Steve Young is a proven consumer products executive with a unique blend of both growth equity investment expertise and global C-Level operating experience for leading consumer products companies. Steve has over a decade of growth equity investment leadership, including both fund management and buy-side M&A and a tracked record of realized investments including IPO, sponsor-backed and strategic sales. As Managing Partner, Steve currently leads the investment portfolio at Manna Tree, and is a member of both its Executive and Investment Committees. Manna Tree invests across the consumer health and wellness ecosystem and has invested in industry-leading companies like Vital Farms, Health- Ade, Good Culture, Gotham Greens, True Food Kitchen and TruFood Manufacturing.

Prior to Manna Tree, Steve served as EVP, Managing Director for Sunrise Strategic Partners, a $200+ million venture fund with successful exits on consumer brands like Kodiak Cakes, Vital Farms and Teton Waters Ranch. Prior to his move into fund management, Steve served as a buy-side leader of General Mills’ broader $1 billion portfolio of emerging brands, including leading its transformational Annie’s acquisition and integration. This brand has more than tripled in topline sales since General Mills acquired it in 2014.

Steve also has 20+ years of proven experience as an operator, including both corporate officer level leadership at General Mills and CEO experience at Bellisio/CP Foods North America. During his career at General Mills, Steve led businesses across all segments including cereal, snacks, yogurt and emerging brands. In addition, Steve spent five years working abroad with Cereal Partners Worldwide, General Mills’ joint venture with Nestle, in Australia and Switzerland, where he led Global Marketing. Steve also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Bellisio Foods/CP Foods North America, the third largest manufacturer of frozen meals in North America. The company has a portfolio of businesses in the branded, co-manufacturing and foodservice spaces – with strong relationships across all retail channels.

Steve lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife, Denise, and their kids ranging in ages from 13 to 23. He is an avid cyclist, runner and loves the outdoors – from the lakes of Northern Minnesota to the mountains and ski slopes in his original home state of Montana. Steve holds a Bachelor’s Degree from The University of Montana and an MBA from the Anderson School of Business at UCLA.

Allyson Patterson joined Manna Tree in 2019 and has been an integral part of establishing Manna Tree’s culture, operations, and compliance standards. Allyson holds a BA in Economics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

With more than 20 years of expertise in investor relations and operations gained through positions at Morgan Stanley, Zayo Group, and Blackstone Entrepreneurs Network, Allyson now oversees the investor relations and operations functions, holding the positions of the firm’s Managing Partner and Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). Through her strategic guidance and dedication to excellence, Allyson plays a crucial role in driving the firm’s continued growth and success.

Allyson Patterson is a firm believer in holistic well-being, understanding that nurturing the mind, body, and soul is essential for personal growth. She embodies this philosophy by prioritizing simplicity and nutrition in her diet, finding strength and vitality through exercise, and seeking fulfillment in meaningful work.

Based in Boulder, Colorado, Allyson embraces the vibrant health and wellness activities offered by the region, indulging running, cycling, pilates, and snowboarding. While Boulder’s renowned food scene and abundance of locally sourced ingredients further enrich her life, exploring the mountains with her husband and two children holds a special place in her heart. Leveraging her extensive network in Colorado’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, Allyson actively supports Manna Tree, its partners, and portfolio companies, driving the firm’s continued growth and success.

As Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Manna Tree, Ross drives the firm’s overall growth strategy and strategic partnerships. Ross is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, a member of the firm’s Investment Committee, and a meaningful contributor to Manna Tree’s capital formation efforts. He has served as a board member for Health-Ade, Urban Remedy, and Gotham Greens.

Ross has built his career around balancing investment decisions, market expansion, and leadership within organizations to reach optimal scale. This mindset landed Ross on the Worthy 100 list in 2021 where he was highlighted as one of the top 100 entrepreneurs in the country building firms that are making a difference.

Ross originally gained experience growing investments as an operating President/Owner, where he scaled his firm 400% and exited to a private equity investor in 2009. His industry leading efforts placed him on the Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing firms in his category due to an innovative mortgage program he co-developed with two of the nation’s leading publicly traded homebuilders.

In 2009, Ross founded a boutique advisory firm, Strategic Architect, where he worked closely with companies between $5MM and $500MM in revenue. He counseled the C-Suite and family offices on investment decisions, market expansion strategies, and how to scale teams and operations to prepare for exit or generational transition.  Ross has trained 5,000+ leaders on implementing strategies linked to cash flow, debt structures, sales strategies, and marketing plans to unlock growth. Clients have included: the PGA Tour, Vail Resorts, DOW, and the University of Colorado.

Ross earned his finance degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder, an Executive Leadership Scholar at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management, and a Financial Management Certificate from Cornell University. He has volunteered for over a decade at the University of Colorado to help launch leadership certificate programs, experiential leadership retreats, and has supported students in developing a values-based approach in business.

Outside the office, Ross spends most of his time with his family, raising three boys, hiking with his yellow lab, and pursuing optimal health.  He is an avid skier, biker, golfer, fly-fisherman, aspiring wake surfer, and has recently added yoga to the mix to help the joints recover!