Morgan Samuels Company Recruits CFO for PE-Backed Western States Water
December 17, 2025 – Nashville, TN-based executive search firm Morgan Samuels Company has Tanya Toot as the new CFO of Western States Water, a Strength Capital Partners portfolio company. Tom Dunn, Jarrod Gray, Justin Kai Ossola, Benjamin Wolf, Mallory Allen, and Raquel De La Vega led the assignment. “We’re grateful for the trust from the Strength Capital and Western States Water teams, and proud of the Morgan Samuels team behind this search,” the firm said in a LinkedIn post.
“Ms. Toot brings a strong blend of financial leadership, operational depth, and cross-functional experience that aligns well with Western States Water’s ongoing growth and multi-market expansion. Her background positions her well to help guide the organization through its next phase of scale and performance,” Morgan Samuels said.
Ms. Toot most recently served as vice president of finance for DEMA-MAI Holdings. In this role, she provided financial oversight for multiple locations focused on residential and commercial HVAC and plumbing installation with $100 million in annual revenue. Prior to that, Ms. Toot was senior manager finance operations for TopBuild Corp.
Western States Water is a water infrastructure and services company focused on the ownership, operation, and management of regulated water and wastewater systems across select markets in the western United States. The company works with municipalities, developers, and regulators to support the delivery of essential water services, with an emphasis on system reliability, regulatory compliance, and long-term infrastructure investment.
Established in 1969, Morgan Samuels Company maintains a 60-day median cycle time and a 42 percent diversity placement rate. The firm’s stated mission is “to place exceptional and diverse talent in extraordinary roles across all industries and functions.” Bert Hensley is chairman and CEO of Morgan Samuels. Since acquiring a controlling interest in Morgan Samuels in 1997, he has led the firm with a commitment to operational excellence, championing Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to create a best-in-class infrastructure that ensures consistently outstanding results for clients.
Mr. Dunn, principal, has led teams helping clients solve their most challenging financial, operational, and strategic issues. He served several Fortune 500 companies with strategy development, organizational restructuring, operational improvements, and diligence for pre and post-merger integrations.
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Mr. Gray, senior client partner, has almost 20 years of experience as a senior finance leader in distribution, manufacturing, and service-based businesses. He has navigated diverse responsibilities, managing finance, credit, human resources, sales, and information technology.
Charge Infrastructure Search
Morgan Samuels also recently placed Nat Krishnamurti as the new CFO of Charge Infrastructure, backed by Arena Investors, LP. With over two decades of senior financial leadership experience across industrial, technology, and life-sciences sectors, Mr. Krishnamurti brings deep expertise in corporate finance, treasury, investor relations, and strategic financial management. He previously served as CFO at Hudson Technologies Company, where he led multiple transformation initiatives, including a $50 million capital raise, an acquisition that doubled company size, and major debt reduction efforts.
Morgan Samuels Company Recruits Chief Marketing Officer for Horizon Family Brands
Morgan Samuels Company has assisted in the recruitment of Andrew Springate as chief marketing officer of Horizon Family Brands, part of the Platinum Equity portfolio. “Andrew is a strong fit for this next phase as the company sharpens brand, innovation, and multi-unit scale,” Morgan Samuels Company said in a LinkedIn post. “Grateful for the partnership from the Horizon and Platinum teams and proud of the Morgan Samuels crew who drove this search. The firm is looking forward to seeing Andrew’s impact in this next chapter.”
In his new role, Mr. Krishnamurti will be responsible for driving Charge’s financial strategy, capital planning, and operational efficiency as the company scales its electrification, broadband, and energy-efficiency solutions across North America. He will partner with the executive and technical leadership teams to ensure efficient capital deployment, proactive risk management, and strong financial governance. His appointment reflects the company’s continued focus on building a financially resilient foundation to accelerate the global transition toward clean energy and connected infrastructure.
Charge Infrastructure is an electrification and digital-solutions company that brings together three specialized subsidiaries focused on power, energy, and digital infrastructure. The firm provides integrated, end-to-end services across areas such as electrical construction and maintenance, EV-charging and renewable-energy projects, broadband and connectivity buildouts, and building systems.
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Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
