Grow with Greenwood.

Welcome to Greenwood Capital Advisors. Integrity, precision, and client service are the roots of our firm. We specialize in providing comprehensive financial advisory services, including investment banking, valuation, strategic planning, and corporate finance advisory, tailored to the specific needs of each client.

Our team is composed of seasoned professionals with a broad spectrum of expertise across various industries. This diversity of experience enables us to offer insightful, strategic solutions that address our clients' specific challenges and opportunities. We are committed to delivering high-quality advice and actionable strategies that drive success and value.

At Greenwood Capital Advisors, we believe in a straightforward, client-focused approach. We understand that our success is directly linked to the success of our clients. Therefore, we work closely with each client, applying our deep industry knowledge and analytical capabilities to help them achieve their financial and strategic objectives.

We look forward to working with you and contributing to your success.

Leadership

Christopher Lewis

Founder, Managing Director

  • Chris Lewis is the Founder of Greenwood Capital Advisors. At Greenwood, Chris oversees both the Investment Banking and Corporate Finance Advisory functions. Beyond developing relationships with key centers of influence and clients, Chris leverages his background in corporate finance and investment banking to provide key strategic advice to founders and institutional investors across the middle market. He brings 15 years of investment banking and finance experience and has extensive experience in advising and executing liquidity and acquisition facilities, mergers and acquisitions, recapitalizations, and debt & equity raises.

    Prior to founding Greenwood with his partners, Chris was the Managing Director for Investment Banking at Addicus Capital Advisors. As a senior investment banker, Chris developed and executed corporate-level strategy to gain market share within the firm's desired footprint. Prior to joining Addicus, Chris was the Managing Director & Regional Head for the Southeast US at Greenwich Capital Group.

    Chris set the foundation for his career on Wall Street, where he held executive positions for some of the biggest investment banks in the world. Chris was a Director at ABN AMRO Bank N.V., where he delivered M&A advisory, capital markets, and structured debt solutions for clients. Prior to ABN AMRO, Chris was a Senior Vice President at MUFG in their Industrials coverage team, where he was responsible for advising C-suite and senior management on strategic and financing solutions, including M&A, public capital markets, private placements, and structured financing products.

    Chris began his career at GE Capital and Citi in Associate positions. At GE Capital, Chris was trained extensively in Credit Risk Management. At Citi, Chris developed key skills in modeling, creating marketing documents, and other core investment banking skills. Chris firmly believes in a comprehensive view of transactions. By leveraging his credit risk training with an investment banking growth mindset, Chris is able to provide clients with accurate and balanced advice.

    Chris has executed transactions in excess of $25 billion over the course of his career. He obtained a dual JD/MBA from Vanderbilt University Law School and Vanderbilt University – Owen Graduate School of Management, respectively.

Michael S. Berry

Chairman and Managing Director

  • Michael Berry brings over 25 years of experience in the financial planning, Asset Management and life insurance spaces.

    Michael is sought after for his expertise in insurance, asset protection, tax reduction, executive benefits, asset allocation and comprehensive financial planning strategies for a select group of U.S., Non-U.S., and global citizens.

    Michael founded Apricity Advisors, a financial consulting firm supporting a client list comprised of the top 5% of plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and aesthetics professionals worldwide. He is passionate about serving the healthcare and aesthetics industry as well as all entrepreneurs. Michael is also an owner of Lion Street; a national financial services distribution company with over 150 firms nationwide. Lion Street Firms all specialize in financial solutions for high-net-worth individuals, family offices, business owners, and corporate clients.

    Noteworthy Awards and Accolades: Michael was peer nominated and recently awarded a coveted spot in the 2023 list of The Forbes America’s Top Financial Security Professionals. In 2019, he was named one of the “Top 100 People in Finance Worldwide” by the Top 100 Magazine. Since 2018, Michael has been a featured sponsor and speaker for the Global Virtual Aesthetic Summit (GVAS) as well as a judge for the MyFaceMyBody Awards Gala; the only non-medical professional invited to judge in 2009, he received the prestigious award for “Four Under Forty” as a top advisor from the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA). Michael was also the recipient of the “Ann Liston Award for Excellence in Ethical Standards” from Northwestern Mutual and is the multiple-time recipient of the coveted “National Quality Award” (NQA). Additionally, Medical Economics Magazine has recognized Michael as one of the “150 Best Financial Advisors for Physicians.”

    Michael is a published author and subject matter specialist. His work has appeared in Physicians Money Digest, Medical Economics, The Law Journal Newsletters, and Financial Advisor Magazine. He is a veteran speaker and has addressed audiences at the HCAA (National CPA Health Care Advisors Association), The Business of Pain Management, Lion Street Indaba, The Rainmaker Companies, and national industry association events.

    Michael graduated from the University of Rhode Island in 1991, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communications. He holds the designation of Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) from the American College in Pennsylvania, is licensed in life, health, and accident insurance, and holds NASD Series 6, Series 63, Series 66, and Series 7 licenses.

Lindsey Cruz

Managing Director

  • Lindsey brings over 18 years of experience in the financial services, insurance and investment advisory spaces.

    She specializes in managing clients in the healthcare and specialty aesthetics fields. Lindsey leads operations and project management with a deep background in servicing advisory and insurance business as well as overseeing compliance. She also often works directly as concierge to clients during their engagement process working collaboratively alongside all stakeholders to ensure deliverables are executed efficiently and effectively.

