Where Leaders
Forge New Realities

As the founder of Lafayette & Oak and Managing Partner of Meridian 84, Abhi Golhar brings deep experience guiding lower middle-market businesses through growth, transition, and transformation. His journey—from wins to wipeouts—has shaped a leadership style grounded in resilience, strategic precision, and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Abhi believes big breakthroughs begin with self-doubt and that with the right structure and strategy, any challenge can become a launchpad. He doesn’t just teach growth—he builds it. And he helps others do the same.

With decades of hands-on leadership in real estate and business operations, John Wiley has guided companies to meaningful growth and lasting profitability.

As a seasoned coach in both strategy and mindset, John blends visionary thinking with practical execution—turning ambitious goals into measurable wins. His mentorship is a cornerstone of the Lafayette & Oak experience, helping leaders lead smarter, scale faster, and stay grounded through every phase of growth.

Kelley Wilber serves as Underwriter at Lafayette & Oak, where she leads the diligence efforts with a sharp eye for risk, value, and operational integrity. With 15+ years of experience in operating businesses, Kelley brings depth, precision, and a strong operator’s mindset to every deal.

At Lafayette & Oak, Kelley plays a pivotal role in evaluating acquisition targets, uncovering hidden risks, and validating opportunities for growth-minded business owners. Her underwriting process goes beyond spreadsheets—she digs into what really drives performance: customer concentration, team dynamics, vendor relationships, and operational scalability. Her work ensures that every deal we pursue is not only financially sound, but operationally executable.

Kelley’s diligence isn’t just about protecting capital, it’s about setting the stage for confident, strategic growth. Her work is foundational to Lafayette & Oak’s mission: helping established business owners grow through smart acquisitions, efficient capital structures, and operational excellence.

Gillian Rabin is a valedictorian graduate of Oglethorpe University, holding dual B.A.s in Rhetoric & Communications and Theatre. Her expertise lies at the intersection of private equity and marketing strategy, with hands-on experience in M&A and executive-level business development.

Gillian has driven growth for a global network of Executive MBAs, nurtured partnerships across PE, VC, and corporate landscapes, and orchestrated branding campaigns with measurable impact. As an award-winning filmmaker, she brings a compelling narrative edge; bridging storytelling and capital to help Lafayette & Oak connect exceptional businesses with the investment and clarity they need to scale.

Angela is a physician, entrepreneur, and operator who thrives at the intersection of strategy and execution. With a career that spans clinical medicine, high-growth startups, and executive leadership, she brings the rigor of a diagnostician and the precision of an operator to every business challenge.

At Lafayette & Oak, Angela partners with owners and leadership teams to sharpen strategic oversight, drive operational discipline, and embed accountability into the fabric of their organizations. Her approach is both analytical and pragmatic—equally at ease building frameworks in the boardroom and rolling up her sleeves to ensure execution on the ground.

Angela is recognized nationally as a thought leader on innovation and organizational transformation, having guided ventures from concept to scale while never losing sight of the people and purpose behind the numbers. For Lafayette & Oak’s ambitious operators, she serves as both a trusted advisor and an accountability partner—helping leaders transform potential into performance, and performance into lasting enterprise value.

Susan is a strategist who builds order out of complexity. With decades of global leadership experience in healthcare, biotech, and high-growth companies, she has scaled businesses to 8-figure revenues in under 18 months, secured $35M in government funding, and led commercialization strategies across continents.

At Lafayette & Oak, Susan partners with owners to bring structure, accountability, and measurable results to the table. Her specialty: transforming scattered operations into systems that drive EBITDA, stabilize leadership, and unlock efficiency without unnecessary complexity.

Known for her ability to cut through noise and align people, processes, and strategy, Susan helps leaders move with clarity and confidence, turning potential into sustainable enterprise value.