The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in Philadelphia.
In addition, The Philadelphia Dealmakers Hall of Fame recognized a class of dealmakers that has made an often-groundbreaking impact on their organizations, industries and the region over the course of decades in business.
We celebrated the accomplishments of the 2024 class of winners September 12 at the Philadelphia Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Together, they provide a strong picture of the Philadelphia business community.
Dealmaker Of The Year Honorees
Chuck Bradley & Kevin West co-founded Independence Fire Sprinkler Company, providing comprehensive fire sprinkler installation and management services focused on serving commercial, residential and industrial clients. The company offers design, engineering, consulting, and construction services for fire protection systems, as well as testing, inspection and repair services, ensuring system functionality and longevity. They recently sold the company to Northern Lakes Capital, which will serve as the platform for Guardian Fire. The sale marks a significant milestone in the company’s growth.
Scott Gray founded Clincierge to provide travel and logistics support services for patients participating in clinical trials by addressing the communications, travel, lodging and financial challenges patients face. Their solution ensures a comfortable and improved trial experience for the patients. In February 2024, the company was acquired by Greenphire, via its financial sponsor Thoma Bravo. The acquisition solidifies Greenphire's commitment to providing comprehensive solutions to clinical trial sites that address the diverse needs of patients.
Adit Gupta co-founded Lula Commerce as an enterprise software firm to lead the way in democratizing digital commerce and delivery enablement software for retail stores. The company has received substantial seed investments from SOSV, Outlander VC, and Up Partners, and successfully transitioned into an enterprise software provider and collaborates with more than 10 of the top 200 convenience retails brands in the U.S., including UberEats, DoorDash and Amazon. Now Adit is focused on rapidly expanding the company’s footprint in the local delivery market.
Mikal Harden & Vicki Sack co-founded Juno Search Partners, a talent acquisition firm dedicated to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion. Their firm, which specializes in executive search and talent placement, was acquired by NFP in November 2022, with support from HPS Investment Partners, Madison Dearborn Partners, and Stone Point Capital. The acquisition strengthens NFP's presence in Philadelphia. Additionally, Mikal and Vicki launched Juno Capital, an angel fund investing in Philadelphia startups.
Dan Kilcoyne co-founded Mini Melts in 2004, alongside his brother, and has successfully expanded the brand across the nation. Mini Melts, based in Norwich, Connecticut, specializes in cryogenically frozen ice creams and desserts, and sells them in parks, malls, ice cream parlors, retails stores and other recreational facilities. In November 2023, Dan closed the sale of a majority stake in the company to Altamont Capital Partners, while rolling over a portion of their equity into one of ACP's companies. Dan’s efforts have positioned Mini Melts as a formidable competitor to Dippin’ Dots in the cryogenically frozen dessert market.
Dealmakers Hall of Fame
David Bovenizer is the CEO of Lionheart Industrial Group. He is a distinguished leader in manufacturing and banking, with a career marked by more than 30 transactions totaling billions in value, including leveraged acquisition financings, public debt offerings, joint ventures, cross-border M&A, and numerous acquisitions and divestitures. In the early stages of founding Lionheart Ventures, he formed a captive strategic alliance with a private equity firm based in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he had operations and strategic leadership responsibility for its portfolio companies in addition to acquisition target generation, evaluation and execution. Prior to forming the captive alliance, he was an executive with Zomax Incorporated, a media manufacturing and supply chain management services company. He helped expand the company's facilities to Juarez, Mexico, and Memphis, Tennessee, growing and adding leading technology customers such as Dell, Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, AOL, Apple and Logitech, and establishing a joint venture for On-Demand Digital print services.
Paul Farr is a seasoned investor with Canadeo Investments, and former CEO with a proven track record in the energy and mechanical services sectors. At Talen Energy, he led the company through its transition from public to private ownership, orchestrated by Riverstone Partners. Following his departure, in May 2017 Paul assembled a team to acquire McClure Company and Burns Mechanical from Talen’s portfolio, which involved 21 members of management from these companies. Under his leadership, these investments yielded impressive returns, with Burns sold in 2020 and a majority stake in McClure sold in 2021. Paul’s entrepreneurial spirit extends to other ventures, including his involvement in startup diagnostics company HueDx (formerly Group K diagnostics), which is based in Philadelphia; a grow-process-dispense cannabis business in New Jersey; and a portfolio of businesses in the Midwest focused on commercial and industrial electrical and mechanical contracting.
Mitch Gyger brings over 15 years of experience in the security industry and has been a driving force behind the establishment and growth of OPS Security Group, where he serves as President. In this capacity, he is responsible for the strategic leadership and continuous improvement of all operational and support divisions, ensuring the optimal allocation of resources and personnel across the organization. Mitch oversees the daily operations of a workforce comprising hundreds of employees throughout the East Coast. He is also deeply committed to community involvement, regularly collaborating with local municipalities to establish best practices that enhance the safety and security of OPS’s clients and employees. Before co-founding OPS Security Group, Mitch held several key management positions in the private security sector, including Account Manager, Regional Manager, and Director of Operations.
Frank Igwé is the Founder and President of Moravia Health, a Pennsylvania based home health care agency with over 8,000 employees, and serving over 3,500 patients across the Commonwealth. Frank is the recipient of City & State’s Healthcare Power 100 Award, and has been named as a Most Admired CEO of the Year by the Philadelphia Business Journal as a member of the class of 2021. He has also been named a Top Entrepreneur of the Year by Al Dia Media Group, and a top Black Power Player by the Metro. Before founding Moravia, Frank was the Executive Director of City ACES, a nonprofit organization that leverages the influence of professional athletes to inspire middle-school students in underperforming districts toward academic achievement. This work garnered regional and national media recognition. Frank is also a 2008 Fellow of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and teaches at the University of Pennsylvania.
Craig Ritter is the CEO of Ritter Insurance Marketing, a national field marketing organization focused on the senior life and health space. Craig’s father, Cal, started the business in 1994 and in 1997, Craig joined forces with his father. Craig and the other owners grew the business over the years and, in 2020, announced a strategic partnership with Century Equity Partners. Century acquired a minority interest in Ritter and helped grow the company through M&A. From 2020-2022, Ritter engaged in a combination of 12 acquisitions, both equity and asset transactions, culminating in a sale to Integrity Marketing Group. Craig is now a managing partner at Integrity Marketing Group.
