Mr. Laurel is a CPA and an experienced entrepreneur and corporate finance executive.  He and Mr. Weiss have worked together for over 20 years during which time they jointly participated in over 40 equity and debt transactions.  Over 80% percent of these transactions resulted in positive returns.

Messrs. Weiss and Laurel first worked together in the predecessor of American Tower Corporation. Mr. Laurel had been the founding COO/CFO of that new company. Following the Weiss-led acquisition of control of the company, the two partners guided all aspects of the company and its fledgling industry- radio communication towers. Mr. Laurel served as COO/CFO of the company from 1985-1995, during which period the Company’s value increased from approximately $1 million to $125 million. That company, post merger, IPO and NYSE listing, has a current market value of over $11 billion.

Mr. Laurel and Mr. Weiss are the founding shareholders of Employment Support Services Inc. (ESSI), a Beechtree portfolio company. Mr. Laurel serves as lead investor in ESSI, which following its startup seven years ago, is today valued at over $30 million.

Mr. Laurel is a Certified Public Accountant and managed the accounting practice of Laurel & Laurel, Inc. in Houston, Texas. Mr. Laurel is a graduate of the University of Houston.