Kansas City, MO, January 15, 2026
AVALT, a Boston-based private investment firm, has appointed Paige Emerson as the new Vice President of Business Development. This strategic move aims to strengthen AVALT’s position in the private investment sector and facilitate new opportunities for business growth. Emerson, who previously spent 12 years at AlphaSights, will focus on enhancing AVALT’s market engagement and driving high-quality deal flows nationwide. This appointment signifies the firm’s dedication to fostering economic expansion and innovation across various industries, notably impacting markets like Kansas City.
Kansas City, MO – While the core of this business development news originates outside our city limits in Boston, the strategic movements within the private investment sector hold relevance for the broader national economic landscape, including vibrant markets like Kansas City, MO. The recent announcement from AVALT, a private investment firm, highlights a consistent drive by private capital to identify and cultivate growth opportunities, thereby fostering an environment conducive to entrepreneurial innovation and economic expansion nationwide. This focus on strategic leadership and capital deployment is a vital component of a resilient economy, supporting the expansion of businesses that create jobs and drive prosperity across the nation.
AVALT’s latest appointment of Paige Emerson as Vice President of Business Development reflects a deliberate step towards strengthening its market position and enhancing its ability to partner with promising enterprises. Such moves by private investment firms underscore the ongoing dynamism in the private markets, where experienced professionals are leveraged to identify and nurture the next wave of successful ventures.
AVALT Strengthens Business Development Leadership
AVALT, a private investment firm based in Boston, Massachusetts, announced the appointment of Paige Emerson as its Vice President of Business Development. This Nationwide appointment underscores the firm’s commitment to strategic expansion and the deepening of its market relationships. In her new capacity, Ms. Emerson is set to play a pivotal role in augmenting AVALT’s engagement within the advisory ecosystem. Her responsibilities include driving high-quality deal flow and developing advanced systems, insights, and a comprehensive coverage model designed to bolster AVALT’s long-term sourcing strategy Nationwide. The firm’s approach emphasizes the value of robust relationships and strategic foresight in identifying investment opportunities across North America.
A Track Record of Scaling Growth and Forging Connections
Paige Emerson brings a distinguished background to her new role at AVALT. Before joining the firm in 2025, she accumulated 12 years of experience at AlphaSights, a firm she helped scale from an early-stage organization into a global team comprising over 2,000 professionals Nationwide. During her extensive tenure at AlphaSights, Ms. Emerson was instrumental in founding and developing a high-growth business unit that catered to leading consulting firms in the Americas. Her responsibilities encompassed commercial strategy, cultivating senior client relationships, and building and leading high-performing teams. This experience showcases a blend of strategic insight and relationship-driven leadership, which aligns seamlessly with AVALT’s long-term investment philosophy and its objective to enhance sourcing efforts and deepen advisory relationships Nationwide. Ms. Emerson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from Wake Forest University, earned in 2013, with additional minors in Political Science and Journalism.
AVALT’s Enduring Investment Philosophy
Founded in 2015 by three former partners from Bain Capital, AVALT operates with a core philosophy centered on investing its permanent capital base in leading businesses that present significant growth and transformation opportunities Nationwide. The firm’s deep business-building expertise is designed to help companies accelerate their growth trajectories, supported by a flexible capital base that enables ongoing support without a fixed time horizon. AVALT typically focuses its investments in sectors such as Commercial & Industrial Services and Professional & Technology Services, with equity capital commitments usually ranging from $25 million to $150 million Nationwide. As of September 2025, AVALT maintains a portfolio of nine companies, demonstrating its active role in various industries, from consumer services to real estate and construction across the United States. This strategic, long-term approach to investment aims to foster durable economic value and contribute to the health of the national business ecosystem.
Private Investment and the National Economic Pulse
The strategic appointment of leaders like Paige Emerson by private investment firms such as AVALT illustrates the critical role that private capital plays in invigorating the national economy. These firms serve as essential catalysts for growth, injecting capital and expertise into businesses that are poised for expansion. This private sector dynamism is a cornerstone of entrepreneurial innovation and small-business resilience, enabling companies to develop new products, enter new markets, and create employment opportunities Nationwide. By backing promising ventures and facilitating strategic improvements, private equity contributes to a robust economic environment that rewards risk-takers and fosters competition. This nationwide economic activity, driven by strategic private investment, ultimately generates opportunities and promotes prosperity that can reach communities far and wide, including those in our own region.
Fostering Growth: A National Perspective with Local Relevance
The appointment of Paige Emerson to a key leadership position at AVALT is a notable event within the national private investment landscape. It highlights the continuous strategic evolution of firms dedicated to identifying and fostering business growth across various sectors Nationwide. While AVALT is a Boston-based entity, its activities and strategic hires contribute to the larger narrative of private capital driving economic vitality and entrepreneurial achievement. For Kansas City, MO, and Missouri MO entrepreneurs, understanding these broader national trends is important. A thriving national private investment climate, marked by firms like AVALT making astute leadership decisions, provides the underlying current for sustained economic expansion. This supports the ecosystem where Kansas City small business can eventually attract investment, innovate, and contribute to Kansas City economic growth. Supporting local businesses and staying informed about the strategic shifts in the national financial landscape are key ways to engage with Kansas City’s economic future.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- What is Paige Emerson’s new role?
- Paige Emerson has been appointed as Vice President of Business Development at AVALT, a private investment firm. This role is Nationwide.
- What are Ms. Emerson’s key responsibilities in her new role?
- Her responsibilities include strengthening relationships across the advisory ecosystem, driving high-quality deal flow, and developing systems, insights, and a coverage model for AVALT’s long-term sourcing strategy Nationwide.
- What is AVALT?
- AVALT is a Boston-based private investment firm founded in 2015 by three former partners from Bain Capital. It invests its permanent capital base in leading businesses with growth and transformation opportunities Nationwide.
- What is AVALT’s investment focus?
- AVALT focuses on investing in businesses in sectors such as Commercial & Industrial Services and Professional & Technology Services, typically backing them with $25-150 million of equity capital Nationwide.
- What was Paige Emerson’s previous experience?
- Prior to joining AVALT in 2025, Paige Emerson spent 12 years at AlphaSights, where she played a key role in scaling the firm to a global team of over 2,000 professionals Nationwide. She also founded and built a high-growth business unit serving leading consulting firms in the Americas.
Key Features of AVALT and Paige Emerson’s Appointment
| Feature | Description | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| New Appointee | Paige Emerson | Nationwide |
| New Role | Vice President of Business Development | Nationwide |
| Hiring Firm | AVALT, a Boston-based private investment firm | Nationwide |
| AVALT Founding Year | 2015 | Nationwide |
| Emerson’s Prior Experience | 12 years at AlphaSights, scaling to a global team of over 2,000 | Nationwide |
| AVALT Investment Focus | Commercial & Industrial Services, Professional & Technology Services | Nationwide |
| Typical Equity Capital | $25-150 million | Nationwide |
| Emerson’s Education | B.A. in Communication from Wake Forest University (2013) | Nationwide |
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Author: STAFF HERE KANSAS CITY WRITER
The KANSAS CITY STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREKansasCity.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Kansas City, Jackson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as American Royal World Series of Barbecue, Dia De Los Muertos, and Planet Anime Kansas City. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and United Way of Greater Kansas City, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and entertainment that power the local economy such as Children's Mercy Hospital, Government Employees Health Association, and AMC Entertainment. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREStLouis.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Missouri's dynamic landscape.
