About
KLH Capital is a private investment firm founded to provide entrepreneurs with capital to facilitate recapitalizations, management buyouts and buy-ins, family successions, and other ownership transitions. Our Principals have invested more than $350 million in 100 small businesses over the last 20 years.
We seek to partner with passionate, relentless, and ethical management teams who wish to acquire or retain a meaningful equity stake in their growing business. KLH Capital serves as a silent financial partner that allows management absolute control over daily operations. When requested, we will become active in strategic planning and identifying, analyzing, and integrating add-on acquisitions.
KLH Capital has the flexibility to tailor our investments to meet the needs of both selling shareholders and operating managers. We structure investments to cater to the interests and needs of all parties involved and have the ability to invest in common/preferred equity as well as debt securities.
Our focus is on small companies in growing industry segments with pre-tax earnings of at least $2 million. We will not invest in start-ups, high technology, real estate development, oil and gas operations, or new construction businesses.
Our Professionals
John F. Kirtley 
Mr. Kirtley is a co-founder and Principal of KLH Capital. He is active in the Firm’s investment decisions and portfolio management. In 1988 Mr. Kirtley co-founded Florida Capital Partners (“FCP”), an institutionally-backed professional investment firm that focused on middle-market companies. As a Partner at FCP, he was directly responsible for investing in more than 100 small businesses nationwide. Prior to founding FCP, Mr. Kirtley was a General Partner at Chemical Venture Partners, the venture capital division of Chemical Bank, now part of JP Morgan Chase. Mr. Kirtley holds a B.S. degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia.
P. Jeffrey Leck
Principal & Founder
Mr. Leck is a co-founder and Principal of KLH Capital. He is active in the Firm’s investment decisions and portfolio management. In 1988 Mr. Leck co-founded Florida Capital Partners, an institutionally-backed professional investment firm that focused on middle-market companies. As a Partner at FCP, he was directly responsible for investing in more than 100 small businesses nationwide. Prior to founding FCP, Mr. Leck was a General Partner at Chemical Venture Partners, the venture capital division of Chemical Bank, now part of JP Morgan Chase. Mr. Leck began his career at Drexel Burnham Lambert prior to joining Mr. Kirtley at Chemical Venture Partners. Mr. Leck holds a B.S. degree in Commerce from the University of Virginia.
William L. Dowden III
Mr. Dowden is a Principal of KLH Capital and is responsible for originating, structuring and executing transactions, due diligence, financial analysis, and portfolio management. He serves on the Board of Directors for all KLH portfolio companies as well as the Tampa Bay chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth. A Lexington, Kentucky native, Mr. Dowden graduated with distinction from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Commerce and a minor in Aerospace Engineering.
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James B. Darnell
Mr. Darnell is a Principal of KLH Capital and is responsible for originating, structuring and executing transactions, due diligence, financial analysis and portfolio management. Prior to joining KLH, he served operationally in various C-level capacities and was an investment banker with Founders Investment Banking, where he was engaged on a variety of transactions, including sell-side and buy-side mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, growth financings and sale leasebacks. A Mobile, Alabama native, Mr. Darnell graduated from the University of Alabama with a B.S. in Finance and a minor in Economics.
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Christopher T. Hart
Mr. Hart is a Vice President with KLH Capital and is responsible for deal execution, due diligence, financial analysis and portfolio management. Prior to joining KLH, he interned in the Investment Banking division of Wachovia Securities. A Columbus, Ohio native, Mr. Hart graduated with distinction from the McIntire School of Commerce at the University of Virginia with a B.S. in Commerce.
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Kyle P. Madden
Vice President
Mr. Madden is a Vice President with KLH Capital and is responsible for business development, due diligence, and financial analysis. Prior to joining KLH, he worked with MassMutual Financial Group. An Amherst, New Hampshire native, Mr. Madden graduated from the John H. Sykes College of Business at The University of Tampa with a B.S. in Finance.
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David L. Dobias
Analyst
Mr. Dobias is an Analyst with KLH Capital and is responsible for financial analysis and portfolio management. Prior to joining KLH, he served as a Helicopter Rescue Swimmer in the U.S. Coast Guard and was the Honor Graduate of Aviation Survival Technician Class 62-07. Mr. Dobias also served as a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy where he earned his Private Pilot License.
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Jason M. Hubbard
Analyst
Mr. Hubbard is an analyst with KLH Capital and is responsible for business development, due diligence, and financial analysis. Prior to joining KLH, he served as the principal broker for a premier real estate firm. A Mont Vernon, New Hampshire native, Mr. Hubbard began his studies at the University of Colorado and continued his undergraduate studies at the University of New Hampshire.
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Nancy J. Wall
Mrs. Wall has been working with John Kirtley and Jeffrey Leck since they founded Florida Capital Partners in 1988. Mrs. Wall handles all administrative functions for KLH including accounting, payroll, taxes, insurance, and other matters.
Mark J. Hunter
(Inactive)
Mark co-founded KLH Capital in 2004. In 2011 he left the firm to live a monastic life with a religious order.