2025 ACG DFW Family Office Luncheon

Ryan Chowdhury, Managing Director, Fifth Force Management

Ryan Chowdhury serves as the Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Fifth Force Management, a family office entity. Ryan holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin and a Master of Business Administration in International Finance from IE Business School, which he completed after relocating to Madrid, Spain in 2010.

The initial phase of his professional career was dedicated to the design and construction of manufacturing facilities throughout the United States. Following his transition to the financial sector, Ryan rose to the position of Executive Director in J.P. Morgan's Asset Management division, where he provided  to the institution's most significant family office clients. Ryan finally made his way back to Dallas in the summer of ’21 when he founded Fifth Force.

Leo Copanski, Director of Investments, Deason Capital Services

Mr. Copanski has been a Senior Analyst at Deason Capital Services, the family office for Darwin Deason, since September 2018. He works directly with the Chief Investment Officer, leading efforts in originations, due diligence, underwriting, and portfolio management.

With over 10 years of investment experience, in 2023 he sought to develop his proficiency as an operator by expanding his wife’s family’s full service Italian restaurant into a streamlined concept with a scalable business model, successfully opening an additional location, Besa’s Pizza Grapevine. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Chicago and has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) designation. 

Jeff Horn, Founder & Partner at Masked Rider Capital

Jeff is an experienced entrepreneur and business leader with a diverse background in finance, technology, and executive leadership. He co-founded Masked Rider Capital Holdings Co., LLC, a dynamic investment and holding company, with Dustin R. Womble in 2012.  In his role as partner and CEO, Jeff provides strategic growth initiatives for the firm and drives MRC's vision to achieve sustainable success. He also serves on the board of directors for several West Texas companies, including Carizma Motors, LLC, 7Crew Enterprises, Masked Rider Capital, and Masked Rider Energy.

Before dedicating his expertise to Masked Rider Capital, Jeff served as the President and CEO of Benchmark Business Solutions, a Xerox authorized dealer. Under his leadership, Benchmark evolved into one of the largest independent Xerox dealers in the country within a decade. For four out of five years, between 2013 and 2017, Jeff’s team ranked as the No. 1 Xerox dealer in the country. During this time, Benchmark expanded its operations, adding a leasing company and achieving a remarkable 500% growth. After Benchmark was successfully sold to Visual Edge in 2017, Jeff was promoted to Regional President and served in this position from 2018 to 2020. Prior to his tenure at Benchmark, Jeff amassed 14 years of invaluable experience within the finance, banking, and technology sectors, establishing a strong foundation for his leadership roles at Benchmark and Masked Rider Capital.

His academic background includes studies in finance and marketing at Texas Tech University and Abilene Christian University. During Jeff’s time at Abilene Christian University, he played football and baseball. Outside of his professional endeavors, Jeff and his wife Kari enjoy time with their three wonderful children: Tucker, Raider, and Welker.

Moderator: Elise Liberto, Partner & Managing Director, Brown Advisory

Elise is a partner and managing director of Private Investments at Brown Advisory. Elise oversees tactical private market opportunities (direct investments, co-investments and funds) that complement Brown Advisory's core venture capital, private equity, private credit and real estate strategies. She launched and leads Brown Advisory's investment strategy for early-, growth- and late-stage private companies. Additionally, Elise focuses on Brown Advisory's corporate investment program that identifies and structures balance sheet commitments to private companies and strategic partners.