Managing Partner – Firethorn Capital

Mr. Whebbe is responsible for the day-to-day leadership of Firethorn Capital – an independent financial sponsor. Mr. Whebbe’s responsibilities include fundraising, sourcing, diligence, and actively overseeing portfolio investments. Portfolio investments are generally focused within industries where Mr. Whebbe has held executive or significant leadership positions (consumer, retail, distribution, industrial, and service companies). This experience and operational credibility enable Firethorn to access proprietary opportunities and partnerships with CEOs, business owners, and other senior leaders and board members who are committed to the profitable growth of their companies.

In 2018, Mr. Whebbe acquired Big R Stores and served as Chairman and CEO of the Company (later rebranded as “Stock+Field”) with more than 1,000 employees and 25 stores across five states offering farm, home, and outdoor products to a loyal customer base of rural lifestyle enthusiasts. Stock+Field was restructured and sold to a competitor in 2021.

Previously, Mr. Whebbe served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of privately-held Orscheln Farm and Home (“Farm and Home”) – a specialty retailer with 160+ store locations and more than 3,000 employees. At Farm and Home, Mr. Whebbe’s significant responsibilities spanned the entire organization and were hyper-focused on the Company's profitable growth strategy. Mr. Whebbe also served as a Director on the Company’s Board of Directors. Farm and Home was acquired by the undisputed industry leader – Tractor Supply Company (Nasdaq: “TSCO”).

Prior to becoming a senior retail executive, Mr. Whebbe spent nearly a decade as an investment banker specializing in mergers and acquisitions. He began his career as a dealmaker at Barclays Capital in New York City and later as a senior investment banker at Houlihan Lokey and Harris Williams & Co.

Additionally, Mr. Whebbe has significant commercial real estate experience. As a principal, he has completed numerous sale-leaseback transactions and commercial real estate acquisitions and dispositions of single-tenant, net-leased properties throughout the United States.

Mr. Whebbe started his career working in financial and operational roles at Target (NYSE: “TGT”).

Mr. Whebbe received an MBA from the Mendoza School of Business at the University of Notre Dame. Mr. Whebbe received his undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota where he was an Evans Scholar.

Mr. Whebbe’s passions include planning family meals, taking a walk with a caddie, and all things Notre Dame. Mr. Whebbe is a single dad who resides in Sarasota, FL with his three teenage children who humble him daily.