Birch Lake Announces Leadership Promotions: Sean Hogan and Almedina Palic Named Principals; Matt Slavik and Jack Walsh Promoted to Directors

CHICAGO, IL - July 1, 2026 - Birch Lake, a private capital and advisory firm celebrating its tenth anniversary in 2026, today announced the promotions of four team members in recognition of their leadership, contributions, and impact on the firm's continued growth. Sean Hogan and Almedina Palic have been named Principals, while Matt Slavik and Jack Walsh have been promoted to Directors.

"Sean, Almedina, Matt and Jack have earned the trust of founders, entrepreneurs, investors and capital partners through their sound judgment and proven execution of complex transactions," said Jack Butler, Chief Executive Officer of Birch Lake. "We are excited about their expanding leadership roles driving Birch Lake's continued growth and strengthening our deep relationships within the private capital and founder-owned business communities."

Sean Hogan brings more than fifteen years of capital markets experience and has been central to sourcing, evaluating, and executing investment and advisory opportunities, as well as supporting portfolio companies on strategic initiatives. He focuses on companies nearing institutional readiness, founder-led businesses seeking growth capital, lower middle market control transactions, and situations where capital structure optimization can meaningfully improve outcomes. Before moving into direct investing, Sean spent seven years as a proprietary equity and derivatives trader.

Since joining Birch Lake in 2018 from the Industrials Group at a leading, full-service Atlanta-based corporate and investment bank, Almedina Palic has played an important role in sourcing, evaluating, and executing investment and advisory transactions. She also works closely with management teams to identify growth opportunities, advance strategic priorities, and drive value creation. Almedina brings extensive experience working with capital providers and stakeholders across portfolio management, capital raising, and mergers and acquisitions.

Matt Slavik joined Birch Lake in 2023 after executing new investments and leading strategic and operational initiatives at portfolio companies owned by a Chicago-based diversified family office investment company concentrating in commercial real estate and lower middle market operating companies. He uses his private capital and advisory experience to identify, evaluate, and help execute new investment transactions, while advising management teams on strategic capital solutions.

Since joining Birch Lake in 2023 from a Chicago-based diversified alternatives credit platform built on disciplined credit leadership across private and liquid markets, Jack Walsh has applied his experience in credit underwriting, leveraged finance, and restructuring to evaluate investment opportunities and help management teams navigate complex growth situations.

About Birch Lake: Birch Lake is a private capital and advisory firm that partners with founders, entrepreneurs and businesses to unlock growth and create lasting value. With a focus on long-term relationships, we bring a unique blend of flexible capital, strategic insight and operational expertise to both investments and advisory engagements. Birch Lake is celebrating its 10^th anniversary in 2026. For more information, visit www.birchlake.com.

Media Contact: Jen Ortega - Chief of Staff - [email protected]