Summit Park Welcomes New Members to LEAD Program

July 17, 2025 at 10:00 AM EDT

Summit Park is pleased to announce that two new executives have joined portfolio companies through its Leadership Excellence and Development (“LEAD”) Program. Andrea Franco joined Artifact Uprising in July, and Andrew Turner joined RuffleButts in June, each serving as Chief of Staff.

Summit Park’s LEAD Program develops talented, operationally-focused executives for leadership positions within the firm’s portfolio. LEAD members report directly to the portfolio company’s CEO and make a direct impact on the company’s growth trajectory and profitability through the implementation and execution of growth and operational efficiency initiatives.

Prior to joining Artifact Uprising as a part of the LEAD Program, Andrea led non-profit operations and served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Marine Corps for ten years, with deployments to the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. She earned a BS in Naval Architecture from the United States Naval Academy, and a dual MBA from the Kellogg School of Management and MS of Design Innovation from the McCormick School of Engineering at Northwestern University.

Before joining the RuffleButts team as part of the LEAD program, Andrew held roles in revenue management, brand finance, and commercial strategy within the consumer goods industry, most recently at Kimberly-Clark. He received a BS in Finance from the University of Arkansas and an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Maddy Hopsicker, Operating Partner at Summit Park, said, “We are excited to welcome Andrea and Andrew to the LEAD Program. They each bring valuable experience and a fresh perspective to their roles, and we’re confident they will contribute meaningfully to Artifact Uprising and RuffleButts. We look forward to the impact they’ll have and are thrilled to have them on board.”

With the addition of Andrea and Andrew, Summit Park’s LEAD Program is comprised of eight executives.

About the LEAD Program

The Leadership Excellence and Development Program (“LEAD”) was started in 2017 to develop talented, operationally-focused executives for leadership positions in the Summit Park portfolio. LEAD executives assume a meaningful and mission critical leadership role as the Chief of Staff in one of the firm’s portfolio companies. Success in the role can lead to a C-level position within the portfolio over an accelerated timeline. LEAD members are not employees of Summit Park. For more information, visit https://www.summitparkllc.com/team/lead-program/.

About Summit Park

Summit Park is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based private investment firm focused on investing in lower middle market businesses. The firm strives to be the partner of choice for business owners who seek a partner to assist them in building companies of extraordinary value. We invest across a range of industries, including services, consumer, and industrial growth. Since its founding, Summit Park has made over 50 investments in the lower middle market totaling more than $2.1 billion in total enterprise value. The firm’s capital can be used to facilitate a change in ownership, to support expansion and growth, or to support an industry consolidation plan. For more information, visit www.summitparkllc.com.

About Artifact Uprising

Artifact Uprising empowers customers to create permanence of their most meaningful life events through custom photo books, cards, calendars, printed photo gifts, and more. Founded by professional photographers in 2012 and headquartered in Denver, Colorado, the Company offers a curated catalog of products with a focus on premium quality and elevated design. Products throughout Artifact Uprising’s product line are made in the USA from recycled papers and reclaimed materials. For more information, visit https://www.artifactuprising.com/.

About RuffleButts

RuffleButts is a leading direct-to-consumer e-commerce provider of children’s swimwear, apparel, and accessories. The company offers a complete suite of high-quality swimwear, apparel, and accessories for girls and boys and serves customers through a strategic, diverse network of complementary sales channels, including its own websites, Amazon, big box stores (online and in-stores), as well as independent boutiques. For more information, visit www.rufflebutts.com.