Meet Our TEAM
ROBERT R. HERMANN
CHAIRMAN & CEO
Robert (Bob) R. Hermann, Jr., is the Chairman and chief executive officer of Hermann Companies, a privately held investment firm based in St. Louis, that offers long term capital and organizational expertise to venture-stage and middle-market companies. He is also Chairman of Anchor Packaging, North America's largest polypropylene food container manufacturer. In 2019, BDT advised Anchor on bringing in an equity partner.
A St. Louis native, Bob has served as Board Chairman for St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Board Chair of the Saint Louis Zoo, and Chair of the $100 million capital campaign for Saint Louis Country Day School. He is currently Chair of Grants Farm, the Hermann Soccer Trophy Foundation, and honorary chair of the $400 million Children's Hospital campaign. He is on the Missouri Botanical Garden (emeritus) board, Municipal Theatre Association (MUNY), and Central Bancorp.
Bob graduated from Princeton University with a degree in economics. Bob has made a commitment to his most important beliefs and values through the establishment of the Hermann Family Foundation.
JULIE BEHRENS
ACCOUNTANT
Julie Behrens serves as Senior Accountant, HR Coordinator, and Treasury Management at Hermann Capital Management. In her roles she manages accounting functions, reconciliations, payroll processing, cash flow and management of capital calls and distributions.
Julie has 20 years of experience in accounting that she brings to Hermann Capital Management. She graduated from University of Missouri – St. Louis with a BSBA with an emphasis in Finance.
HEATHER DAMALAS
CHIEF OF STAFF
Heather Damalas is Chief of Staff for Hermann Capital Management and has been with the organization for over a decade. Her responsibilities include all aspects of managing the office, recruiting, and leading staff to live the company culture, which includes organizing philanthropic initiatives within the community.
Heather attended Central Connecticut State University where she obtained her degree in business.
NICHOLAS GROBE
TAX MANAGER
Ten years in the public accounting world has earned Nick his role as Tax Manager at Hermann Companies. After covering many industries, including closely held family businesses, construction and manufacturing companies, Nick is well-equipped to meet the tax demands of HCI and HCM.
Nick received a Master’s of Accounting from Truman State University and has been a licensed CPA in Missouri since 2015.
ALYSSA GRESE
FOUNDATION COORDINATOR
Alyssa Grese serves as Hermann Capital Management’s Foundation Coordinator. In this role, she manages communications, reporting, and grant processing for the Lilly Christy Busch Hermann Charitable Foundation and Hermann Family Foundation.
Alyssa brings several years of experience in nonprofit and logistics support to her position, having previously worked at the Brain Injury Association of Missouri, March of Dimes, and GE Healthcare. She graduated with her Bachelor of Science from Carroll University in Wisconsin, where she served on the Colleges Against Cancer committee.
ROBERT HERMANN III
VICE PRESIDENT
Robert (Bob) Hermann III is Vice President at Hermann Capital Management, while serving on the Investment Committee as a Director. His primary focus is conducting due diligence on new investment opportunities, while observing and reporting on previous investments.
Prior to HCM, Bob spent two years at Wells Fargo Securities Investment Banking in their M&A group in New York City working as an Analyst. There, he closed over $700 million worth of M&A transactions in Telecom, Healthcare, Industrial, and other industries.
In 2025, Bob finished his MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, where he ran the Kellogg Family Business Organization. Bob is a graduate of the University of Virginia’s undergraduate business school, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree from the McIntire School of Commerce.
JASON MANNELLO
DIRECTOR OF PRIVATE MARKETS
Jason Mannello is the Director of Private Markets with Hermann Capital Management, where he focuses on performing due diligence on potential investment opportunities and monitoring the performance of current partnerships. He is a Charted Financial Analyst (CFA) charter holder.
Before joining HCM, Jason spent 15 years at RubinBrown LLP, holding the positions of Analyst, Manager, and then Partner. During this time, Jason developed expertise in corporate finance, business valuation, economic analysis, business development, and strategic planning – skills which he brings to our organization and are valued by our investment partners.
Jason is a graduate of the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics with departmental honors.
BRIAN SALMO
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
Brian Salmo is the Chief Operating Officer at Hermann Capital Management where he focuses on sourcing, underwriting, and supporting the organization’s direct investments. Before joining Hermann, Brian was an executive at LMI Aerospace where he held a variety of roles, including General Counsel, VP of Human Resources, and Business Unit leader over a multi-site P&L. Brian began his career as a corporate attorney at Polsinelli PC where he helped clients through M&A, venture capital, and other complex transactions.
Brian serves on the Board of Directors of Great Circle and Chancellor’s Council at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, where he earned a BSBA in Finance. Brian earned his Juris Doctorate from Southern Illinois University.
PETER SCHLAFLY
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Peter Schlafly is an Associate with Hermann Companies and focuses on future investment opportunities, strategic consulting, and managing analytics within the portfolio.
Before joining Hermann Companies, Peter spent four years with Accenture working in a variety of management and technology consulting roles. He managed workstreams and worked closely with client leadership on projects including SAP implementations, talent organization, and IT project management.
Peter received his MBA from Washington University in St. Louis with a concentration in Finance and his BS in Industrial and Systems Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
BRIAN SPRICK
STRATEGIC ADVISOR
As Strategic Advisor, Brian works alongside the executive team to support strategic initiatives aligned with Hermann’s long-term objectives. With his impressive background, Brian is able to provide key insights and recommendations for optimizing business strategies and fostering long-term growth.
Before retiring as Partner in 2022, Brian spent over 27 years at PricewaterhouseCoopers, where he served as Tax Accounting Services leader for the Central market. Throughout his tenure, he specialized in income tax reporting, disclosure, and adeptly navigating complexities in cross-border financings and M&A activities. certified CPA in Missouri, Brian has contributed significantly to the industry, serving on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Currently, as the Chair of the MOCPA Legislative Affairs Committee, Brian focuses on emerging legislative issues impacting the accounting profession in Missouri, showcasing his dedication to industry leadership and strategic advocacy.