Executive Profile
A Career Built on Principled Leadership
Multi-decade C-suite experience across regulated financial services, medical technology, regulated monitoring services, real estate, and energy — with board service at a publicly traded bank holding company and a national securities clearing firm.
Biography
Michael J. McCloskey is an experienced CEO, COO, CFO, and General Counsel with a career spanning more than four decades — from Wall Street investment banking at E.F. Hutton and PaineWebber to C-suite leadership of regulated financial institutions, emerging-sector companies, and his current role as Chief Operating Officer of Triumph Capital Partners LLC, a diversified investment platform engaged in developing strategic technologies across multiple industry sectors.
His board experience began on Wall Street, where at E.F. Hutton he served as a director of one of the first SEC-registered, regulated Business Development Companies in the country — a $225 million vehicle providing capital formation for both public and private companies. He has since served as a director of a publicly traded bank holding company and a national securities clearing firm, and has led or co-led capital formation transactions in excess of $1 billion, including a $205 million offering with Goldman Sachs. At United Western Bancorp, Inc., a $2.3 billion bank holding company, Michael served as Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel, and a member of the Board of Directors — supervising SEC reporting, legal and regulatory affairs, IT, non-bank subsidiaries, and risk management, and representing the company before the SEC, FDIC, and other regulatory bodies.
Michael has founded three successful private companies. Lily's Toaster Grills, a frozen grilled cheese sandwich manufacturer that achieved distribution in over 10,000 retail outlets across North America. Triumph Medical Systems, a medical technology development company. And RightBAC, an international blood alcohol monitoring device company providing monitoring services to FAA-regulated airlines and state probation supervisory agents.
As EVP, General Counsel, and Director of Legent Holdings, LLC, he served on the board of a national securities clearing firm, led governance and legal functions, designed an FDIC-insured stable value product that significantly increased earnings, and played a key role in the company's sale to a strategic acquirer. Earlier in his career, Michael drove growth-through-acquisition strategy at Recycling Industries — helping scale the company from $35 million to over $400 million in revenue — and co-founded Triumph Capital Partners as a boutique M&A advisory firm that completed over $200 million in transactions.
Career Highlights
Chief Operating Officer
Triumph Capital Partners LLC
COO of a diversified investment platform engaged in developing strategic technologies across multiple industry sectors. Responsible for operational strategy, growth capital deployment, and portfolio company oversight from the Denver Metropolitan Area.
Founder & EVP
RightBAC
Founded an international blood alcohol monitoring device company providing monitoring services to FAA-regulated airlines and state probation supervisory agents. Built the company from concept through commercial deployment across multiple regulated markets.
Founder & CEO
Triumph Medical Systems
Founded a medical technology development company focused on bringing innovative healthcare solutions to market. Led strategy, capital formation, and operational build-out.
EVP, Chief Operating Officer, General Counsel & Director
United Western Bancorp, Inc.
Served as EVP, COO, General Counsel, and Board Director of a $2.3 billion publicly traded bank holding company. Supervised all non-bank subsidiaries including trust company, broker-dealer, and real estate brokerage. Managed capital formation and represented the company before the SEC, FDIC, and other regulatory bodies.
EVP, General Counsel & Director
Legent Holdings, LLC
Served on the board of a national securities clearing firm. Led governance and legal functions, designed an FDIC-insured stable value product that significantly increased earnings, and played a key role in the company's sale to a strategic acquirer.
COO & General Counsel
Community Enhancement Group REIT, LLC
Co-founded and led a workforce-housing multifamily investment platform backed by a Colorado family office. Built institutional-grade governance, investor reporting, and asset management infrastructure for distressed multifamily property renovation.
COO & General Counsel
TMS LLC (Escape Artists)
Led operations and legal for a pharmaceutical technology company developing consumer wellness products. Oversaw regulatory compliance, brand development, and market expansion across multiple states.
Founder
Lily's Toaster Grills
Founded a frozen grilled cheese sandwich manufacturer that achieved distribution in over 10,000 retail outlets across North America. Built the brand, manufacturing relationships, and national distribution network from the ground up.
