Team Bios

Dedicated Specialists — Our experienced team helps clients implement the right financing solution.

Peter Schwartz, President & Co-Founder

Peter J. Schwartz is President of Laurence Capital Corporation (LCC), a Waterloo-based merchant bank.  LCC manages three investment funds, Laurence Capital Fund I, Laurence Capital Fund II and Laurence Capital Fund III and provides capital and stewardship to Canadian growth companies. LCC and the Laurence group of companies, which includes Laurence Financial Services Corp., a niche lender to Canadian entrepreneurs headquartered in Richmond Hill Ontario and Laurence Development LP, a diversified real estate development company.

Peter is the former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Descartes Systems Group Inc. (Nasdaq: DSGX) (TSX: DSG) a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company founded in 1981.  Descartes is developing the world’s largest multimodal electronic logistics messaging network, called the Global Logistics Network or GLN. Descartes’ on-demand GLN processes more than a million messages every day for companies with transport operations.  Mr. Schwartz joined Descartes in 1990 and has held positions of increasing responsibility culminating in his appointment as a member of the Board of Directors and CEO in 1995 and Chairman of the Board in 1997. During Peter’s tenure revenues grew from $1 million to over $80 million dollars.

Mr. Schwartz holds an HBA from the University of Western Ontario. He currently sits on the advisory board for J.L. Albright Venture Partners Inc. and Tech Capital Partners.  Peter is the Chairman of Demeure Operating Company Ltd., Chairman of Brick Brewing Co. Ltd. (TSX:BRB), Chairman of WCP Holdings Inc. (Williams Fresh Café) and Chairman of Art Barn Media Inc.  He is director of MashUp Arts Inc., I Love Rewards Inc., ParkVu Inc., the Stratford Chef School, Onco Screen Inc., Glassbox TV, and Aware Corporation Ltd. Mr. Schwartz has been a member of the Young Presidents Organization since 1996, and was chosen as one of The Financial Post's Top 40 under 40 in 1998.

Mark D. Lee, Co-Founder

A co-founder of Laurence Capital, Mark brings years of significant business experience to the business, beginning his career at PepsiCo International in 1969 where he held numerous senior financial positions in the company’s Canadian operations. Mark was an early stage investor in Descartes Systems Group, making his first investment in 1986 and acting as general manager from 1986 to 1993. He also served as the company’s president for two years starting in 1994, and was chairman from 1997 until 2000. Mark also served as Chairman of GBG Inc., a software company headquartered in Waterloo with approximately 200 employees recently sold to 3M Corporation.

Ron Duncombe, CFO

Ron Duncombe is a C.A. with a respected track record in leading finance teams over his 35+ year career. His career commenced at Ernst & Young (originally Clarkson Gordon) and evolved through a series of growth companies and turnarounds including Sternson, Datasym, Descartes Systems Group Inc (95 – 2000) and Sanden Machine Inc.

Jeff Paterson, COO

Jeff has made a significant contribution since joining us in 2003.  His appointment as Chief Operating Officer in October of 2009 reflects the role that he has been playing across all Laurence companies and recognizes the impact that Jeff has had. 

Jeff joined Laurence Capital Corp. in 2004.  Jeff graduated from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Commerce. Jeff has been involved in numerous projects in a variety of industry sectors since joining LCC.