Chapter Four The alpine meadow

Team

Criteria are only half the answer.

Operations

Founder

Christian Ibarra

Christian Ibarra leads Clelia Capital, combining private equity experience with nearly six years of hands-on operations leadership.

Previously, he was a Private Equity Associate at Black Lake Capital, where he evaluated 100+ businesses representing $4B+ in aggregate transaction value. Earlier at UPS, he led initiatives generating $72M+ in annual savings and $5M+ in incremental revenue.

Christian holds an MS in Finance from Georgetown University and a BBA in Finance and Marketing, Cum Laude, from the University of Kentucky.

“If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito.”
Betty Reese

Advisors

Standing on the shoulders of giants.

Charles Scripps

Founder & Managing Partner at Black Lake Capital

Charles brings more than 30 years of experience from leadership roles at McKinsey & Co. and mega fund private equity firms like H.I.G. Capital and AEA Investors, where he specialized in operational excellence and strategic value creation. A Wharton MBA graduate, he has a track record of driving results in highly complex environments. Charles’s ability to navigate operational challenges supports Clelia Capital’s mission to foster growth while preserving the legacy of the businesses it acquires.
Richard Waryn

Co-Founder & Partner at Ridgefield Partners

Richard brings over 30 years of experience across international private equity fund management, real estate investment, investment banking, and entrepreneurship. He has led and advised on investments spanning infrastructure, telecom, retail, transportation, and real estate, including serving in a senior role at Dubai’s sovereign wealth fund. A founding partner at Ridgefield Partners and owner of a national transportation logistics company, Richard has lived and worked in global financial hubs including London, Moscow, and Dubai. He holds a Master’s degree in finance and economics from Harvard University and a BSc in Geoscience from the University of Toronto. His global perspective and operational insight enhance Clelia Capital’s ability to evaluate investments, build trust with founders, and create long-term value.
Bernee D. L. Strom

President & CEO of The Strom Group

Bernee Strom is a trailblazing executive, entrepreneur, and board leader with over three decades of experience driving innovation across technology, media, and consumer industries. She is the Founder and CEO of The Strom Group, an investment and advisory firm, and has held senior leadership roles at pioneering companies including Priceline.com, where she served as the founding CEO, and InfoSpace, where she was President and COO.

Bernee has built and scaled companies at every stage — from startups to Fortune 500s — leading multiple venture-backed exits, public financings, and cross-border M&A transactions. Her leadership roles span CEO and Chairman positions at firms such as WebTuner, Ensequence, and USA Digital Radio (now iBiquity). She also served as President of InfoSpace Ventures and as CEO of Walker Digital. She currently serves as a director and governance committee chair on public and private company boards, including past roles with Hughes Electronics/DirectTV, Polaroid, and Software Publishing, and as a Trustee of the National Public Radio Foundation.

Bernee has helped raise over $1 billion in capital and has been instrumental in forming strategic partnerships across sectors. A Wharton-recognized innovator, Bernee holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson, graduate degrees from NYU in mathematics and education, and previously passed the California CPA exam. She has been honored as one of the “Leading Women Entrepreneurs of the World” and received the IBM Technology Award and the Committee of 200 Luminary Award.
Steve Logan

Managing Director at Goldman Sachs

Steve brings over three decades of experience in investment banking and wealth management, with a long track record advising on complex M&A transactions across a range of industries. He has held senior roles at Citi, JP Morgan, and now Goldman Sachs. An MBA graduate from Wharton, he is known for his thoughtful approach to capital markets and strategic execution. Steve’s expertise ensures Clelia Capital can navigate sophisticated transactions and deliver value to all stakeholders.