MEET THE TEAM

Blue Water's team is comprised of a diverse group of professionals with backgrounds in finance, consulting, engineering, project management, accounting, tax, law, and cybersecurity.

Benjamin Griswold

Founder, Managing Partner

Benjamin Griswold

Founder, Managing Partner

Benjamin founded Blue Water in 2007.

He is responsible for the overall strategic direction of the firm and the development of its investment portfolio.

Previously, Benjamin was the Partner and Co-Founder of Nexstar Capital Partners, an emerging markets hybrid fund focused on distressed debt and equity.

Benjamin received an A.B. from Princeton University.

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William Whitridge

Founder, Senior Partner, Aggregates

William Whitridge

Founder, Senior Partner, Aggregates

Billy co-founded Blue Water in 2007.

He oversees the aggregates investment team.

Previously, Billy was a Director at JMP Securities, a San Francisco-based investment bank.

Billy received an M.B.A. from Columbia Business School and an A.B. from Princeton University.

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Diego Ayala

Senior Partner, Chief Financial Officer

Diego Ayala

Senior Partner, Chief Financial Officer

Diego oversees the financial, regulatory, and administrative operations of the firm.

Diego has overseen numerous financings, acquisitions, and expansion projects for Blue Water, from the planning, structuring, and due diligence stages to the implementation and integration stages.

Diego joined Blue Water in 2014. Previously, Diego was a Manager in the Audit, Litigation, and Forensic Accounting departments at Mallah Furman, a PCAOB-registered public accounting firm.

Diego received a B.B.A. in Accounting from Florida Atlantic University. He is a Certified Public Accountant, Certified Fraud Examiner, Certified in Financial Forensics, and a Certified Valuation Analyst.

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Alexander Griswold

Head of Real Estate

Alexander Griswold

Head of Real Estate

Alex oversees the firm’s real estate investment portfolio and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Blue Water Property Management.

Alex joined Blue Water in 2021. Previously, he was the Founder and Managing Partner of Armata Holdings, a real estate investment partnership based in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Alex currently sits on the Real Estate and Infrastructure Board at the Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School, as a Commissioner on the Landmarks and Preservation Board in the Town of Palm Beach, and on the Board of Archbold Expeditions, one of the preeminent biological research and ecological conservation centers in the United States. Alex is involved in several professional organizations, including the International Council of Shopping Centers and The Urban Land Institute. Alex previously sat as a town commissioner on the Architectural Review Board in the Town of Palm Beach.

Alex received an M.S. in Real Estate from The Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School and a B.A. from Southern Methodist University.

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Ignacio D'Odorico

Vice President, Investments

Ignacio D'Odorico

Vice President, Investments

Ignacio focuses on the evaluation, diligence, and execution of investment opportunities.

Ignacio joined Blue Water in 2015. 

Ignacio received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the Argentine Catholic University.

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Leopoldo Landy

Vice President, Investments

Leopoldo Landy

Vice President, Investments

Leopoldo focuses on the evaluation, diligence, and execution of investment opportunities.

Leopoldo joined Blue Water in 2017. Previously, he was an Investment Banking Associate at Citigroup Global Markets.

Leopoldo received a B.A. in International Business from Tec de Monterrey.

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Juan Pablo Trevino

Senior Associate, Investments

Juan Pablo Trevino

Senior Associate, Investments

Juan Pablo focuses on the evaluation, diligence, and execution of investment opportunities.

Juan Pablo joined Blue Water in 2022 as a Summer Senior Associate and in 2023 as a Senior Associate. Previously, he was a Senior Associate Consultant at Bain & Company.

Juan Pablo received an M.B.A. from Stanford University Graduate School of Business and a B.S. in Industrial Engineering with a Minor in Systems Engineering from Tec de Monterrey.

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Daniel Crossan

Senior Associate, Investments

Daniel Crossan

Senior Associate, Investments

Daniel focuses on the evaluation, diligence, and execution of investment opportunities.

Daniel joined Blue Water in 2022. Previously, he was a Private Equity Investment Associate at Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, a mutual insurance company with $90.2 billion AUM.

Daniel received a B.B.A. in Finance from Temple University.

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Alberto Sanchez

Senior Associate, Investments

Alberto Sanchez

Senior Associate, Investments

Alberto focuses on the evaluation, diligence, and execution of investment opportunities.

