Our Team

Jon Schotz

Co-Managing Partner, Co-Portfolio Manager

Jon has more than three decades of distressed investing and financial advisory experience. In 1990, Jon co-founded Saybrook Capital. He served as the financial advisor for several municipal credits including the Orange County Investment Pool Creditors’ Committee, Staples Center, and Disney’s California Adventure. In 2000, building on the experience and network developed in his advisory work, Jon initiated the strategy of investing in distressed municipal credits in a private equity fund structure. The Saybrook Fund Advisors team has successfully raised and invested six funds over two decades, leading workouts in sectors spanning the municipal market.

Prior to founding Saybrook, Jon was Executive Vice President, a member of the Management Committee and member of Board of Directors at Ehrlich Bober & Co.

Jon received his BA and MPPM degrees from Yale University. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors at the Yale School of Management and a member of the California Society of Municipal Analysts and the National Federation of Municipal Analysts.

Jeff Wilson

Co-Managing Partner, Co-Portfolio Manager

Jeff has three decades of investment experience in the municipal bond market with a focus in distressed, high-yield and special situation investing. He has co-managed the firm’s municipal distressed and credit opportunity strategies since 2000.  He has extensive restructuring experience in land-backed situations, overseeing distressed holdings in California, South Carolina and Illinois. Additionally, his advisory experience includes leading Saybrook’s effort in the 2001 Pacific Gas and Electric bankruptcy and serving clients in assignments related to United Airlines, Kmart, Adelphia, Foster Wheeler, the City of Richmond and the City of Desert Hot Springs.

Prior to joining Saybrook in 2000, Jeff was a Vice President and Senior Research Analyst in Franklin Templeton’s Municipal Bond Department where he led numerous complex financings focused on the high-yield municipal market through structuring of new bond financings and restructuring of distressed credits.

Jeff earned his BS in Business Administration from the University of the Pacific. He is a member of the California Society of Municipal Analysts and the National Federation of Municipal Analysts.

Scott Bayliss

Partner, Managing Director

Scott Bayliss is a Partner and Managing Director and has been involved in the overall daily operations and management for all of Saybrook’s municipal opportunity funds since inception. Scott’s primary responsibilities include identifying acquisition candidates, consummating the purchase of distressed tax-exempt bonds, performing real estate and bond due-diligence and general management of day-to-day fund operations. Scott also serves as the third member of the Saybrook Fund Advisors’ Investment Committee along with Jon Schotz and Jeff Wilson. Prior to joining Saybrook in 1995, Scott was a Vice President with Houlihan Lokey Howard & Zukin, a specialty investment bank.

Scott earned his Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a major in Finance from the University of Iowa. He is a member of the California Society of Municipal Analysts and the National Federation of Municipal Analysts.

Dave Rodriguez

Dave Rodriguez, CFA

Managing Director, Senior Research Analyst

Dave Rodriguez has more than twenty years of experience in the municipal bond market, analyzing and managing distressed municipal bond assets across a wide range of sectors, including bonds secured by multifamily apartments, hotels, charter schools, office buildings, toll roads, assisted living facilities, sales tax increment, special assessments on residential developments, and single family mortgage pools. Dave analyzes new credit opportunities, participates in overall asset strategy for Saybrook Fund Advisors’ investments and monitors and implements exit strategies. Dave joined Saybrook in 1998.

Dave earned his BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. He is a CFA charter holder and a member of the CFA Institute as well as a member of the California Society of Municipal Analysts and the National Federation of Municipal Analysts.

Suk Lee

Chief Compliance Officer, Operations Manager

Suk is the Chief Compliance Officer and Operations Manager for Saybrook Fund Advisors. Suk is responsible for assuring firm compliance with rules and regulations governing its operation. Suk also manages various accounting activities and reporting requirements for the company. Suk joined Saybrook in 2003. Prior to that, he was a fund accountant at Trust Company of the West.

Suk earned his BA degree in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles.

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Katherine Schotz

Director of Business Development & Investor Relations

Katherine heads fundraising, investor communications, investor reporting, development of marketing materials and public relations for Saybrook Fund Advisors. Prior to joining in 2021, Katherine held multiple positions at New York Life Insurance Company across the Wealth Management and Marketing teams.  Most recently, in her role as Corporate Vice President of Segment Strategy, she focused on customer strategy and product development.  Prior to joining New York Life, she worked at Kayne Anderson as an Investor Relations associate.

Katherine received her BA from Bucknell University.

Kayla Dahlerbruch

Kayla Dahlerbruch, CFA

Research Analyst

Kayla joined the Saybrook Fund Advisors team in 2018 and focuses on fund valuations, implementation of overall investment restructuring strategies, and identification and analysis of potential new credit opportunities. Prior to her time at Saybrook, Kayla was an Associate Consultant at Semler Brossy Consulting Group where she conducted research and analysis related to executive compensation and business financial performance. Before that, Kayla was a Sales Operations Manager at ZL Technologies, managing a team of 8.

Kayla received her Bachelor of Science in Economics from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where she played on the women’s softball team. She is also member of the California Society of Municipal Analysts and the National Federation of Municipal Analysts. She is a CFA charter holder and a member of the CFA Institute as well as a member of the California Society of Municipal Analysts and the National Federation of Municipal Analysts.

Jeannie Najera

Jeannie Najera

Senior Accountant

Jeannie started at Saybrook Fund Advisors in 2018. She is primarily responsible for reviewing accounting ledgers and statements, liaising with the Fund administrator, maintaining tax schedules and monitoring capital accounts. Before joining the Saybrook team, Jeannie was an Accounting Analyst with Marlin Equity Partners. In her role there, she created and maintained comprehensive budgets, reconciled vendor accounts and statements and administered intercompany transactions.

Jeannie received her Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Pepperdine University where she was a member of the Accounting Society as well as the Association of Latino Professionals.

Cathy Costello - Director of Administration

Cathy Costello

Director of Administration

Cathy Costello joined Saybrook Fund Advisors in 2022. As Director of Administration, she supports the team in various areas including Compliance, Human Resources and Office Management. Most recently, Cathy served as a Practice Manager in a private medical office where she was responsible for daily operations, billing, and client support.  Previously, Cathy spent over twenty years at a physical therapy office in Santa Monica in roles of increasing responsibility, most recently as the Office Manager.  At all levels, Cathy focused on operational efficiency and improving client experience. Cathy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art from Colorado College.