Current Posting

Matt Pickens is Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer at Sower Investment Partners. He has nearly 15 years of private equity and venture capital investment experience across multiple asset classes, including commercial real estate, energy, oil and gas, and healthcare.

As our CIO and a member of the firm’s Investment Committee, Matt is responsible for developing and executing on the firm’s investment strategies and risk management policies. His operational responsibilities include analytics and due diligence oversight, transactional structuring, and financial reporting.

Matt holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, a specialization in Accounting from University of Nebraska at Omaha, and a Juris Doctor (Magna Cum Laude) from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. He is a licensed attorney in the state of Nebraska, as well as a Certified Public Accountant certificate holder.

Connor Cochran is an Associate at Sower Investment Partners. He has extensive experience in investment analysis, underwriting, and due diligence and works closely with senior management to evaluate new investment opportunities, perform due diligence support, and analyze the performance of current investments.

Connor holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Professional Accountancy from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Joe Platten is an Associate at Sower Investment Partners. Joe has extensive experience in financial reporting, corporate accounting, taxation, financial analysis, and due diligence. He works closely with senior management to evaluate new investment opportunities, perform due diligence support, and analyze the performance of current investments.

Joe holds degrees in Accounting and Economics from Nebraska Wesleyan University and is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Business Analytics from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is also a Certified Public Accountant.

Curtis Leick is an Associate at Sower Investment Partners. Curtis has extensive experience in investment analysis, underwriting, and due diligence. He works closely with senior management to evaluate new commercial real estate investment opportunities, perform due diligence support, and analyze the performance of current investments.

Curtis holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and Economics and a minor in Accounting from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He is also a CFA Level Three candidate.

As Principal and Founder of Sower Investment Partners, Jared has over 18 years of experience guiding real estate investments of all types. Jared has successfully navigated the real estate economy with holdings in single-family, multi-family, agriculture, commercial, retail, and tax liens. This experience and growth have been facilitated by a belief in strong systems and processes, coupled with good industry insight and a solid work ethic.

Throughout his entrepreneurial career, he has always found value in real estate related assets, fully realizing that  proper planning leads to the best possible outcome. Over the course of his career, Jared has been involved with the purchase and disposition of over 5,000 properties of various asset classes. He attended the university of Nebraska-Lincoln, graduating in 2002 with a degree in Construction Management. He currently serves on several non-profit venture capital boards and serves as a Director for Westgate Bank.

Jared and his wife Kim reside in Springfield, Nebraska, with their four children and are actively involved at Mercy High School and St. Columbkille Catholic Parish.