Anne Vazquez brings more than 14 years of financial analysis and lower middle market financing experience to the table. Vazquez joined NewSpring Mezzanine in 2008 and was promoted to partner in 2016. Prior to NewSpring, she held positions at American Capital and KMPG.

Her recent deals include an $18 million investment in architecture and design firm Nelson Worldwide; a $25 million stake in Fox-Rent-a-Car, and a $5 million infusion for mental health services provider ncgCare.

“Private Equity is still a very male-dominated industry, which may create the appearance of a barrier for women to enter into the profession,” Vazquez acknowledges. “It is not unusual for me to be the only women in the room, be it an industry conference, a meeting with the senior management team or a Board meeting for one of our portfolio companies.”

But she also has this to say to other women who are eyeing a career in PE: “Don’t let the optics of being the only women around the table discourage you. My experience has been that if you’re good at what you do, and you surround yourself with good people, your gender won’t matter in the end.

“For someone new to the industry,” she adds, “it might take some time to adjust to the perception that gender is a concern. But I can tell you that fades with time; I personally don’t even notice it anymore.”

An ACG Philadelphia board member, Vazquez is also a co-chair of the organization’s programing committee. She received her B.S. from the University of Rhode Island and a Masters from Villanova University.