A Fireside Chat With Land Betterment's Independent Director, Michael Layman

Hello – I’m Stephanie Conzelman, Stakeholder Engagement Director with Land Betterment.  The following is the first in the series of Fireside Chats with Land Betterment’s Board of Directors.  In this week’s Fireside Chat, I sat down with Michael Layman, General Partner/CEO of Emerald Shoals Targeted Opportunities Fund.  Michael’s drive and success in building value for companies and his investors, as well as his expertise and well-established network throughout the financial markets, have been invaluable to Land Betterment as we continue to bring real solutions and innovation to the regions in which we operate. 

Q: We would love to hear about your entrepreneurial journey from working at a big institution to coming back to the Midwest to run your own company, Emerald Shoals Targeted Opportunities Fund. 

A: While I value my time in investment banking, after a few years of working at such a large institution, I soon realized it was time to achieve what I had always known was my destiny: my own company. In order to build a fund from the ground up, especially in a location like the Midwest which is far less known for finance and private equity, it took quite a great deal of entrepreneurship. But, with unmatched drive, tireless determination and persistence, laser focus, and unbeatable dedication, Emerald Shoals has grown and invested in the best, most innovative companies out there. This growth is, in large part, because of our philosophy and beliefs. At Emerald, we go above and beyond for all our investors and the companies we choose to invest in.  We wouldn’t be where we are today without our strong connections to our investors and constant willingness to support the companies we invest in with anything they might need. Moreover, at Emerald Shoals, everyone is part of our family and working toward a collective vision that consistently leads to success. I am proud to say this is where my entrepreneurial journey has brought me, and this is just the beginning. The hard work I put into growing Emerald Shoals and my other funds has paid off time and time again, transforming these funds from just ideas into something truly special for investors and companies alike.

Q: Similar to Land Betterment’s founders, you are an entrepreneur at heart. Please tell me how this has been beneficial. 

A: Like any good entrepreneur, I understand the value of hard work. Certainly, creating and managing a series of successful funds at only 30 years old requires quite a great deal of it. As an entrepreneur at heart, I work non-stop, month after month, year after year, and never stop. Truly, I never stop. This dedication and focus has brought Emerald Shoals and my other funds the growth they have seen today. I also structured my funds in a way that, coupled with the hard work I put in, ensures success. We have created a model that allows us to focus on sustainably winning, and we channel this focus into returns for our investors and our companies. Finally, the entrepreneurial mindset it took to grow funds at Emerald from the ground up has helped me understand the needs, goals, and struggles of the companies we invest in. With this background, I can help my companies with more than just funding. I consistently work with them to make sure all their needs are met, and, through this, produce great returns for them and my investors.  

Q: You are known for making personal connections with both your investors and the companies in which you invest. Could you share more information with me? 

A: Personal connection is the key to success for the Emerald Shoals funds. I believe in going above and beyond for everyone, whether they are one of my investors or a company I am investing in. It doesn’t matter how much time or effort it takes. I do it no matter what. When people do business with me, they know they can expect someone who will put in the hard work it takes to ensure their success, and that means a lot. When it comes to personal connections in my funds, it’s not a matter of a few examples of times I have gone above and beyond for people. Instead, it’s every single time. For every business and every investor I have, I always go out of my way to make sure they thrive. That is what makes my funds special, and it has consistently produced amazing results. 

Q: What excites you most about being a member of Land Betterment’s Board of Directors? 

A: For me, it’s always a plus to be involved in a Midwestern business. However, what truly excites me about being on Land Betterment’s Board of Directors is the opportunity to experience firsthand the company’s commitment to social impact and the innovative steps it takes to achieve its environmental goals. As an investor, I always love to support companies that make a social impact, including Land Betterment, whose commitment to sustainable environmental solutions is wide-reaching and truly inspiring. Moreover, it is exciting just how innovative Land Betterment is in achieving these goals. Whether reaching out to the community with social efforts such as Ekō, fostering sustainable entrepreneurship with Betterment Spirits and The Entrepreneur Zone, transforming the agricultural industry with Betterment Harvest, or utilizing blockchain technology with the LBX token, Land Betterment has consistently used innovation to solve complex environmental and social problems, and, as a member of the Board of Directors, I am excited to see where that innovation takes them next. 

About Emerald Shoals Targeted Opportunities Fund and Michael Layman 

Emerald Shoals Targeted Opportunities Fund, based in Westerville, Ohio, is a hybrid venture capital/growth fund backed by a network of ultra-high net worth individuals seeking novel opportunities to invest in high-growth catalyst driven companies. The primary focus of the fund, is opportunities in the life sciences and other high-growth markets.  

Michael Layman, who currently serves as the fund’s General Partner/CEO, is a well-established financial industry executive with a track record of driving value and growth for both private and publicly traded companies.  He is also the Co-Founder and Manager of Lf Athens Capital, a Delaware series LLC that seeks to provide attractive investment opportunities in private and small cap public companies. Prior to his current role at Emerald Shoals, Mr. Layman served as co-owner of a private wealth management group at a large top-four brokerage house where he was responsible for identifying attractive and undervalued investment opportunities. Mr. Layman obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in business from Otterbein University. 

About Land Betterment Corporation

Land Betterment Corporation, an Indiana Benefit Corporation and Pending B-Corp, is an environmental solutions company focused on fostering a positive impact through upcycling former coal mining sites to create sustainable community development and job creation.  The Company utilizes a complete solution-based lifecycle program to restore and rehabilitate the environment and revitalize communities in need of change and opportunity. Land Betterment accomplishes this by identifying un-reclaimed, run-down and neglected coal mining sites, fixing the environment through reclamation and remediation, and then repurposing the land to support a sustainable business that serves the community.  Land Betterment firmly believes that with real solutions it is possible for restoration of impacted areas to live side-by-side long term employment, while building sustainable and safe surroundings for communities and our planet.  For more information visit landbetterment.com or connect with the Company on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other important factors that could cause the Company’s actual results, performance, or achievements or industry results to differ materially from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.  These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Land Betterment Corporation’s control.  The words “believes”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “would”, “could”, “continue”, “seeks”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “intends”, “estimates”, or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words.  Any forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date of this release.  The Company does not undertake any obligation to update or supplement any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.  The Company cannot assure you that the projected results or events will be achieved.

Company Contacts:

Mark LaVerghetta
317.537.0492 ext. 0
Chief Governance Officer, Corporate Finance
info@landbetterment.com

Stephanie Conzelman
207.205.0790
Stakeholder Engagement Director
info@landbetterment.com