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Wheelhouse Partners

Our Team

Meet the team behind every location.

Cheston C. Syma

Cheston C. Syma

Founding Partner &
Chief Executive Officer

cheston@mvpway.com

Cheston Syma is a U.S. Marine veteran, a former security contractor for the U.S. State Department and Central Intelligence Agency, a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Houston-Downtown with a degree in Business Finance, and now an entrepreneur based in the greater Houston area. He consistently leads with the foresight to see opportunities and monetize them for financial return and equity growth.

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As a U.S. Marine, Syma quickly rose to become the Platoon Sergeant of his infantry platoon and served as a primary marksmanship instructor for his unit. He was then accepted into the Marine Security Guard program and served as a Marine Guard at U.S. Embassies including London and Port-au-Prince, where he held Top Secret clearance. Syma later became a security contractor during the peak of the Iraqi conflict, serving his nation once again in the close protection of U.S. diplomats, senators and congressmen in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Syma now leads a management team that oversees a diversified portfolio of service-related, multi-unit franchises spanning Texas and the Midwest, including Sport Clips and Big Blue Swim School. He thrives on leveraging economies of scale to drive best-in-class returns and superior customer experiences across all brands. Cheston resides in Katy, Texas, volunteers his time to help local veterans, and is a member of the YPO Texas Gulf Coast chapter.

Education

  • 2012 - Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, Business Finance, University of Houston-Downtown, Houston, TX
Setul G. Patel

Setul G. Patel, MD, MBA

Founding Partner &
Executive Chairman

setul@mvpway.com

Dr. Setul Patel is an experienced healthcare and business executive bringing over twenty years of experience to successfully scale service industries by creating purpose-driven and vision-focused environments. In 2014, Setul founded Girish Capital to assist in the capital and venture needs of young entrepreneurs and startup companies, leveraging his ability to scale businesses with high growth potential. Girish Capital has worked with development groups across numerous industries including Sport Clips hair salons, freestanding emergency centers, Signarama franchises, short-haul trucking, and professional eye care. He also currently serves as Founder & CEO of the healthcare startup FormulaMed, which is poised to innovate technology-driven, subscription-based healthcare.

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Setul has always maintained his clinical practice as a cornerstone of his administrative duties, and currently practices emergency medicine on the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona and at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He has also held senior management positions at Acute Medical Services and Neighbors Health, where he served as President & CEO for over eight years. After obtaining a degree in biochemistry, he graduated from the University of Virginia Medical School and completed specialty training at Christiana Care Health System in Newark, Delaware, where he was also Chief Resident. In 2008, Setul obtained his MBA from the University of Tennessee, graduating Phi Kappa Phi.

Throughout his career, Setul has brought transformational change to the organizations he has led, and believes true success comes from empowering the culture of an organization to drive best practices and innovation. In 2015, he received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award for the Gulf Coast region and went on to be a national finalist. In 2016, he was a finalist for the Houston Business Journal’s CEO of the Year award. He is a YPO Texas Gulf Coast member and has called Houston home since 2006.

Education

  • 1999 - Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
  • 2003 - Doctor of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
  • 2008 - Master of Business Administration, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Kourtney Stretch

Kourtney Stretch

Director of HR & Office Administrator

kourtney@mvpway.com

Kourtney Stretch brings more than 15 years of experience in human resources, business operations, and team leadership to her role as HR Director at Wheelhouse Partners. Her career has taken her through several industries, giving her a well-rounded background in business management, employee relations, and operations. She enjoys solving problems, finding ways to make things run more smoothly, and helping teams succeed.

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At Wheelhouse Partners, Kourtney works closely with leadership and teams across multiple states to support employees, improve processes, and keep things running behind the scenes. She believes in taking a hands-on approach, keeping things practical, and finding solutions that work for everyone.

Kourtney earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Management, with a minor in Human Resource Management, from the University of Houston-Downtown. She also holds an Associate Degree in Business and an Associate Professional in Human Resources (aPHR) certification.

When she’s not working, Kourtney loves traveling, spending time with her husband and two children, and making memories together. Whether it’s exploring somewhere new or simply enjoying time with her family, she believes the best moments are the ones you get to share with the people you love.

Chau Yamamoto

Chau Yamamoto

Director of Finance & Corporate Controller

chau@mvpway.com

Chau Yamamoto is a dedicated accounting professional with over 20 years of experience in accounting, financial reporting, and financial operations across multiple industries, including franchise businesses, real estate, investments, construction, and telecommunications. At Wheelhouse Partners, she oversees accounting and financial reporting for multiple business entities, ensuring accurate financial records, timely reporting, and compliance with applicable accounting standards and regulations.

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Throughout her career, Chau has developed extensive expertise in month-end and year-end closing, general ledger management, account reconciliations, cash flow forecasting, fixed asset management, accounts payable and receivable, payroll accounting, and tax compliance. She works closely with management, external CPA firms, vendors, and accounting teams to resolve complex financial issues, streamline processes, and support informed business decisions.

Chau is committed to maintaining the integrity of financial records, strengthening internal controls, and improving accounting procedures. She is known for her analytical thinking, strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and collaborative approach to problem-solving. Proficient in QuickBooks and Microsoft Excel, she combines technical knowledge with practical experience to improve efficiency and deliver reliable financial information.

Chau holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting from Southern New Hampshire University and has called Katy, Texas, home since 2015. Outside of work, she enjoys spending quality time with her family, exploring new places, and continuing to grow both personally and professionally. She values teamwork, continuous improvement, and building strong relationships with the people she works with.

Stephanie Giles

Stephanie Giles

Director of Operations

stephanieg@mvpway.com

Stephanie Giles is an experienced operations leader with more than 13 years of experience in the franchise industry. Throughout her career with Sport Clips and other growing franchise brands, she has developed a strong reputation for driving business performance, supporting teams, improving operational efficiency and helping businesses grow.

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At her core, Stephanie is driven by the desire to keep evolving, lead with purpose, and build a life defined by more than a job title. Her vision is to use what she has learned through business, leadership and relationships to help others grow while continuing to build a future filled with success and joy.

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