Brian Gornick was born and raised in Saint Paul, MN and attended grade school at Holy Spirit. During his time at CDH, he played football, hockey, and baseball. In 1998, he graduated in the top 10 in his class. 

Brian attended the Air Force Academy and majored in Operations Research with minors in Mathematics and Spanish.  A two-sport Division I athlete in hockey and baseball, he was also a Distinguished Graduate and ranked first in his class. 

“What Brian was able to accomplish and achieve academically, athletically, and militarily at the Air Force Academy may never be equaled. He is truly an extremely gifted and extraordinary individual,” said Frank Serratore, Head Hockey Coach at the United States Air Force Academy.

Following graduation, in addition to fulfilling his military obligations, Brian was an NHL draft pick of the Anaheim Ducks and pursued a career as a professional hockey player, later playing for the Columbus Blue Jackets.  As a member of the Armed Forces World Class Athlete Program, Brian pursued his hockey career as he trained for the 2006 Winter Olympics.  

Unfortunately, injuries prematurely ended his hockey career. Seeking a new career, Brian attended The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania where he received his MBA with Honors.  

After spending a summer as an investment banking intern at Morgan Stanley, Brian began his professional career at the private equity firm Accel-KKR in the Bay Area. He later served as Vice President of Business Development for KANA Software before moving on to Golden Gate Capital, a San Francisco based private equity firm.  

When the opportunity to move back to the Midwest to be closer to family presented itself, Brian and his wife Alona jumped at the chance to join the Chicago-based private equity firm GTCR. Brian spent two years as a member of their senior technology investing team and recently left to found his own investment firm.  

Brian enjoys volunteering his time to organizations with an education related mission. He has served as a judge in Wharton’s annual student business plan competition and currently is a Board member for the United States Air Force Academy Endowment. He also continues to play hockey in his spare time.

Brian and his wife Alona have two beautiful daughters, Riley and Morgan, and reside in Chicago, IL. Brian also has an adult son, Shane, attending the University of Minnesota.

The Signum Fidei Award is presented annually to one woman and one man whose career and actions are reflective of the ideals of the Christian Brothers and the Sisters of Saint Joseph. Brian exemplifies these ideals through his impressive career and philanthropic leadership.