Middlebury College, a small liberal arts school tucked into the mountains of Vermont, has a reputation for producing graduates who think broadly and commit deeply. For Reeve Waud, the Middlebury experience shaped both his personal and professional trajectories in ways that continue to resonate nearly four decades later.
Reeve graduated from Middlebury in 1985 with a BA in Economics. So did Melissa Ann Wheeler, his future wife. Three years later, on August 20, 1988, they married at the First Church of Round Hill in Greenwich, Connecticut. The ceremony was officiated by Dr. Olin Robinson, the president of Middlebury—a detail that says a great deal about the depth of the couple’s connection to the college and its community. See the 1988 New York Times wedding report.
Class of 1985
Melissa had attended Miss Porter’s School before Middlebury and later worked as a manager at Bergdorf Goodman in New York City. Reeve, the son of Cornelius Byron and Corinna Roosevelt Reeve Waud of Lake Forest, Illinois, went on to earn his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. Learn more at a notice that appeared in the Chicago Tribune.
The Middlebury connection between the two was more than just a shared diploma. It represented a set of values—intellectual curiosity, personal integrity, and a commitment to community—that would become foundational to the life they built together.
From Liberal Arts to Private Equity
After Kellogg, Reeve worked at the private equity firm GTCR and in the venture capital group at Salomon Brothers before founding Waud Capital Partners in 1993.
The firm’s focus on healthcare and software & technology reflects a deliberate narrowing of scope over the years. Rather than chasing every opportunity, Waud Capital concentrates on sectors where its team has deep expertise and where there are clear opportunities for growth. Learn about the firm’s three recent partner promotions.
Acadia Healthcare and the Broader Impact
The clearest expression of that focus is Acadia Healthcare, which Waud Capital formed in 2005. Acadia has since become the country’s largest independent behavioral health provider, with upward of 250 facilities. The company addresses a critical need—access to behavioral health services—in communities across the country and Puerto Rico. More details at Acadia Healthcare.
From a Vermont classroom to a national healthcare platform, the throughline in Reeve Waud’s story is clear: strong foundations produce lasting results. Learn more at gurufocus.com/insider/28974/reeve-b.-waud-2011-family-trust.
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