About Us

Management Team

Kevin MacDonald, Chief Technology Officer – Kevin MacDonald is the former Chief Technology Officer for Financial Computer Software (FCS). He earned his B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of California, San Diego and has 16 years of experience in the syndicated loan market. His career began as the original developer of the Wall Street Office product for Highland Capital Management. This system evolved to become the industry standard for loan portfolio management and accounting under Kevin’s leadership. Kevin oversaw the technology effort from the founding of FCS and up until the JP Morgan acquisition of FCS at the end of 2003.

Wayne Elpus, Chief Operating Officer – Wayne Elpus received his MBA from Boston College and has 14 years experience in the syndicated loan market. His career began in State Street Bank’s Corporate Trust department as a loan administrator where he developed an appreciation for operating issues specific to the loan market, and evolved to include technology responsibilities. After earning an MBA, he joined Financial Computer Software as head of the consulting department for the Wall Street Office product. Mr. Elpus has related experience with Bain Capital where he oversaw in-house development for Sankaty Advisors, Bain’s syndicated loan operation.

Andy Horwitz, Director of Business Development – Andy Horwitz has been involved in the credit markets for 20 years, most recently as a Director at Wachovia Securities. Prior to joining Black Mountain, he was responsible for leveraged loan and high yield bond underwriting and origination as well as the distribution and trading of leveraged loans. In this role Andy represented the firm to corporations, private equity sponsors and institutional investors and helped Wachovia become the fourth largest arranger of syndicated loans. Prior to Wachovia, Andy worked in various mortgage, credit and structured products underwriting, workout and capital markets roles at Goldman Sachs and AMRESCO. Andy has a Masters degree in Business Administration from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business and a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business.

Affiliated Individuals

Steve Miller, Chairman of the Board and investor - Steven Miller has been involved in loan market data, commentary and software products since 1990 when he joined Loan Pricing Corporation. At LPC, he was instrumental in the development of GoldSheets, the Goldman Sachs/LPC loan index and other news and data tools. After a brief stint at Chemical Bank and then Bankers Trust, Miller co-founded Portfolio Management Data LLC in 1996. In 2000, PMD was acquired by a Fortune 500 financial information firm. Today, he continues to manage the legacy PMD business at the acquiring firm. Separately, in 1999, Miller was a founding shareholder of the Markit Loans syndicated loan pricing service. Miller writes frequently about the loan market. His articles have appeared in many publications, including CreditWeek, Credit Magazine, The Daily Deal, American Banker, Buyouts and The Journal of Commercial Lending. As well, he speaks at many loan market conferences and seminars. 

Mike Rushmore, Board member and investor - Mike Rushmore has been active in product development for the syndicated loan market for over 20 years. He has been responsible for various aspects of loan underwriting, distribution and research at Continental Bank and Bank of America, working extensively with issuing and investing clients. In 2000, Mike established LoanX as the first integrated source of inter-dealer liquidity and investor price transparency in the global loan markets. LoanX was acquired in 2004 by a consortium of investment banks that continue to lead the development of transparency systems serving the global financial markets. Today, Mike is a member of the executive management team of the acquiring consortium where he looks after the sales, marketing and customer support activities for nearly 1,000 institutions globally. Mike holds a bachelors degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, and a Masters of International Management from Thunderbird. 

Bram Smith, Board member and investor - Mr. Smith has over 30 years experience in debt underwriting and distribution and comes to Black Mountain with strong client relationships. Mr. Smith is currently serving as the Interim Executive Director for the LSTA and prior to this role, was with Bear Stearns for five years where among other duties he managed the Loan Capital Markets and Sales effort. Prior to that he joined Morgan Stanley in 1996 where he set up and managed their Global Loan Business. Prior to Morgan Stanley, he worked at Bankers Trust for nearly 18 years and was responsible for managing Loan Syndications, Sales and Trading. Bram received a degree in International Affairs from the US Air Force Academy, an MA in International Affairs from Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.  He served in the US Air Force where he flew helicopters for the Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Service.