About Us

Shearwater Global Capital's Senior Management
and Advisory Board Members

Chris Miller - Managing Partner

Managing Partner

Chris Miller

cmiller@shearwaterglobal.com
(+1) 312-480-8132
Chris Miller is a highly experienced professional in aviation and human capital, with over 30 years in the industry. Prior to Shearwater he served as the Managing Partner at JSSI Aviation Capital, where he provided capital solutions for the business aviation sector, specializing in asset-based lending for medium to large business aircraft across the globe. He also led Guggenheim Partners’ Business Aircraft Investment Group, focusing on asset-based financing transactions in various regions including Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

Before his roles in aviation finance, Mr. Miller managed the US division of a UK-based performance management consultancy, collaborating with both small and large organizations on strategy execution. His notable projects included working with a private equity group on cargo flights to unstable regions and assisting defense contractors in urgent requests for US military forces.

Before entering the business world, he served in the United States Marine Corps as an F/A-18 pilot and held roles as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer and Aviation Safety Officer. He is a graduate of the U.S. Navy & Marine Corps School of Aviation Safety, holds a commercial pilot rating, and is an accredited Senior Aircraft Appraiser with the American Society of Appraisers. Additionally, he has served as the President of the National Aircraft Finance Association. Mr. Miller earned his BA from Denison University and an MBA from Columbia University.
Nicholas Paresi - Director

Director

Nicholas Paresi

nparesi@shearwaterglobal.com

(+1) 631-942-5419

Nicholas Paresi brings extensive experience structuring and executing over $250 million in cross-border transactions across multiple sectors, with a primary focus on business aviation. Skilled in deal execution, capital deployment, and performance optimization, providing strategic guidance on growth initiatives and collaborates closely with partners to drive profitability and long-term value creation across global markets.

Previously served as a Manager at JSSI Aviation Capital, launching and managing a private debt fund focused on business aviation—raising over $50 million and deploying more than $60 million in investments. Work encompassed fund operations, performance optimization, and investor development.

A graduate of the University of Central Florida, combining a strong financial foundation with hands-on experience in international aviation finance and asset management.

Justin Meeks Associate

Finance Associate

Justin Meeks

Justin Meeks is an experienced operations professional with a background in asset
performance, data integrity, and system implementation. Prior to joining Shearwater
Global Capital, he held roles focused on optimizing operational workflows and
maintaining the integrity of financial and technical systems.

At Shearwater, Justin plays a key role in portfolio operations and servicing across the firm’s aircraft loan platform. His responsibilities include portfolio management, investor reporting, performance analytics, collections, and marketing support. He contributes to
investor communications, advertising initiatives, and strategic outreach, helping ensure consistency and transparency across Shearwater’s platform.

Michael Kahmann Advisory Board

Advisory Member

Mike Kahmann

Mr. Kahmann has spent over 20 years leading teams that originate, underwrite, and service high yield structured debt transactions and equipment leases. Kahmann’s functional expertise spans sales and marketing, risk/underwriting, pricing/structuring, and operations. He has financed a broad variety of equipment types including business and commercial aircraft, railcars, trucks, trailers, and manufacturing equipment.

Kahmann started his career in finance and accounting, and his formal roles have been in new business development for banks and finance companies including CIT Group, GE Capital, and Emigrant Bank. From 2011 to 2017, Kahmann was Group Head of CIT’s Business Aircraft Finance Division. During that time, Kahmann’s team was able to successfully re-focus what had previously been a fractional jet share financier into a world-leading whole aircraft funding source. Offices were opened and investment origination capabilities were developed around the globe: in Europe, Asia, and Latin America as well as throughout the United States. High-yield, low-loss secured loan assets were generated as the portfolio grew at a 19% CAGR.

Before his time at CIT, Kahmann started de novo Emigrant Bank’s business credit group, where he hired and trained a full team consisting of origination, risk/ underwriting, legal, and operations professionals. The group invests in high yield equipment leases as well as asset-based revolving loans. Kahmann has held origination as well as financial accounting and analysis positions at GE Capital, and has also been the COO/CFO of a start-up company in crisis/turnaround mode. Kahmann has a BA from Claremont McKenna College and an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business.
Christopher Cook Advisory Board

Advisory Member

Christopher Cook

Christopher Cook is an entrepreneur and former investment-management executive with more than two decades of experience spanning alternative investments, business development, and operational leadership. As Managing Director at Guggenheim Partners, he led the firm’s West Coast institutional business development and client service division, designing investment strategies for domestic and international institutions and contributing to the firm’s global client-base expansion.

After nearly a decade in institutional finance, Chris founded and led multiple companies across consumer products, real estate development, and human-performance coaching, including Unique Inc., The Zion Properties Group, and Accountable Life. His work centers on strategic growth, operational excellence, and building mission-driven organizations.

Chris brings to Shearwater Global Capital a multidisciplinary perspective, a strong understanding of investor needs, and a demonstrated ability to scale businesses and steward long-term value creation. Prior to his career in business, Chris served in the Air Force, was a professional body builder and MMA fighter.