Natura Capital hires Melissa Kempkes as vice president

Natural Capital, an Arkansas-based private investment firm, said Tuesday (Jan. 26) it has hired Melissa Kempkes as vice president. She previously served at Oklahoma City-based i2E as the investment portfolio manager.

According to a news release, Kempkes will work with Natural Capital’s Managing Partner, Brad Henry, to achieve the firm’s mission of investing in impactful opportunities in Arkansas and the Heartland. Kempkes will work in Natural Capital’s Little Rock office.

Created in 2019, Natural Capital closed its first fund with more than $41 million in committed capital. The fund and its partners anticipate investing between $3 million and $15 million in each opportunity in areas including real estate, lower middle-market businesses and private investment funds in the Heartland.

Kempkes is a 2009 graduate of Henderson State University with a degree in business administration. She earned a master’s in business administration from the University of Oklahoma in 2018. Her decade of experience includes most recently serving as investment portfolio manager at i2E and as an investment analyst at the Teacher’s Retirement System of Oklahoma.

“We are thrilled to announce that Melissa has joined our team,” Henry said in a statement. “Her skillset adds significant value as we continue to grow Natural Capital’s portfolio.  Bringing a strong background in responsible financial management, Melissa is well-positioned to help strengthen our portfolio and drive value to our investors and the communities we work in.”