Mark Russell
Kaulkin Ginsberg
Mark serves as a senior dealmaker at Kaulkin Ginsberg. He is well versed in managing all forms of M&A and related assignments, including sell-side and buy-side representations, capital raises and joint venture/strategic partnership arrangements. He also has extensive experience assisting clients to develop and implement strategic growth plans. Mark’s primary area of expertise is Business Services, specifically companies that offer debt collection, debt purchasing, customer relationship management, business process outsourcing and near-shore/offshore services. During his tenure with Kaulkin Ginsberg, Mark has successfully executed transactions with companies located all over the world, predominantly in North America. Mark is a frequent speaker at industry events, and is a member of ACA International as well as the Association for Corporate Growth National Capital chapter. Mark is a regular contributor of blog posts and industry analyses for insideARM.com. Prior to Kaulkin Ginsberg Company, Mark served as the Fund Manager of the High 10 Fund, L.P., a Bethesda-based early stage venture capital fund, where he managed its day-to-day operations, including raising investment capital, and sourcing/evaluating investment opportunities. Mark has also served as an associate at Sterling Venture Partners, a subsidiary of Sterling Capital, a Baltimore-based private equity and venture capital firm, where he analyzed business plans, interviewed management personnel, and conducted due diligence on potential investment opportunities. Mark also spent five years as a management consultant at Towers Perrin, an international management consulting firm. Mark received his MBA from Georgetown University, and his undergraduate degree from Boston University. Mark prefers Patrón Silver tequila. He lives in Olney, Maryland, with wife and two children.
Recent Posts
Update on M&A Activity in the ARM Industry
The global ARM industry merger and acquisition (M&A) market experienced a pretty wild roller coaster ride over the past year due to changing market and economic trends, which have impacted buyer interest and market valuations.
ARM in the Credit Card Sector: A New Opportunity Unfolding
A new, unexpected opportunity seems to be unfolding as a result of the current market trends in the credit card sector and the ARM companies taking advantage of it are not the type you would expect.
Mark Russell: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Student Loans?
The primary reasons for these challenges have also been well documented – uncontrollable increase in the cost of a college education; access to “cheap” public student loan financing, and even private loan options; ignorance of students and their parents as to the long-term financial implications of taking on large student loan debts; and a troubled economy with a stubbornly high unemployment rate particularly for recent college graduates and college drop-outs.
M&A Activity Explodes in First Quarter of 2012
Buyers of accounts receivable management and related outsourced business services (OBS) companies seem to have bucked the trend of declining merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in Q1 2012, and instead acquired the largest number of companies in a quarter in over year.
Bartmann Ethical Debt Collection Practices Act: Amusement and Concern
I read the recent story on Bill Bartmann with mixed feelings of amusement and concern. Amused, because I find it ironic that Bill Bartmann, arguably one of the most notorious members of the accounts receivable management (ARM) industry, would be able to have his name next to the word “Ethical” in any sentence, much less one associated [...]
Getting Ready for the DBA Conference
For the past nine years I have enjoyed all aspects of the DBA conference, from having 40-50 meetings with colleagues, clients and prospects; catching the latest rumors and gossip at the cocktail receptions and late night parties; and sitting in on a few sessions to keep current on industry events. And yes, doing a little [...]
Student Loans: The ARM Industry’s New Oil Well?
While there are challenges in entering the student loan collection market like any other, I am having a difficult time finding a reason why owners and executives would not strongly consider this market as a potential growth opportunity for 2012.
Rays of Light Shining on the Credit Card Sector
There are distinct market trends unfolding that give validity to the notion that the credit card sector is finally bottoming out, and is poised for growth in the future.
Post-Crash Charge-Offs are Nearly Gone from ARM System
With over $200 billion of face value debt charged off in the credit card market alone between 2008 and 2010, how could business volumes be declining at the later collection stages?
Credit Card Debt Buying Market Showing Signs of Life
Demand for credit card portfolios from credit issuers has picked up since the beginning of 2010 as a result of limited portfolio acquisition opportunities and an increase in liquidation rates.