EVP & CFO
New Era Petroleum Holdings, Inc.
Led capital formation, financial reporting, and investor relations for an exploration and production upstream oil and gas company. Raised more than $40 million in new capital and built the finance function to institutional standards.
EVP — Acquisitions & Business Development
Recycling Industries, Inc.
Drove growth-through-acquisition strategy for a company that scaled from $35 million to over $400 million in revenue. Identified and negotiated acquisitions of metallic scrap recycling and processing facilities throughout the continental U.S.
SVP & Managing Director, Private Investments Group
PaineWebber Inc.
Department head responsible for national business development, product origination, and execution for both public and private company capital formation. Managed public company affiliates with over $1.5 billion in assets under management.
Managing Director, New Product Development & Director, Business Development Company
E.F. Hutton & Company
Department head managing over fifteen direct reports. Served as a director of one of the first SEC-registered, regulated Business Development Companies in the country — a $225 million vehicle providing capital formation for both public and private companies. Managed public company affiliates with assets under management in excess of $2 billion.
Leadership Philosophy
“The most effective board members are those who have run the company, faced the regulator, and closed the deal — and can bring that experience to bear without running the company again.”
Michael's approach to board service is grounded in operational credibility. Having served as CEO, COO, CFO, and General Counsel across multiple industries — and having founded three successful companies himself — he brings to every board the perspective of someone who has sat in management's chair and knows which questions matter most.
He is particularly effective in regulated environments, founder- or family-controlled companies, and situations requiring capital markets expertise — bringing the kind of independent, informed perspective that creates genuine value rather than procedural compliance.
Areas of Expertise
Governance & Audit Committee Leadership
Board service beginning with one of the first SEC-registered Business Development Companies in the country. Audit, risk, and compliance committee governance across public and private companies, with SEC reporting oversight, internal controls, and external auditor relationships.
Regulatory Strategy
Direct experience with SEC, FDIC, DEA, FDA, FAA, and state regulators across financial services, energy, aviation, and emerging industries. Regulatory representation, examination management, and compliance framework design.
Capital Formation & Capital Markets
Led or co-led transactions exceeding $1 billion including a $205M Goldman Sachs offering. Capital formation for both public and private companies spanning public offerings, debt capital markets, BDC structures, recapitalizations, and complex financings.
Company Formation & Scaling
Founded three successful private companies across consumer packaged goods, medical technology, and regulated monitoring services — with demonstrated ability to build from concept through national distribution and commercial deployment.
Founder & Family-Office Alignment
Effective bridge between family or founder principals and institutional governance. Builds board structures that balance control with accountability and scalability.
CEO Mentorship & Succession
Succession planning, executive talent assessment, and CEO mentorship — grounded in direct experience leading organizations as CEO, COO, CFO, and General Counsel.
Board Personas
Michael brings distinct value in four board contexts — each grounded in direct operating experience.
Governance & Regulatory Oversight Chair
Ideal for regulated industries — financial services, energy, real estate, aviation, and medical technology. Focused on audit, risk, compliance, and board process integrity. Board experience dating to one of the first SEC-registered Business Development Companies in the country.
Capital Formation & Special Situations Director
Brings investment-banking and capital markets experience spanning BDC structures, public offerings, and complex financings — for both public and private companies. Ideal when preparing for a raise, sale, recapitalization, or restructuring.
Founder-to-Institution Director
Having founded three successful companies himself, Michael understands the founder's perspective from the inside. Effective at bridging founder vision with the governance structures needed to scale, attract capital, and build lasting enterprise value.
Emerging-Sector Institutionalizer
Brings institutional-grade governance and controls to emerging sectors — medical technology, regulated monitoring services, and new financial products. Ideal when a company is scaling quickly and needs mature governance without losing agility.
Education & Credentials
Juris Doctor
Pennsylvania State University – Dickinson School of Law
BA
La Salle University
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