Deal Team

Chris Robichaud is a Partner at ArkMalibu who utilizes his mix of finance, entrepreneurship and consulting experience to aid clients in navigating the sell-side M&A transaction process. He is a trusted team member through the entire deal lifecycle, helping entrepreneurs to capture their company’s true value by modeling future financial results, quantifying synergies, managing potential acquirers, and examining the impact of key transaction terms.

Prior to joining ArkMalibu, Chris was an Investment Associate for one of New York City’s most active early-stage Venture Capital funds. He was the co-founder of a B2B SaaS software company in the digital media space and spent six years as a Technology Risk Consultant at Deloitte where he led strategy, operations, and digital transformation projects for Fortune 500 clients. He has experience across many industries, including enterprise software, financial services, and digital media, and has held the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) cybersecurity credential since 2015.

Chris has earned an MBA from Columbia Business School and a Bachelor of Science from Boston College’s Carrol School of Management, with concentrations in Finance and Information Systems Accounting.

Away from ArkMalibu, Chris enjoys ice hockey, scuba diving, photography, and horseback riding with his wife Shannon.

Jordan Wittbrot is a Director at ArkMalibu, where he leverages his extensive investment banking, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic networking expertise to lead client engagements and execute complex sell-side transactions. A skilled sector generalist with deep sector knowledge in technology, FinTech, and SaaS, he provides strategic counsel to middle-market business owners across a diverse range of industries, guiding them through the entire process to maximize value.

Prior to joining ArkMalibu, he served as a Vice President in the Technology Investment Banking group at D.A. Davidson. In this role, he was a key architect in the successful execution of over 25 M&A and capital raising transactions, collectively worth over $1.5 billion. His responsibilities encompassed leading deal teams, conducting in-depth financial modeling and valuation analysis, managing the due diligence process, and negotiating directly with buyers and legal counsel to secure optimal outcomes for clients.

Earlier, Jordan led the financial services recruiting division at PRG and also served as an Analyst in the Hedge Fund Services Group at Citi.

Jordan earned a Bachelor of Science in Finance from The Ohio State University and is actively pursuing his CFA designation as a Level III candidate. Away from the office, Jordan is an avid runner and enjoys exploring new culinary techniques as a home cook. He is also a proud father of two dogs, Brody and Finn.

Andrew Bitner is an Associate at ArkMalibu whose diverse experiences in banking and investment analysis have given him a passion for assisting ArkMalibu’s senior bankers and clients in executing M&A transactions. His responsibilities include supporting senior bankers in company/industry analysis, economic research, financial modeling, and creation of marketing materials.

Andrew graduated Summa Cum Laude from Cedarville University with a Bachelor of Science with majors in Economics and Finance. During his undergraduate years, he worked as a Summer Analyst at Archegos Capital, a hedge fund in New York City, along with Beyond, an angel-backed venture capital group, as the Lead Deal Analyst.

Upon graduation, Andrew joined JP Morgan Chase as a Corporate Analyst, learning valuable skills in analytics, product management, and consulting. He also remained involved with Beyond, providing deal consulting, financial modeling, and analyst training in a part-time capacity, helping to invest over $3 million in capital during his tenure.

In his free time, Andrew loves playing and watching most sports, mentoring high-schoolers, and gathering with friends to enjoy good conversation. He and his wife, Olivia, like traveling to new places together and adventuring in the outdoors.

Josh Newman is an Associate at ArkMalibu whose variety of experiences drive him to support senior bankers and clients throughout the M&A transaction process. His responsibilities include assisting associates and senior bankers in company/industry research, financial modeling, and the creation of marketing materials.

Josh graduated from Cedarville University on the Dean’s List with a Bachelor of Science in Finance. During the summer preceding his final year of undergrad, Josh interned with Marsh & McLennan – an international conglomerate serving clients with consulting, insurance, fund management, and more. His experience with them allowed him to experience having facetime with clients, prospective clients, and senior leadership.

