Robert R. Hermann, Jr., Chairman & CEO

Robert (Bob) R. Hermann, Jr. is the Chairman and CEO of Hermann Companies, a privately held investment and management consulting firm based in St. Louis offering capital and organizational expertise to venture stage and middle market companies. He is also the former CEO and current Chairman of Anchor Packaging, the largest polypropylene food container manufacturer in North America. In 2019, BDT advised Hermann on bringing in an equity partner for Anchor, The Jordan Company, who has been a great partner in the business.  

20 years prior, and before its sale to Staples, Bob pioneered a new business concept that disrupted the marketing industry by creating an innovative way to merge the direct-mail business with corporate identity programs. A proven success, the company eventually retained 100 of the Fortune 500 companies including IBM, United Airlines, AT&T, and Pepsi. After 20 acquisitions, the marketing firm ranked No. 1 of 13,000 companies in the industry.

Today, Bob continues to offer his business expertise to the investment partners and customers we serve. He focuses on providing unique and individualized solutions to best fit the needs of each organization.   

A St. Louis native, Bob is passionate about being active in his communities and their civic affairs. He has served as Board Chairman for St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Saint Louis Zoo, Grants Farm, and Chairman of the $100 million capital campaign for Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School (MICDS). He is on the board of Missouri Botanical Garden (emeritus), Municipal Theatre Association (MUNY), and Central Bancorp.   

Bob is a graduate of Princeton University, where he received his degree in economics. His hobbies include a multi-engine and helicopter pilot license. Bob has made a commitment to his most important beliefs and values through the establishment of the Hermann Family Foundation.  

Rick Holton, Jr., COO

Rick Holton, Jr. serves as Chief Operating Officer at Hermann Companies. His background in venture capital and private equity allows our investment partners first-hand access to years of valuable knowledge, direction and insight for their organizations and management teams.  

In addition to his role with Hermann Companies, Rick is a General Partner at FINTOP Capital and serves on the boards of AllWork, Arch Design, BridgeFT, Decusoft, Denim Social, EmpowerMe, InsurePay, KNOWiNK, NIC MAP Vision, SMArtX and Transactly. He also contributes to his community on several philanthropic boards such as Concordance Academy, Danforth Leadership Council, Great Rivers Habitat Alliance, The Muny, and YPO St. Louis. 

Rick attended Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, where he earned dual degrees in engineering and economics and Washington University in St. Louis – Olin Business School for his MBA. He enjoys spending time outdoors and has an interest in golf, wildlife preservation, and sustainable hunting. 

BRIAN SALMO, Managing Director

Brian Salmo is the Managing Director at Hermann Companies where he focuses on sourcing, underwriting, and supporting the organization’s direct investments. Before joining Hermann, Brian was an executive at LMI Aerospace where he held a variety of roles, including General Counsel, VP of Human Resources, and Business Unit leader over a multi-site P&L. Brian began his career as a corporate attorney at Polsinelli PC where he helped clients through M&A, venture capital, and other complex transactions.  

Brian serves on the Board of Directors of Great Circle and Chancellor’s Council at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where he earned a BSBA in Finance. Brian earned his Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University. Outside of work, Brian enjoys spending time with his family, jogging, and playing golf.

Jason Mannello, Director of Private Markets

Jason Mannello is the Director of Private Markets with Hermann Companies, where he focuses on performing due diligence on potential investment opportunities and monitoring the performance of current partnerships. He is a Charted Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder. 

Before joining Hermann Companies, Jason spent 15 years at RubinBrown LLP, holding the positions of Analyst, Manager, and then Partner. During this time, Jason developed expertise in corporate finance, business valuation, economic analysis, business development, and strategic planning – skills which he brings to our organization and are valued by our investment partners.

Jason is a graduate of the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics with departmental honors. He is an avid reader and member of an online book club covering the great books of western civilization. Jason enjoys spending time with his family and watching his kids' sports, strength training, and outdoor activities. 

BRian Sprick, Strategic Advisor

Brian serves as the Strategic Advisor for Hermann Companies, where he works alongside the executive team to support strategic initiatives aligned with Hermann’s long-term objectives. With his impressive background, Brian provides key insights and recommendations for optimizing business strategies and fostering long-term growth.

Before retiring as Partner in 2022, Brian spent over 27 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he was Tax Accounting Services leader for the Central market. During his tenure, he specialized in income tax reporting, disclosure, and navigating complexities in cross-border financings and M&A activities.

A certified CPA in Missouri, Brian has contributed significantly to the industry, serving on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants. Currently, as Chair of the MOCPA Legislative Affairs Committee, Brian focuses on emerging legislative issues impacting the accounting profession.

robert r. hermann, iii, associate

Robert (Bob) Hermann III is an Associate at Hermann Companies, while serving on the Investment Committee as a Director. His primary focus is conducting due diligence on new investment opportunities, while observing and reporting on previous investments.  

Prior to Hermann Companies Bob spent two years at Wells Fargo Securities Investment Banking in their M&A group in New York City working as an Analyst. There, he closed over $700 million worth of M&A transactions in Telecom, Healthcare, Industrial, and other industries.  

Bob is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s undergraduate business school, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the McIntire School of Commerce. He enjoys spending his time outdoors skiing, hiking, and playing racquet sports.  

Peter Schlafly, Associate

Peter Schlafly is an Associate with Hermann Companies and focuses on future investment opportunities, strategic consulting, and managing analytics within the portfolio.

Before joining Hermann Companies, Peter spent four years with Accenture working in a variety of management and technology consulting roles. He managed workstreams and worked closely with client leadership on projects including SAP implementations, talent organization, and IT project management.

Peter received his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis with a concentration in Finance and his BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, being outdoors to hike and ski, and is an avid St. Louis sports fan.

Heather damalas, chief of staff

Heather Damalas is Chief of Staff for Hermann Companies and has been with the organization for over a decade. Her responsibilities include all aspects of managing the office, recruiting, and leading staff to live the company culture, which includes organizing philanthropic initiatives within the community.

Heather attended Central Connecticut State University where she obtained her degree in business. She enjoys spending time outdoors, camping, and hiking with her family.

julie Behrens, Accountant

Julie Behrens serves as Senior Accountant, HR Coordinator, and Treasury Management at Hermann Companies.  In her roles she manages accounting functions, reconciliations, payroll processing, cash flow and management of capital calls and distributions.  

Julie has 20 years of experience in accounting that she brings to Hermann Companies.  She graduated from University of Missouri – St. Louis with a BSBA with an emphasis in Finance.  Julie enjoys reading, watching soccer, vacationing and watching her girls’ various activities. 

alyssa grese, foundation coordinator

Alyssa Grese serves as Hermann Companies’ Foundation Coordinator. In this role, she manages communications, reporting, and grant processing for the Lilly Christy Busch Hermann Charitable Foundation and Hermann Family Foundation.  

Alyssa brings several years of experience in nonprofit and logistics support to her position, having previously worked at the Brain Injury Association of Missouri, March of Dimes, and GE Healthcare. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science from Carroll University in Wisconsin, where she served on the Colleges Against Cancer committee. She enjoys curating and styling vintage clothing and accessories.  

michon pals, office administrator

Michon Pals is the Office Administrator for Hermann Companies. Her role consists of running accounts payables, managing the Willow Bridge property, and ensuring the office has everything it needs to run smoothly. 

Before joining Hermann Companies, Michon taught in secondary education for ten years. She graduated from Eastern Illinois University with a degree in Career and Technical Education and has a MA in Education from Lindenwood University. She enjoys cooking, DIY projects, and watching her children’s various sports activities.