Dan Bowen
Founder, CEO
Dan Bowen is the Founder and CEO of Dempsey Ventures, LLC, a family office holding company formed in 2006 that focuses on investments in medical device companies and also seeks opportunities in real estate, professional sports, and growing businesses in other industries. Dan founded two major medical products companies, Aspen Surgical Products and SunMed (AirLife). Aspen focuses on disposable products used in the Operating Room and SunMed (Air Life) is the market leader in Anesthesia and Respiratory products. He sold Aspen in 2006 and SunMed in 2021 to healthcare-focused private equity firms and remained connected to each business as a continuing shareholder and board member. Today both companies employ over 6,000 people worldwide.
Dan currently serves on the boards of AirLife, TIDI Products, AA Medical, Lacks Industries, Bishop Distributing, and the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild. He previously served on the boards of Aspen Surgical Products, Beaver-Visitec, Argentum Medical, Spectrum Health Finance Committee, Spectrum Health Innovations, the Michigan State University Athletic Director’s Advisory Council, and the Michigan Catholic Conference. He received his B.A. in Marketing in 1988 from Michigan State University and started his career in healthcare at Baxter Healthcare.
John Sommerdyke
Operating Partner
John Sommerdyke is an Operating Partner of Dempsey Ventures. After joining Dempsey in 2013, he served as its Managing Partner as well as SunMed’s General Counsel and head of Business Development leading its M&A activities. Before joining Dempsey, John worked for 20 years as a corporate attorney representing start-ups, growing businesses seeking venture capital, private equity funds, and a diverse range of companies in merger, acquisition, and divestiture transactions. He also served as Vice President of Business Development for Aspen Surgical Products, and a board member of Salamander Technologies, RF Identics, eAgile, Omega Medical Products, and The Association for Corporate Growth West Michigan. John currently serves on the boards of AirLife, Bishop Distributing, and VN Industries. He earned his B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and his J.D. from the University of Michigan.
Randy Hoyt
Operating Partner
Randy Hoyt is an Operating Partner with Dempsey Ventures. Before joining Dempsey in 2018, Randy held the positions of Vice President of Manufacturing and Chief Operating Officer at SunMed for five years, leading the integration of four separate businesses into one. Before SunMed, Randy was the Executive Vice President of Operations for Aspen Surgical Products, where he led its global manufacturing team in operating room and wound care products for seven years. Through the vertical integration of products and the acquisition of five companies, he helped transform the company into a major player in disposable surgical products. Randy has more than 30 years of experience working in operational roles for manufacturing businesses including 24 years as an executive in the medical products industry. He has a global background and understanding of operations in Europe, Mexico, and China and has previously held executive management roles at Alliant Healthcare, Imagyn Medical, and Richard Allan Medical. Randy is a mechanical engineer, has a B.S. from Ferris State University, three U.S. patents, and multiple awards for design innovations.
David Bowen
Operating Partner
David Bowen joined Dempsey Ventures as an Operating Partner in 2022. David began his career with Baxter Healthcare as a surgical sales rep and then at Stryker Corporation. During his 11 years at Stryker, he took on roles of increasing responsibility within the Instruments, Leibinger, and Orthopedics divisions (Regional Sales Manager, US Director of Marketing, US Director of Sales, and VP within Stryker Orthopedics). In 2009, he founded Alpine Medical Solutions, a medical device sales, marketing, and distribution business with office/warehouse locations in Northern California and Nevada. In early 2020, David sold Alpine’s orthopedic business to its largest manufacturing partner and later in 2020 became a part-owner of SunMed and its Executive VP of Sales and Marketing, assisting with the transition of majority ownership to Frazier Healthcare in 2021.
David’s experience includes building sales, marketing, and operations teams, managing a 200+ person sales force for a division of Stryker, and ownership of a sales and distribution business that perennially ranked in the top five in volume, growth, and operational efficiency for each of its manufacturers.
David graduated from Michigan State University in 1995 with a B.A. in Social Sciences.
Brad Steenbergen
Chief Financial Officer
Brad Steenbergen joined Dempsey Ventures as Chief Financial Officer in 2013 during which time he also served for seven years as the CFO of SunMed Group Holdings, and currently serves as the CFO and COO of Bishop Distributing. Before joining Dempsey, he spent 14 years in public accounting working with clients of various sizes on tax and consulting engagements. Brad received his Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting in 2001 from Davenport University and earned his CPA license in 2003.
Julie Lucas
Executive Assistant
Julie joined Dempsey Ventures as Executive Assistant in April 2023. Julie is experienced in financial administration and office management in several industries, including non profit, manufacturing, professional services and family office. Julie received her B.A. in Applied Professional Studies from Western Michigan University.