The Nautilus Growth Partners Team

Jim is a seasoned executive with more than 35 years of experience in the formation and launch of new ventures, brands, companies and strategic business units. He is considered to be an expert in strategic planning, product strategy, marketing, sales and leadership development. He has held executive positions with Agrify Corporation, Chasm Advanced Materials, AT Cross, Sega of America and others, in addition to many years of private consulting. In an entrepreneurial capacity Jim has launched, or helped to launch, dozens of new ventures ranging from consumer products and services to software-based service companies and more.

In addition to his executive experience, Jim has served as a mentor and trainer in a variety of different capacities. First, as an Adjunct Professor at Northeastern University he taught a range of courses related to Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship, mentoring over 600 students over the course of his teaching career. He also developed the and administered the curriculum for the Masonic Leadership Institute, a leadership development program sponsored by the Grand Lodge of Masons in Massachusetts. Finally, as a Sandler Training Associate and in private consulting he has mentored countless individuals in sales, marketing, strategy and personal development.

He holds an MBA Degree from Northeastern University where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into the Beta Gamma Sigma National Honor Society. He also has extensive training in sales, leadership development and public speaking through Sandler and Dale Carnegie.

Joe is an accomplished technology executive and entrepreneur with more than 25 years of experience working with companies ranging in size from start-ups to full-scale enterprises, as well as Non-Profits and Government contractors. He also founded JW Enterprises, a software solutions provider that provides a range of technology solutions, including the development of custom applications and software tools for small to mid-size companies.

In addition to his technology background, Joe has served as a senior finance executive for a more than 20 years, including serving as CFO for Now Business Intelligence from 2015-2019. This has given him a perspective unique to most technology executives, with a constant eye on business efficiency and return on investment.

Joe has a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Salem State University, is an avid golfer and a long-term member of the New England entrepreneurial community.

Rob Piacitelli is founder and managing partner of ThirdSide Capital. Rob brings over 20 years of expertise to lower middle-market businesses in a variety of industries. He has deep experience in analyzing financial, operational and investment components of business. He has assisted organizations in the manufacturing, distribution, service, software and outdoor markets. He has significant experience in manufacturing, healthcare and distribution. An expert in the transfer of small to mid-sized businesses, Rob is well-known for his creative and holistic approach to company value, owner success and stockholder harmony.

Prior to founding ThirdSide Capital, Rob held positions in hospital administration, consulting and as an operating shareholder of a family manufacturing business. He was active in the Boston healthcare finance space, becoming one of the youngest acute care CFO’s in the area. He was an early team member of Deloitte’s New England healthcare consulting practice. As a leader in his family’s manufacturing business, he learned the value of succession planning, a unified vision for both family and company and a collaborative effort on execution.

Rob holds a degree in finance from the University of Rhode Island. He has earned the prestigious Certified Merger and Acquisition Advisor (CM&AA) designation from the Association of Merger and Acquisition Advisors (AM&AA). He also is a licensed real estate broker.

Rob is married and has three awesome kids. Always looking for a way to be outdoors, they enjoy sailing and hiking among other activities.

Dan is an accomplished human resources practitioner with deep experience within a number of industries ranging in size from very small to large multi-national organizations. He has held senior level human resources positions which has enabled him act as trusted advisor to senior executives and boards at both public and private companies.

While Dan has been involved with most of the strategic elements of human resources such as employee engagement, workforce planning, talent development, M&A activity and IPO preparation he has been able to maintain a “roll up your selves and get it done” mentality.

He is frequently described as “not your typical person”. Dan has the ability to cull out the HR activities that will drive business performance while at the same time assuring the interest of employees remains a priority. He is pragmatic and brings a common sense approach to a business.

For more than two decades, Erin Logan has been a tv news reporter and anchor all over the country.  She’s worked in small, medium and large markets from Presque Isle, Maine to New York City. She’s currently a part-time reporter at NBC 10 in Boston. Erin also works for Talent Dynamics as a placement specialist for tv news producers. In addition, Talent Dynamics has Erin coaching business executives how to deliver better presentations in person and on-camera.  During the school year, Erin teaches two public speaking courses at Boston College. She’s been at BC since August 2021. 

Most recently, Erin was an evening anchor/reporter for the CBS/CW affiliate in Cleveland and a reporter for CBS in New York City, the nation’s number one television market. She spent five years (2011-2016) as an anchor/investigative reporter in Connecticut. Logan has also taught media courses and workshops at the University of Bridgeport, Quinnipiac University and the University of Notre Dame.

Erin graduated Magna Cum Laude from Syracuse University.  She went on to get her Master’s in Broadcast Journalism at Boston University.  In 2019, she earned an online certificate in Nonprofit Executive Leadership from the University of Notre Dame.

Erin enjoys planning philanthropic events, emceeing events and giving motivational speeches at high schools, colleges and women’s groups.

Jonathan Penta is a founding member of the Penta Wealth Management and helps a select group of individuals and families understand and answer the great questions of their financial lives. As a Wealth Advisor in the greater Boston area, Jonathan and his team employ a 5-step consultative wealth management process to help address his client’s most pressing financial challenges. He uses this consultative process to gain a detailed understanding of his client’s deepest values and goals and then employs solutions designed to address each client’s unique needs.

Jonathan is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor, CEPA.  He has a Bachelor of Science Degree from Boston College where he is an active alumnus.  He and his wife, Paula, live in Wellesley, MA, with their three young children Nicolas, Michael, and Juliana. They enjoy traveling, fitness, skiing, and spending time together as a family. Jonathan is active in his community and enjoys coaching youth soccer.