Chris Risey: Lantern Capital Advisors

Chris Risey

Chris Risey received his BS in Finance from the University of South Florida in Tampa.  He was twice named Academic All-American (USF Men’s Basketball) and is a former Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholar at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.

Chris has spent his career helping growing companies and entrepreneurs plan for and use corporate finance strategies to raise capital and execute transactions in order to support growth, finance acquisitions, buyouts, or refinance debt.  As a recovering CPA, Chris has found passion in using the same financing strategies and sources as investment bankers and equity firms in order to successfully secure business financing for his own clients, but without clients having to pay the high broker fees, or give away control of their businesses.

Mr. Risey is very active in many local civic and business organizations.   He is an active speaker for Vistage International and Renaissance Executive Forums, Membership Director for his local chapter of the Knights of Columbus, past President and founding member of the Tampa Downtown Daybreak Rotary Club; past President and Member of Financial Executives International of Tampa Bay, and a board member for The Association for Corporate Growth Tampa Chapter.  He is a long time member in a Mardi Gras Krewe in New Orleans. Mr. Risey is a Certified Public Accountant and a frequent speaker to industry groups, executive networks, and corporate meetings throughout the United States on business planning, strategy, and financing issues for growing companies.

Concurrent with Lantern Capital Advisors, Chris Risey served as a Vice President for Decathlon Capital Partners from 2019-2023. Prior to Lantern Capital Advisors, Chris Risey was Managing Director for Tunstall Consulting Inc. in Tampa, Florida, and was with the firm from 1997-2006. Mr. Risey left Tunstall Consulting after being with the firm for nine years to create Lantern Capital Advisors and provide his high growth clients with a more reliable and cost-effective corporate finance solution that would guarantee results and ensure client satisfaction. Mr. Risey has successfully helped Lantern Capital Advisors clients raise capital from a variety of institutions including banks, mezzanine and subordinated debt providers, venture capitalists, and underwriters. Prior to Tunstall Consulting, Mr. Risey was a CPA in the audit and advisory services group for Arthur Andersen in New Orleans, Louisiana.

What our Clients Are Saying...

“I spoke with multiple financial firms about the possibility of conducting a management buyout of a particular division.  Most of them seemed more interested in developing a long term relationship with the parent company than they were in securing the best possible deal for me.  I was then referred to Lantern Capital Advisors and things just clicked.  They listened carefully to my vision for the business and patiently explained every step of the management buyout process.  They met every expedited timeline and used their extensive network to find me the best possible investment group.  I don't know that a deal would have been completed without their guidance.  I would recommend Lantern Capital Advisors to anyone contemplating a similar transaction.”

— JR, CEOConsumer Products Company

“I spent years doing research and speaking to advisors, investors, and banks.  I could find no support for the kind of management buyout transaction I wanted to do and believed could be done.  That is, until I stumbled upon Lantern Capital Advisors.  Just one phone call to Lantern and I heard the words, "it absolutely can be done!"  Lantern then helped me make it happen.  I will be forever grateful to Lantern Capital Advisors for their counsel, expertise, and hard work in leading us to our goal.”

— DF, CFOFull Service Call Center