JONATHAN MAY

Prior to founding Floresta Ventures, Jon was Executive Director of Natural Capital Partners Holdings LLC (formerly The CarbonNeutral Company). NCPH works with corporations to measure their environmental impact and deliver solutions for positive impact on carbon, renewable energy, water, biodiversity and communities.  Jon was previously the Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the company.  He joined the company when it merged with GreenLife LLC, where he was a founder.

Jon was a founder and Managing Director of Catalytic Capital LLC; a private equity firm focused on growing retail and consumer brand companies.  Before co-founding Catalytic Capital in 2004, Jon was Senior Vice President of Corporate Development for Triarc Companies, Inc., (NYSE: TRY).  Previously at Triarc, Jon was Chief Executive Officer of Arby’s, Inc., where he managed the growth of 3,400 branded restaurants comprising $2.5 billion of global system-wide sales.  Jon worked in a variety of strategic and operating roles at Arby’s before becoming CEO.  Jon began his career in as a Business Analyst with McKinsey & Co.

Jon is Chairman of the Advisory Committee for Columbia Care, LLC, the leading patient-centered healthcare company focused on medical marijuana production and treatment.  He also sits on the Board of Trustees of Griffin Industrial Realty (Nasdaq: GRIF), a publicly traded real estate company. Jon formerly was a board member of Sneaker Villa and Marketwatch.com.

Jon is very active in the New York City community.  He has been a Trustee of Big Brothers Big Sisters of NYC since 2000, where he has served as both President and interim Executive Director. He has been a mayoral appointee to the Board of Trustees of the Randall’s Island Park Alliance since 2011 and he recently became a Trustee of Central Synagogue.  He was previously on the boards of both the 92nd Street Y and the Ethical Culture Fieldston School. 

A native of New York City, Jon received a BA degree in Government from Cornell University where he was elected Phi Beta Kappa.

DARRELL VAN LIGTEN

Prior to founding Floresta Ventures, Darrell was President, International of The Wendy’s Company where he led the turnaround of the $500 million Wendy’s system outside of North America and developed major initiatives later adopted by the North American business. Darrell negotiated and closed franchise and joint venture agreements in Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Latin America. He also led the Arby’s brand outside of North America prior to the sale of Arby’s in 2011. Darrell joined the Wendy’s/Arby’s Group in 2009 as Senior Vice President, Strategic Development.

In 2007, Darrell co-founded Regent Golf, a boutique private club management and consulting firm providing golf club owners the most sophisticated club management business processes, tools and technology.

From 2006 to 2007, Darrell was an Executive-In Residence at Catalytic Capital where he analyzed and recommended investments in consumer sectors.

Darrell was Senior Vice President, Marketing and Operation Services of American Golf Corp. from 2003 to 2006 where he led Marketing, Sales, Merchandising, E-Commerce, Operation Services and Food & Beverage during the turnaround of the largest golf management company. He successfully implemented key strategies across 250 golf clubs that generated a 40% IRR for private equity investors in fewer than three years.

From 2001 to 2003, Darrell was General Manager, Toybox Group at Toys R Us, Inc. where he started a wholesale business unit to expand Toys R Us market presence through 2,300 branded “shop-in-shop” concepts in grocery and pharmacy channels.

Earlier in his career, Darrell held management positions in strategic planning and marketing at Tricon Global Restaurants, Arby’s, Taco Bell and PepsiCo.

Darrell resides in Columbus, Ohio with his wife, Ronni, and award-winning dogs, Emmy and Oscar. He is actively involved with German Village Cycling and Full Focus Fitness.

A native of Northern California, Darrell graduated from the Management & Technology Program at the University of Pennsylvania with degrees from both the Wharton School and the Moore School of Electrical Engineering.