Professionals

Jonathan Balch

Managing Director

Atlanta

Jon is a managing director with Antares Capital. He joined Antares through GE in 2002 and is a member of the Credit Advisory Group responsible for restructuring and managing Antares’ most complex and challenged investment partnerships.

Jon began his career at Wachovia, and prior to joining Antares, worked in the Wachovia Securities Corporate & Investment Banking Group.

Jon holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Eric Eisen

Senior Vice President

Atlanta

Eric is a senior vice president in the Asset Management group at Antares Capital. He is responsible for managing various co-investment and advised client programs.

Prior to this role, Eric was a team lead responsible for structuring, underwriting, and documenting sponsor-backed private credit transactions. He began his career in public accounting in the audit practice of Deloitte where he earned his CPA license.

Eric has a bachelor’s degree and master’s in accounting from the University of Tennessee.

Patrick Harms

Managing Director

Atlanta

Patrick is a managing director in the Asset Management Group at Antares Capital. Patrick joined Antares in 2018 with over 15 years in the financial services industry across various roles, including advisory, project management, and liquidity and executions for private investment funds.

Prior to Antares, Patrick worked at Ernst & Young and Goldman Sachs.

Patrick earned his MBA from Fordham University and his bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia.

Steven Heise

Managing Director

Atlanta

Steve is a managing director of Antares Capital. He has been with Antares for 18 years and currently manages a team of deal professionals focused on underwriting new business and managing the existing client portfolio. Steve is a founding member of the Antares Telecom, Media & Technology financing business.

Prior to joining Antares, Steve worked in the healthcare finance group for Scotiabank and worked on the interest rate futures and options exchanges in Chicago.

Steve earned an undergraduate business degree from Indiana University and an MBA from Emory University’s Goizueta School of Business.

Frank Natta

Senior Vice President

Atlanta

Frank is a senior vice president with Antares Capital. He works on the originations team covering Boston and New York. He is responsible for all facets of the deal process including sourcing, structuring, closing and managing investment opportunities.

Frank joined the GE Antares team in 2014. Prior to GE Antares, Frank was with Ernst & Young where he started his career in 2009.

Frank received a bachelor’s degree in finance and accounting from University of Georgia and is a CFA® charterholder.

Bennett Reece

Vice President

Atlanta

Bennett is a vice president of Asset Management at Antares Capital.

Prior to joining Antares Capital in 2020, Bennett held various roles at Koch Industries across Finance, Treasury, and Information Technology functions.

Bennett received a B.B.A. in Finance from Georgia State University.

Michael Scruggs

Vice President

Atlanta

Michael is a vice president with Antares Capital. He is responsible for the structuring, underwriting, legal documentation, closing, and ongoing portfolio management of credit facilities provided to private equity-owned businesses.

Michael joined Antares Capital in 2016. Prior to Antares, Michael started his career with Deloitte & Touche.

Michael graduated cum laude from the University of Georgia with a bachelor’s degree in finance.

Phillip Smith

Senior Vice President

Atlanta

Phillip is a senior vice president with Antares Capital. He is responsible for structuring, underwriting, documenting and managing transactions.

Phillip joined GE Antares as part of GE Capital’s Risk Management Leadership Program. He began his career at U.S. Bank.

Phillip earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and economics from Utah State University and an International MBA from the University of South Carolina's Moore School of Business.

Kirk Sonnefeld

Managing Director

Atlanta

Kirk is a managing director at Antares Capital. He is responsible for structuring, underwriting, documenting and managing sponsor-backed loan transactions. Kirk is a member of Antares’ Operating Committee.

Prior to Antares, Kirk served in various credit functions at GE Antares, including underwriting, portfolio management, and loss mitigation. He initially joined GE Capital in 2004 as part of the Telecom, Media & Technology industry lending group. Kirk began his career in public accounting in the audit practices of Arthur Andersen and Ernst & Young where he earned his CPA license.

Kirk received a bachelor’s and master degree at Wake Forest University where he graduated magna cum laude, and is a CFA® charterholder.

Lofton Spencer

Senior Vice President

Atlanta

Lofton is a senior vice president with Antares Capital. He is responsible for structuring, underwriting, documenting and managing transactions.

Lofton joined GE Antares in 2001 after beginning his career at Ernst & Young, LLP.

Lofton has a bachelor’s degree in business from State University of West Georgia, a master’s degree in accounting from Auburn University and holds a CPA designation.

Quinn Sumlin

Vice President

Atlanta

Quinn is a vice president of Asset Management at Antares Capital.

Quinn joined Antares in 2019 after having worked at Credigy and Stout Risius Ross.

Quinn earned his bachelor’s degree from Auburn University and his Juris Doctor from the University of Alabama School of Law.

Austin Tansantisuk

Senior Vice President

Atlanta

Austin is a senior vice president of Antares Capital and a member of the Antares’ Credit Advisory Group.

Austin joined Antares through GE Capital’s Telecom, Media & Technology Group in 2014 and has been responsible for underwriting, restructuring and managing various private equity sponsored transactions. Austin began his career at JP Morgan and prior to joining Antares was a senior credit underwriter at Regional Financial Corporation.

Austin is a CFA charterholder and holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hobart and William Smith Colleges.