINRA Series 65 license.

Amy Cohen is the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Compliance Officer at Carr’s Hill Partners.

Prior to joining Carr’s Hill, Ms. Cohen held the positions of Chief Financial Officer at RestorixHealth, a private equity owned company that specializes in the development and clinical management of wound care centers in hospitals, and Chief Financial Officer at Bernhard Energy Solutions. Before returning home to New Orleans in 2015, Ms. Cohen was the Senior Director of SEC Compliance and Financial Reporting at DIRECTV. Ms. Cohen began her career at Arthur Andersen in the Los Angeles office in the assurance and business advisory services practice.

Ms. Cohen has volunteered as part of the Board of Directors for Pontchartrain Conservancy since 2018 as a member of the Finance Committee, the Treasurer and the Secretary of the Board. In 2024, Ms. Cohen was named an honoree for City Business Woman of the Year award.

Ms. Cohen received a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the E.J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University. She also holds a CPA license.

Travis Rachal is Head of Business Development at Carr's Hill Partners, responsible for sourcing investment opportunities, investor relations, and marketing.

Prior to joining Carr's Hill, Mr. Rachal was an early employee and Vice President at iCapital Network, where he helped build the investor relations department and led fundraising for the Fintech investment platform that has over $40 billion in assets and has received $50 million in funding from investors including BlackRock & Carlyle. Previously, Mr. Rachal was an Associate managing investor relations at Optima Fund Management, a multi-billion dollar hedge fund. Prior to Optima, he served as an Analyst at Highland Capital Management, a global alternative credit asset manager.

Mr. Rachal received his B.B.A. in Finance from the Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and currently holds his Series 65 license.

Tyler Houin is a Principal at Carr's Hill Partners. As a member of the investment team, Mr. Houin is responsible for portfolio management, sourcing and evaluating new investment opportunities and performing transaction due diligence.

Prior to joining Carr's Hill, Mr. Houin was a Vice President at Ridgemont Equity Partners, a multi-billion dollar, middle market private equity firm based in Charlotte, NC. While at Ridgemont, he focused on deal sourcing, evaluation and portfolio management within Ridgemont's Energy and Sustainability sectors. Mr. Houin started his career working in Global Natural Resources investment banking with Credit Suisse in Houston, and also spent time working offshore in the Gulf of Mexico as a Roustabout for Danos.

Throughout his career, Mr. Houin served on the board of directors for Hatch Resources and Riverbend Energy Group IX, and was also highly involved at the board level with WhiteWater Midstream, Unitex Oil & Gas, Beacon E&P, Casillas Petroleum Resource Partners, Indigo Natural Resources, Clear Creek E&P and Momentum Midstream. Mr. Houin received a B.S. in Finance from the E.J. Ourso College of Business at Louisiana State University where he received The University Medal for outstanding academic performance.

Michael Gude is a Vice President at Carr's Hill Partners. As a member of the investment team, Mr. Gude is responsible for portfolio management, evaluating investment opportunities, performing transaction due diligence, and supporting the growth of portfolio investments.

Prior to joining Carr's Hill, Mr. Gude completed a two-year investment banking program with Capital One in New York City where he rotated through their workout, leveraged lending and derivatives groups. Previously, Mr. Gude held summer internships with Alston Capital Partners, a PE firm focused on the environmental sector, and with Sompo International’s investment team which manages an $8 billion investment portfolio.

Mr. Gude received his B.S. in Finance from the College of Charleston.

Andrew Kern is a Senior Associate at Carr's Hill Partners. As a member of the investment team, Mr. Kern is responsible for evaluating new investment opportunities, performing transaction due diligence, and managing the portfolio.

Prior to joining Carr's Hill, Mr. Kern was an Associate at Stronghold Investment Management, a private equity firm focused on real assets and related markets based in Dallas, TX. Before joining Stronghold, Mr. Kern was an Associate at OFS Energy Fund, a private equity firm focused on the oilfield services sector based in Houston, TX. Mr. Kern started his career as an Analyst in Credit Suisse’s Global Industrials investment banking group in New York City where he focused on the Diversified Industrials and Aerospace & Defense sub-sectors.

Mr. Kern received his B.S. in Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Accounting and a track in Real Estate from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia.

Praveen Ashokkumar, CFA is an Associate at Carr's Hill Partners. As a member of the investment team, Mr. Ashokkumar is responsible for evaluating new investment opportunities, performing transaction due diligence, and managing the portfolio.

Prior to joining Carr’s Hill, Mr. Ashokkumar focused on Project Finance as a Senior Associate at Silicon Valley Bank and as an Associate at Sunrun, a leading residential solar company. Prior to Sunrun, Mr. Ashokkumar was an Analyst in Guggenheim Partners investment banking group in New York where he focused on the Healthcare sector.

Mr. Ashokkumar received his B.S.B.A. at the University of Central Florida, magna cum laude, and is a CFA charterholder.

Devin Lockett is an Associate at Carr's Hill Partners. As a member of the investment team, Mr. Lockett is responsible for evaluating new investment opportunities, performing transaction due diligence, and managing the portfolio.

Prior to joining Carr’s Hill, Mr. Lockett was an Associate at Great Hill Partners, a $5 billion private equity firm based in Boston, MA. Mr. Lockett began his career as an Analyst in Credit Suisse’s Global Industrials investment banking group in New York City where he focused on the Diversified Industrials and Aerospace & Defense sub-sectors.

Mr. Lockett received his B.A. in International Relations with a concentration in International Finance from Tufts University.

Declan Rushe is the Chief Executive Officer of Matthews Brothers Dredging, a Carr's Hill Partners portfolio company. As CEO, Mr. Rushe oversees the company’s operations, strategic initiatives, and growth, driving its position as a leader in dredging services. Declan also serves as an Executive Advisor to Carr's Hill and has served as a board member at Arrow Waste and AXIS Industries.

Prior to joining Matthews Brothers Dredging, Mr. Rushe held the role of President at TEAM Solutions, a division of TEAM Industrial Services Inc. Mr. Rushe also served as President & CEO at QualSpec Group, where he successfully led the company for over seven years before QualSpec was acquired by TEAM. Earlier in his career, Mr. Rushe spent over a decade at IESCO, where he held progressively senior roles, including Senior Vice President and Vice President, demonstrating his leadership and expertise in industrial services.

Mr. Rushe brings over two decades of experience in executive leadership, operations, and industrial services to Matthews Brothers Dredging and Carr's Hill.

Steve Nathanson is an Executive Advisor for Carr's Hill Partners and also serves as the Managing Director of the 50-year-old Nathanson Energy companies, focusing on investments in oil & gas, construction, agriculture and education.

Prior to returning to the Nathanson companies, Steve served as CEO of Bernhard, LLC, one of the largest privately-owned engineering, mechanical and electrical contractors in America.  He led a team of over 2,000 employees in 27 locations across the southeastern United States. Through his leadership, the company increased in size, profit and the impact they made in education, hospitality and healthcare commercial developments.

Previously, Mr. Nathanson led Genesis Energy, LP (NYSE: GEL) as its President and Chief Operating Officer until his retirement in 2013. During his tenure, he grew the company from a fledgling, diverse $800 million company to a $6 billion, NYSE-listed master limited partnership. Mr. Nathanson joined Genesis in conjunction with its 2007 acquisition of TDC, LLC, a refinery services specialist he co-founded and helped build from the ground up.