Ellen Carnahan

A highly successful investor with over twenty years of venture capital experience as co-manager and lead technology investor at William Blair Capital Partners (WBCP), Ellen Carnahan is now Principal of Machrie Enterprises LLC. Machrie Enterprises provides angel capital, expertise and extensive connections to growth businesses, venture capital, and growth equity funds. At Machrie, she serves as a Senior Advisor to venture capital funds, including Chicago Ventures. She also is a board director of private and public companies, including Integrys Energy Group (NYSE: TEG); the JNL Funds ($140 billion mutual fund complex); and, Amplifinity, a venture-backed software firm.

Prior to joining WBCP in 1988, she was Vice President of Marketing & Planning at SPSS, a then $30- million software company; and, Manager of Financial Planning & Analysis at Trailer Train Company, the largest operator of railroad flatcars.

Active in the community, she serves or has served on non-profit boards including Communities inSchools Chicago (Vice Chair), The Chicago Network (FY’ 07 Chair), the State of Illinois TechnologyDevelopment Fund, the Illinois Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (FY ’10 Chair) ; and, TheMetropolitan Planning Council. Ms. Carnahan is a CPA, graduated as salutatorian from the University of Notre Dame, and received an MBA from the Booth School at the University of Chicago.