G. Cook Jordan, Jr.   | Thomas E. Knauff   | Miguel A. Pachicano Michael E. Collins   | Jack C. Gonder   | Clark G. Greiner Lori A. Callaway   | Joseph B. Graves   | David A. Kakareka Matthew R. Kolpin Thomas E. Knauff Co-Founder, Managing Principal CAREER SUMMARY More than 30 years of executive, operations and transaction experience in energy distribution, business services and other industries. Served as Division Manager for Ferrellgas Partners, L.P. (NYSE: FGP), and helped integrate the $400 million leveraged buyout of Buckeye Gas Products Company. Co-founded and served as President of Propane Continental, Inc., a private equity funded energy distribution company that completed 36 acquisitions over five years. Ultimately led the sale of the company to a publicly traded competitor. Mr. Knauff was a co-founder of Liberty Propane, L.P. and Liberty Propane, G.P. CAREER DETAIL Mr. Knauff is a Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Jordan, Knauff & Company. Together with Mr. Jordan, Mr. Knauff led the firm’s effort to found Liberty Propane. As the fundless deal sponsor, the firm authored Liberty Propane’s business plan, assembled the management team, secured the initial equity and debt funding and assisted in the company’s initial acquisitions and integration activities. Mr. Knauff served as Interim Chief Operating Officer during Liberty Propane’s start-up phase and was also a member of the Board of Directors. Liberty Propane was sold in 2009 for approximately $234 million. Prior to the founding of Jordan, Knauff & Company, Mr. Knauff served as Executive Vice President of Business Development at Cornerstone Propane Partners, L.P. (NYSE: CNO, now a private company) following the acquisition of Propane Continental, Inc. ("PCI") by Cornerstone in 1998. After overseeing the successful integration of PCI into the Cornerstone management system, Mr. Knauff assumed responsibility for Cornerstone's non-propane mergers and acquisitions strategy. Mr. Knauff co-founded PCI in Overland Park, Kansas, in 1991, becoming the company's President and Chief Operating Officer. PCI was created to consolidate retail propane distribution businesses in selected geographic regions of the United States. After securing the original funding from institutional private equity investors and a major commercial bank, Mr. Knauff formed the PCI acquisitions team, closed 36 acquisitions over seven years, and managed the integration of the acquired companies. Before forming PCI, Mr. Knauff spent eight years at Ferrellgas Partners (NYSE: FGP), where he held several senior operating positions including Wholesale Division Manager and Retail Marketing Director. In 1986, he was selected to join a four-manager team created to integrate the $415 million (transaction value) leveraged buyout of Buckeye Gas Products Company. The Buckeye Gas buyout was the largest acquisition undertaken by Ferrellgas up to that point. At Ferrellgas, Mr. Knauff was ultimately responsible for 150 retail distribution outlets, more than 650 employees and over $40 million in annual EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization). He consistently grew the EBITDA of his division at a rate that exceeded the industry and company benchmark. Mr. Knauff is a graduate of the University of Kansas.   Send an Email 312-254-5902