William Spell

William "Bill" Spell is an American investor and entrepreneur. He is the founder and president of Spell Capital Partners and the Spell Family Office. Spell Capital is based in Minnesota and has a 35 year history of investing in private equity, specializing in industrial manufacturing transactions. Since 2018, the firm has invested on behalf of the Spell Family Office which has assets under management (AUM) of $1.3 billion.

Spell started his career as an investment banker, working for a Midwest based regional investment bank. During 1988 when he left to found Spell Capital Partners, he was Director of the corporate finance group. The majority of Spell's career has been spent in private equity buyouts, mergers and acquisitions.

Together with his wife, Tiki, they are the founders of Spell Estate winery in Sonoma, California. Spell has also been involved with numerous charitable and philanthropic activities, including the Spell Family Foundation.

Spell is a third generation Greek American, and is actively involved in various leadership positions in the Greek Orthodox Church.

Early life

Spell was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota and grew up in Golden Valley, Minnesota. The Spell family (''Speliopoulos'') emigrated to the United States from Peloponnese region of Greece at the turn of the twentieth century. His father was United States Naval officer during World War II and the Korean War. He retired as CFO of a Fortune 500 energy company.

Spell attended Golden Valley High School and graduated in 1975. He obtained a Bachelor of Science degree (BS) from the University of Minnesota in 1979. While at the University of Minnesota, he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Spell earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota in 1981. From 2006 to 2007, he served as an adjunct instructor at the Carlson School, teaching a course on leadership in business management.

Career

Spell began his career as an investment banker working for a Midwest-based regional investment-banking firm. He served as vice president and director of corporate finance from 1981 to 1988.

In 1988, Spell left the company and founded Spell Capital Partners. He is also president of the company. It was created as a small-cap private equity buyout firm specializing in industrial manufacturing investments.

From 1993 to 2006, Spell served as the CEO of the publicly traded company, PW Eagle. Spell Capital held a controlling interest in the company. PW Eagle was the second largest plastic pipe maker in the United States at the time. Spell exited the investment in 2006.

Since 1997, Spell has been a member of the Young President's Organization and the World President's Organization. In the same year, he was part of the "40 Under 40" selection by the Twin Cities Business Journal. In 2010, Twin Cities Business Magazine named Spell one of "200 Minnesotans you should know."

Spell Estate

Bill and his wife Tiki founded Spell Estate in 2006, and produced their first wine vintage that next year. Spell Estate is located just outside Santa Rosa, California, and produces Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rosé from grapes sourced in Sonoma County, Mendocino, and the Yorkville Highlands regions of Northern California.

Philanthropy

In 1997, Spell and his wife Tiki established the Spell Family Foundation. The foundation supports mainly religious, medical, and children's philanthropies.

Spell has also served on the board of directors for a number of philanthropic organizations including the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, the Minnesota Zoo, the Center for the American Experiment, and the 1% Giving Club.

Personal life

Spell currently resides in Edina, Minnesota and Scottsdale, Arizona with his wife, Tiki Spell and has two adult children.

He is a member of the Greek Orthodox Church, and has served as president of his local parish. He is involved with several organizations affiliated with the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North and South America.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Spell, William
Investment in the United States
American people of Greek descent
Year of birth missing (living people)
Living people