    What she enjoys most about her position is getting to work with clients from all over the world and learning their backgrounds, their family values and goals and helping to make those visions a reality.

    Lindsey earned her Bachelor of Science degree in business management, marketing and related support services from the University of Connecticut.

Board of Advisors

Kevin Jones

Chief Executive Officer, Celero Commerce

Specialty Area: FinTech

  • During more than 20 years as a fintech executive, Kevin Jones has created customer-centered cultures, driving diverse teams to consistent year-over-year revenue increases, operational fitness, strong profitability, and shareholder return.

    As founder and CEO of Celero Commerce, Kevin is building an organization that blends payments, software technologies, and data into an easy-to-consume bundle of products and services aimed at helping small and mid-sized businesses compete and win in a complex marketplace. Celero, currently among the 10 largest non-bank payments processors in the country, serves more than 50,000 American businesses through strategic partnerships, direct-to-merchant strategies, integrated distribution channels, and software-as-a-service solutions for over 60 verticals.

    Since the company’s founding in late 2018, Jones and the leadership team at Celero have completed ten acquisitions, as they focus on building the country’s premier platform of high-tech, high-touch payments solutions that help businesses thrive.

    Prior to Celero, Kevin enjoyed a stint as President of SignaPay, where he ultimately achieved five-fold growth in adjusted EBITDA. Kevin most recently achieved a successful exit at Anovia Payments, guiding this startup to a 8.5x investment return, with organic acquisition of more than 10,000 customers in a four year period.

Sabin Ewing

Founder, Tristar Pediatric Dentistry and Ewing Orthodontics

Specialty Areas: Healthcare/Real Estate

  • Dr. Sabin Ewing has had a successful career across a variety of fields. As a pediatric orthodontist, Dr. Ewing holds a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree (DDS) from the University of Health Sciences, having graduated from the University of Arkansas and University of Arkansas Tech. Dr. Ewing also holds a three-year Certificate of Advanced Study (CAGS) in Orthodontics from Vanderbilt University as well as a CAGS from New York University in Pediatric Dentistry.

    Since high school and throughout his time in college, Dr. Ewing has been involved in the construction and real estate industry. At the age of 17, he started in construction framing houses moving on to flipping houses some years later, with well over 80 flip projects to date. In 2010, Dr. Ewing started investing in and developing ground-up construction projects in Nashville, TN. Such projects include Novello West End - a high-end condo development; Summit West - a 19 unit contemporary townhome development; multiple unit developments in the highly desirable East Nashville and Green Hills area; spec homes in both Red Apple Golf Course and Riverland Country Club, among other developments.

    Dr. Ewing also blended this development knowledge into the dental field, having orchestrated the acquisition and strategic growth of over 60 dental office properties, leveraging $30M in private equity funding and growing the investment to $80M within 2.5 years. During this time, Dr. Ewing acted as the founder of Specialty Dental Brands and was an angel investor for MDsave and Dialog Health. Additionally, Dr. Ewing spearheaded a dental residency program partnership with NYU for future dentists specializing in pediatric dentistry.

    Dr. Ewing’s thorough understanding of real estate investment extended to a variety of land holdings across Middle TN. Subsequently, Dr. Ewing owns approximately 30 acres in Pleasant View, TN, which includes commercial buildings and an anticipated 300 unit, multi-family project. Dr. Ewing also owns upwards of 20 acres in Mt. Juliet, TN, along the coveted Old Hickory Lake in which he plans to develop an extensive rustic-style camping resort. Dr. Ewing’s investments further include partnerships in 130 units in Pennington Bend, a 120,000 SF industrial facility in Centerville, TN, as well as warehouse and commercial spaces close to downtown Nashville. In addition, Dr. Ewing acted as founding member of the highly exclusive and private Standard Club in downtown Nashville through a generous donation during the club’s inception.

    Dr. Ewing’s investments are not limited to dentistry and real estate, with investments in many tech companies including ValidSoft – a voice recognition and cybersecurity technology, and the Tisdale Group – a company specializing in military grade eco-centric cooling and water systems. Further, Dr. Ewing founded an electric trike rental business with plans to operate in Maui and Nashville. Dr. Ewing holds a Green Advanced Certification - holding patents in construction including a specialized eco- friendly roofing material.

Benny Word

Senior Project Manager, Collier Engineering

Specialty Areas: Industrials/Manufacturing

  • Benny Word joined Collier Engineering in 2007. As a Senior Project Manager, Benny’s focus has been on municipal projects in Nashville, Tennessee. As the Metro Public Works Neighborhood Traffic Calming Program Manager, he has worked with over three hundred neighborhood associations in Nashville, attending neighborhood meetings and advising their members and constituents on traffic calming measures available for their area through Metro Public Works of Nashville and Davidson County. Benny also acts as a liaison to the Metro Council members of Nashville and Davidson County to help them promptly respond to their constituents on traffic matters that may directly affect the area or neighborhood that they represent.

    Benny’s enduring client relationships and exceptional ability to coordinate with multiple agencies ensure the success of any project. His experience and professionalism keep municipal projects running smoothly.

    With the Metro Public Works Sidewalk Improvement Program, Benny has overseen project implementation, reporting, and direction of the program to the Mayor’s Office. He also directs projects and priorities in conjunction with and is directed by the Metro Public Works Sidewalk Program Manager and other staff. He is heavily involved with ADA compliance and utility coordination. Benny routinely handles sensitive correspondence with Metro Council members and their constituents and conducts public meetings concerning this program’s direction and issues.