Investors & Operators · 2026-05-21 · 44 min
Andrew Nelson is Chief of Staff to the CEO at Waste Eliminator, where he helps drive strategic initiatives, operational execution, and growth across the company’s expanding footprint in the Southeast. Before entering the private sector, Andrew spent six years in the U.S. Army with 3rd Ranger Battalion, completing five deployments across Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan. He transitioned from the military in 2022 and later earned his MBA from Emory University. Topics: Why Portcos Need a Chief of Staff Military Speed as a PE Advantage The Military-to-Civilian Shift Translating Military Skills Into Business ...and so much more. Top Takeaways A Chief of Staff can become a force multiplier for a PE-backed CEO. Andrew described the role as part project manager, part operator, and part accountability driver. In lean portfolio companies where leadership teams are stretched thin, a Chief of Staff can help move strategic initiatives forward across operations, finance, systems, and growth projects simultaneously. Clear ownership prevents projects from stalling.
Ep. 153: Chris Nicolini, Managing Director & Head of Value Creation at Brightstar Capital68 / 100Ep. 152: Alex Russ, Head of Americas & Hilary LaBrash, Managing Director, Evercore PFGEp. 150: Miguel Silva, Investment Manager, CalPERSEp. 149: Jarrett Turner, Founder & Managing Partner at Soundcore Capital PartnersEp. 148: Chris Nikic, First IRONMAN Athlete with Down Syndrome