Alberto joined Blue Water in 2023. Previously, he was an Investment Banking Associate at Citigroup Global Markets and an Analyst at MIRA, a Mexican real estate private equity firm.

Alberto received a B.A. in Finance from Tec de Monterrey.

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Hristo Plasheski

Analyst, Investments

Hristo Plasheski

Analyst, Investments

Hristo focuses on the evaluation and diligence of investment opportunities.

Hristo joined Blue Water in 2026. He received an M.S. in Finance from Fordham University and a B.S. in Political Science from Mercyhurst University. Hristo played on the NCAA Division II men's tennis team at Mercyhurst University.

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Vasakan Mahesan

Analyst, Investments

Vasakan Mahesan

Analyst, Investments

Vasakan focuses on the evaluation and diligence of investment opportunities.

Vasakan joined Blue Water in 2026. He received a B.A. in History from Dartmouth College.

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Reed Carroll

Managing Director, Head of Capital Solutions

Reed Carroll

Managing Director, Head of Capital Solutions

Reed is responsible for capital solutions and investor relationships across the firm’s investment strategies. 

Reed joined in 2026. Previously Managing Member of SRC Advisors, a capital advisory firm supporting specialized investment managers. Co-Founder of Steelcreek Manufactured Housing Communities. Earlier roles include Business Development at Becker Drapkin Management, Managing Director at Butler Capital Partners, and Investment Representative at Lehman Brothers.

Reed received a B.A. in Economics from St. Lawrence University.

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Abby Harman

Senior Associate, Capital Solutions

Abby Harman

Senior Associate, Capital Solutions

Abby focuses on the investor relations activities of the firm.

Abby joined Blue Water in 2025. Previously, she held various roles in investor relations at Rialto Capital, Sun Capital, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, and Blackstone.

Abby received a B.S. in Accounting and Finance from Fordham University.

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Esteban Fernandez

Senior Manager, Financial Reporting

Esteban Fernandez

Senior Manager, Financial Reporting

Esteban manages the financial reporting for the firm and its funds and platform companies and assists in valuation and investor reporting.

Esteban joined Blue Water in 2014. Previously, he was an Audit Manager at Deloitte, an industry-leading audit, consulting, tax, and advisory firm.

Esteban received a Public Accountant degree from National University of Central Buenos Aires.

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Ron Fisher

Manager, Accounting and Tax

Ron Fisher

Manager, Accounting and Tax

Ron supports the accounting and tax functions for the firm and its funds and platform companies.

Ron joined Blue Water in 2019. Previously, he was a Tax Manager at Morrison, Brown, Argiz & Farra LLC, a PCAOB-registered public accounting firm.

Ron received a B.S. and M.S. in Accounting from the University of Florida. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

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Kristina Rankovic

Senior Associate

Kristina Rankovic

Senior Associate

Kristina supports the firm’s fund and platform company valuation and investor reporting.

Kristina joined Blue Water in 2019. 

Kristina received an M.B.A. from Lynn University and a B.B.A. in International Business from Florida Atlantic University. Kristina played on the NCAA Division I women's volleyball team at Florida Atlantic University.

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Cristhian Goicoechea

Staff Accountant

Cristhian Goicoechea

Staff Accountant

Cristhian provides accounting support for the firm and its funds and platform companies.

Cristhian joined Blue Water in 2023. Previously, he was a Staff Accountant at Foods USA, a global supplier, processor, and exporter of meat products.

Cristhian received a B.B.A. in Finance from Florida Atlantic University.

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Kim Singer

Executive Assistant

Kim Singer

Executive Assistant

Kim is the Executive Assistant to Blue Water Advisors Founder and Managing Partner, Benjamin Griswold. 

Kim joined Blue Water in 2025. Previously, she was an Executive Assistant at a global private equity firm to several members of the executive team and provided a range of administrative and operational support. Prior to that, she was the Business Office Manager at Gemdale USA Corporation, a real estate investment and development company. 

Kim has more than two decades of experience in C-suite executive and administrative support and business operations.

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Milly Buie

Administrative Assistant

Milly Buie

Administrative Assistant

Milly provides administrative and organizational support for the firm.

Milly joined Blue Water in 2025. Prior to joining Blue Water, Milly supported grants and program management as an Entrepreneurship Specialist for Broward College's BCEx initiative. 

Milly received a B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Leadership and HR Development from Florida Atlantic University.

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