Upon graduation, Josh worked at JPMorgan Chase in a rotational program, gaining skills with Agile project management, big data, and corporate strategy. During his time at Chase working in Strategy, Josh gained valuable experience presenting to senior leadership and preparing materials for the Operating Committee.

Outside of ArkMalibu, Josh loves Olympic weightlifting, cooking, and participating in his church activities.

Luke Knopf is an Associate at ArkMalibu whose diverse experiences in banking and working alongside entrepreneurs drive him to support senior bankers in maximizing value for clients executing M&A transactions. He assists senior bankers in building financial models, company/industry research, and in the creation of marketing materials.

Luke graduated Summa Cum Laude from Miami University’s Farmer School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business majoring in Finance. He received the Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key for attaining the highest GPA in the graduating class and the Olsen Finance Achievement Award for demonstrated leadership, character, and scholastic standing. During his time at Miami, Luke worked alongside business owners while serving as the Managing Director of Redhawk Ventures, a student-led venture capital fund.

His prior experience includes working with Fifth Third Bank’s Equity Capital Markets group where he was responsible for market research, deck preparation, and deal analysis. He enjoyed the exposure to the public market space and assisting in deals across multiple industries.

In his spare time, Luke enjoys swimming, watching soccer, and traveling to new places.

Joseph Skidmore is an Associate at ArkMalibu who leverages his prior experiences working with entrepreneurs and transaction advisory to support senior bankers and clients throughout the M&A process. His responsibilities include assisting senior bankers with industry and company research, financial modeling, and the creation of marketing materials.

Joseph graduated Magna Cum Laude from Cedarville University with a Bachelor of Science with majors in Finance and Economics. Throughout undergraduate, he led the deal team at Beyond, an angel-backed venture capital group, with deal sourcing, investor relationships, and due diligence. He also worked as a summer analyst at JP Morgan Chase as a Corporate Analyst in the Consumer and Community Bank, learning to use data analytics to improve the customer experience.

Upon graduation, Joseph joined EY in their Transaction Diligence group, using data analytics to provide insights and add value for both corporate and private equity clients in the M&A process. During his time at EY, Joseph was responsible for collaborating with clients to create a unified data strategy, and to leverage this data in various analyses and in the creation of business intelligence dashboards.

Outside of work, Joseph enjoys exercising / sports, traveling, playing the piano, and rooting for the sports teams of his hometown Detroit. He and his wife Olivia enjoy visiting new places, trying new restaurants, and spending time with family.

Luke Kubasek is a Business Development professional at ArkMalibu, headquartered in Cincinnati. Luke brings a wealth of experience from various sectors including investment banking and entrepreneurship. Before joining ArkMalibu, Luke worked at a lower middle market investment bank in Denver, Colorado, where he honed his skills in financial analysis and client relations.

In addition to his investment banking background, Luke co-owned and operated a successful landscaping company with his brother, Hudson, for five years. The company specialized in building retaining walls, planting, installing mulch, and tree clearing, among other services. Luke successfully exited the business in April 2024.

Luke attended Concordia University Ann Arbor on an athletic scholarship and is currently earning a Graduate in Business Administration from Swinburne University. He is also a Level 2 WSET Sommelier.

Outside of work, Luke enjoys playing hockey with his dad, traveling, and exploring new culinary experiences. Luke is also a Canadian citizen, something he is very proud of.

Luca Vitale is an Analyst at ArkMalibu who utilizes his prior experience in corporate development to support senior bankers across the M&A process. His responsibilities include conducting market research, building financial models, and creating client deliverables.

Luca graduated Summa Cum Laude from Hillsdale College with a Bachelor of Arts in History. While on campus, he was a member of the Finance Club and held multiple leadership roles within his fraternity, the rugby team, and the Symphony Orchestra.

His prior experience includes working on the corporate development team of Worthington Enterprises, a publicly traded company. There, he was responsible for market research, valuation, and creating internal materials to support senior leadership in deal sourcing and execution.

Outside of ArkMalibu, Luca enjoys playing and composing music, weightlifting, sports, and reading.