Lead Capital Partners is an investment firm founded in 2011 to acquire majority interests in privately-owned healthcare companies.
With the backing of investors who have built businesses over many generations, Lead Capital’s tenured team provides companies with a unique combination of capital resources, operating experience, a like-minded approach to building companies, and a long-term investment horizon, all of which create an optimal environment for sustained growth.
The Lead Capital Team
Pryor Smartt
Managing Partner
Mr. Smartt is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Lead Capital Partners. Prior to LCP, Mr. Smartt was a Director of Investments at Harbert Management Corporation (HMC), a multi-billion institutional alternative asset manager. Prior to HMC, Mr. Smartt worked in the Investment Banking department of KeyBanc Capital Markets (formerly McDonald Investments), focusing primarily on lower middle market merger and acquisition advisory. Prior to McDonald, Mr. Smartt worked in the Corporate and Investment Banking department of SunTrust Bank. Mr. Smartt received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics with a minor in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University.
Tate McNeilly
Director
Mr. McNeilly joined Lead Capital Partners in 2014. At LCP, Mr. McNeilly focuses his time and efforts primarily on new deal origination, due diligence, transaction evaluation and execution, and portfolio management. Mr. McNeilly received his Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Sewanee: The University of the South.
Lamar Stanley
Director
Mr. Stanley joined Lead Capital Partners in 2022. At LCP, Mr. Stanley focuses primarily on new deal origination. Prior to LCP, Mr. Stanley was a Director at Gen Cap America, a lower middle market private equity firm based in Nashville. Prior to Gen Cap America, Mr. Stanley was with Diversified Trust Company, a Nashville-based wealth management firm where Mr. Stanley worked in their private equity strategy group. Prior to Diversified Trust Company, Mr. Stanley served as an Intelligence Officer in the United States Navy. He holds a B.A. degree from The University of the South, in Sewanee, TN and an M.B.A. from The University of Chicago.
Carl Grote
Director
Mr. Grote joined Lead Capital Partners in 2022. At LCP, Mr. Grote focuses on portfolio management, new investment origination, and transaction due diligence and execution. Prior to LCP, Mr. Grote worked in the Investment Banking departments of Janney Montgomery Scott and Robert W. Baird & Co. providing middle market M&A advisory and financing services. Mr. Grote received his Bachelor of Arts from Washington and Lee University and Master of Science from the University of Texas at Austin.
John Peake
Vice President of Finance and Fund Administration
Mr. Peake joined Lead Capital Partners in 2023. At LCP, Mr. Peake is responsible for overseeing the accounting and financial reporting as well as compliance and administrative operations. Prior to joining LCP, Mr. Peake was a tax senior manager at LBMC, PC in their Brentwood office, primarily focused on tax consulting and compliance for investment partnership, healthcare, and real estate clients. Mr. Peake is a CPA and received a Master of Accountancy and Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from the University of Georgia. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Tennessee Society of CPAs.
Jonathan Henry
Associate
Mr. Henry joined Lead Capital Partners in 2020. At LCP, Mr. Henry is primarily focused on portfolio management and supporting deal evaluation and execution. Previously, Mr. Henry worked at Citizens Capital Markets (f.k.a. Bowstring Advisors) where he focused on mergers and acquisitions for middle-market companies across a variety of sectors. Mr. Henry received his Bachelor of Science in Accounting and Business Administration from Washington and Lee University.