Michael Trinkaus

Mike brings two decades’ experience to his role as CEO and founder of 4Pines. In 2013, Mike founded Carta Fund Services, a successful private capital fund administrator. Under Mike’s guidance, Carta grew to over $50 billion in assets under administration. Carta was sold to Alter Domus, a large, international fund administrator, in 2017.

Previously, Mike was the Chief Financial Officer of Portfolio Advisors for eight years where he oversaw the firm’s growth from $2 billion in assets under management to over $11 billion. During that substantial AUM growth, Mike ran all management company operations and all reporting aspects of the funds management business. In addition, he was a member of the firm’s Investment Committee. Previously, Michael was a Director of Finance and Fund Accounting of Moore Capital’s Japanese distressed debt joint venture and Controller at the Blackstone Group’s private equity business. Michael started his career in private equity at Arthur Anderson in 1997, as a tax practitioner.

Mike holds an MBA from Fordham University.

Celeste Barone

Celeste is an accomplished financial leader with 25 years’ experience managing the financial affairs of multi-billion-dollar private capital and asset managers.

Before joining 4Pines, Celeste held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Commonfund, a $25 billion asset manager. She was a member of the Executive Committee and Chief Financial Officer of Commonfund Capital, Inc., its $12 billion private capital subsidiary. Previously, Celeste was the managing director of finance and chief compliance officer of Pomona Capital, a New York-based private capital secondary investment firm with over $12 billion of capital since inception. She further held other senior finance roles at firms such as the venture capital group at Dillon, Read & Co., and Bassini Playfair & Associates.

Celeste holds a B.A. in Business Communications and Business Administration from Baruch College.

Bob Chowaniec

Prior to co-founding 4Pines, Bob was Head of Operations and Corporate Strategy at Carta Fund Services, where he implemented and oversaw the management system to grow the firm to over $50 billion in assets under administration before being acquired by Alter Domus in 2017. Following the acquisition, Bob continued as Head of US Operations. His responsibilities included managing operational and technology improvement projects and the lift-out of a 45-person back office in Chicago.

Previously, Bob had an accomplished 20 years in the technology sector at several multinational public companies. His roles ranged from product and process development to head of operations, business development and client support. His experience includes running operations of almost 2,000 employees, sales of over $250 million, and managing a division of a $2.5 billion manufacturing services firm.

Bob holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Clarkson University.

Bob Balfe

Bob brings two decades of leading-edge technology experience to 4Pines. He earned the position of Distinguished Engineer at IBM, a title awarded for outstanding technical contributions and leadership. There he developed automation solutions for business problems, including workplace collaboration and knowledge management systems. Bob was a part of the Watson Custom Engagement team which provides eCommerce platforms, augmented with artificial intelligence driven by Watson. These systems run all facets of the eCommerce and supply chain systems for top Fortune 500 companies, including point-of-sale, mobile ordering, and web storefronts. The entire eCommerce solution included the integration of over 27 best-of-breed products, spanning eCommerce, supply chain management, marketing automation, digital experience, and order management. Bob holds multiple software patents where his inventions automate applications, software build processes and workflows.

Bob holds a Master of Science degree in Information Systems Management.

Mark Toby

Mark brings more than 25 years of financial industry experience dedicated exclusively to alternative investments. He served as a Principal at Gen II Fund Services and as  Managing Director at Ophedge Investment Services, a $40 billion AuA fund administrator that was acquired by Citco Fund Services where he served in a similar capacity. Previously Mark held senior positions with alternative asset managers including CFO of the Auspex Group, CFO/COO of Maximus Capital and SVP/Accounting and Operations at Fortress Investment Group. He began his career in alternative assets as Assistant Director at Moore Capital Management where he oversaw all aspects of fund accounting.   

Paul Filanowski

As 4Pines’ Director of Business Development, Paul combines his technical and business expertise to create growth while serving clients with a personal touch to ensure maximum satisfaction.

Paul has worked for Fintech companies such as Allvue Systems and SIX Financial Information. Over the course of his career, Paul has overseen customer success, account management, business development, and sales operations and departments for major software, consulting, and financial information companies. Paul is experienced at planning and spearheading the penetration of new markets in the US and Latin America. He has exceeded sales and revenue goals at every position he has held by providing superior customer service and addressing his customers’ needs.

He excels at establishing new programs and departments, guiding the development of custom solutions and improvements in efficiency and processes to be a true partner with his clients. His approach as a strategic service provider enables his clients to achieve short- and long-term success.

Paul holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing Management with a Minor in Information Systems Science from Salve Regina University. He is an FISD Certified Professional, granted by the Financial Information Services Division of the Software & Information Industry Association (SIIA).

Michael Stefanoni

Mike joins 4Pines with nearly a decade of experience in the private equity fund administration industry. He was an original member of Carta Fund Services where he created and implemented the company’s AML/KYC policies and procedures. Carta grew to over $50 billion in assets under administration before its acquisition by Alter Domus, a large, international fund administrator, in 2017. Mike continued at Alter Domus leading AML/KYC compliance for the group of former Carta clients until joining 4Pines in September 2020. Previously, Mike was at Portfolio Advisors (PA), a registered investment advisor which focuses on private capital. As an Analyst on the fund administration team, he was responsible for portfolio company reporting for the underlying investments of PA’s clients.

Mike holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University. He is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist.

Jonathan North

In his role as Head of Product for 4Pines, Jon shares his passion for the integration of financial technology and services.  In his 20+ year fintech career, he has successfully developed, launched and implemented new financial technology products and ran sales, marketing, and operations in the financial software and services market. His results have been earned in challenging, rapid-growth environments.

Most recently, Jon served as Head of Private Clients for Alter Domus, a large, international fund administrator.  He created and brought to market a new technology product that merged technology and client service for family offices, foundations and endowments. Jon previously worked at SS&C Technologies as Director of Private Capital Marketing and Sales. In less than a year and a half, the Private Capital Group closed on $80 billion of new assets.

Earlier, Jon joined a start-up company, FundCount, which offered integrated accounting and investment analysis software to small hedge funds.  In Jon’s ten years at FundCount, he helped grow the company from 15 to over 120 clients, in multiple markets including private equity funds, fund administrators, hedge funds, foundations, and family offices. Jon’s career began in 2000 when he joined Financial Navigator (FN), a software provider for family offices. In his four years at FN, Jon managed operations, marketing, and sales during a time of rapid growth.

Jon has a Bachelor’s degree in Literature from University of California, Santa Cruz.