The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in Pittsburgh.
In addition, The Pittsburgh 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 2025 class of winners on March 6 at the Pittsburgh Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Together, they provide a strong picture of the Pittsburgh business community.
Dealmaker Of The Year Honorees
Matthew Beers and Jeff Singleton, Wabtec. Wabtec has been actively expanding its portfolio through strategic acquisitions. Matthew and Jeff have been key players in this growth, including the recent acquisition of Evident’s Inspection Technologies division for $1.78 billion. The deal enhances Wabtec's Digital Intelligence business by integrating advanced automated inspection capabilities, thereby driving customer productivity, reliability, and safety. Other recent transactions include the acquisitions of Bloom Engineering, Fanox, Kompozitum, and L&M Radiator.
Ted Bovard and Todd Douds, Fort Pitt Capital Group. Ted Bovard and Todd Douds led Fort Pitt Capital Group through its acquisition by Kovitz Investment Group, closing the deal in November 2024. Under their leadership, Fort Pitt grew from $1 billion in assets under management in 2015 to $6 billion in 2024, with revenue soaring from $6.5 million to $32 million. Ted spearheaded negotiations, securing a substantial multiple for the business. This strategic move strengthens Fort Pitt’s position while aligning with Kovitz, both firms being part of Focus Financial Partners.
Amy Edgar, Blackbird Health. Amy Edgar is a visionary nurse practitioner reshaping pediatric behavioral health. Inspired by her journey as a mother, she founded the Children’s Integrated Center for Success in 2014, pioneering a model that combines genetics, nutrition, various therapies and education advocacy for children with behavioral health needs. In 2021, she co-founded Blackbird Health to scale these integrated practices. As President and Chief Clinical Officer, Amy tripled clinical services, expanded into Pennsylvania and Virginia, and executed strategic mergers with key health care partners. Now, as Senior Advisor, she continues driving innovation to ensure every child and family receives comprehensive, tailored care.
Jim Gibbs, Meter Feeder. Jim Gibbs is a tech innovator whose company, Meter Feeder, helps fleets save millions of dollars by streamlining parking ticket management. With 40 years in software development, Jim has worked on platforms processing nearly 30 percent of all mobile retail sales in the U.S., redesigned usatoday.com, and expanded American Eagle’s global reach. Meter Feeder operates in 2,500+ locations, partners with Mastercard and WEX, and has raised over $5 million from Y Combinator, Google and Trucks VC. Holding two patents in autonomous vehicle technology, Jim continues shaping the future of urban mobility.
Jimmi Sue Smith, Koppers. As CFO of Koppers, Jimmi Sue Smith secured a $498 million debt refinancing in March 2024, strengthening the company’s global financial strategy. Since joining in 2020, she has overseen treasury, tax, investor relations and M&A activities, positioning Koppers for sustainable growth. With past leadership roles at EQT and various manufacturing firms, Jimmi Sue’s expertise has made her a key financial leader in Pittsburgh.
John Thornton, Astrobotic Technology Inc. Under John Thornton’s leadership, Astrobotic Technology secured $34.6 million in NASA funding in July 2023 for the LunaGrid-Lite mission, set to demonstrate the first-ever power transmission on the lunar surface. With a vision for advancing space robotics and infrastructure, Astrobotic is positioning Pittsburgh as a leader in the commercial space sector.
Patrick Welch, Noveome. Patrick Welch leads Noveome, which has raised $36.1 million of a total raise of $50 million in Series E venture funding in a deal led by MAK Capital on in August of 2024. Numerous other investors, mostly from the Pittsburgh area, also participated in the round. The funds are being used to support the advancement of the company's clinical stage program investigating its proprietary, cell-free platform biologic, ST266, for the treatment of conditions involving abnormal inflammatory responses. Patrick joined Noveome in 2017 after almost 27 years with Allergan, where he managed the pre-approval planning of RESTASIS® and LUMIGAN® and managed the Asia-Pacific region.
Derrick Wilson, The Wilson Group. Derrick Wilson built The Wilson Group from a three-person startup in 2012 into one of Western Pennsylvania’s fastest-growing companies, expanding 662 percent in four years. Today, it operates 20,000+ machines in the field and employs 50+ people. Beyond business, Derrick has donated over $1.5 million to nonprofits and sponsors WPIAL school districts. His expansion into document storage, IT services and physical security solutions has solidified The Wilson Group’s regional leadership, and earned him accolades as one of the best places to work in the region and one of the fastest growing.
Social Impact Honoree
Will Allen, Will Allen Foundation. Will Allen made his mark on the football field as a national champion at Ohio State, a first-team All-American, and a 12-year NFL veteran with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Pittsburgh Steelers. But his legacy goes far beyond football. In 2008, Will established the Will Allen Foundation, dedicated to empowering underprivileged youth through education, mentorship and life skills training. His foundation provides vital support through programs like Quest, PAK, and Holiday Giving, ensuring young people in under-resourced communities have the tools to succeed.
Off the field, Will has pursued higher education at Harvard and Northwestern, continually expanding his expertise. His passion for learning and investing led him to real estate, making his first investment during the 2008 financial crisis — a move that paid off and launched his career in business. Today, Will is also a partner at Magarac Venture Partners, a fund dedicated to backing historically overlooked founders, including Midwest entrepreneurs, women, and minority business owners.
Through his commitment to youth empowerment and economic opportunity, Will has transformed lives and industries, bridging the gap between education, leadership and investment. Whether on the gridiron, in boardrooms, or in the community, he continues to lead by example.
Dealmakers Hall of Fame Honorees
Mark DeSantis, Entrepreneur, Lecturer and Educator. Mark DeSantis is a serial entrepreneur and investor who has built and led multiple venture-backed companies across AI, energy, education and infrastructure. Today, he is the CEO of Bloomfield, an AI company transforming agriculture, but his resume includes serving as CEO of RoadBotics, an AI-driven roadway infrastructure company; Chairman of kWantix, a quant energy hedge fund; and CEO of kWantera, a venture-backed energy trading firm.
Mark has also been at the forefront of education and policy, holding senior positions in The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and serving as Director of Government Relations for Texas Instruments. He is an Adjunct Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and an Advisor to MIR Ventures and Cascadia Capital. His contributions to entrepreneurship, venture capital and policy have shaped industries and economies alike, making a lasting impact on Pittsburgh and beyond.
Paul Lauttamus, Lauttamus Communications & Security. Paul Lauttamus has transformed Lauttamus Communications & Security into one of the nation’s leading providers of mission-critical communications and security solutions. Founded in 1967, the company has expanded five-fold under Paul’s leadership, tripling its workforce and acquiring 14 companies. Today, Lauttamus serves 37 states, offering 911 center technology, two-way radios, call centers, mass notification systems and AI-driven security solutions.
Lauttamus has become one of the largest holders of FCC frequencies in the U.S., with 1,200+ licenses, and continues to expand its capabilities with clients such as WVU Medicine, UPMC, Williams Energy and U.S. Steel. Despite its rapid growth, Paul has maintained a strong commitment to community support and ethical business practices, making Lauttamus a leader in innovation, public safety and corporate responsibility.
Dave Mawhinney, Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University. Dave Mawhinney is a pillar of Pittsburgh’s startup ecosystem, serving as an adviser, investor and mentor to the next generation of innovators. He serves as Founding Executive Director of the Swartz Center for Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University, and as the Executive Director of the Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at CMU’s Tepper School of Business. While at CMU, Dave co-founded three early-stage investment funds: the Open Field Entrepreneurs Fund, VentureBridge, and the 99Tartans Syndicate. These funds have made over 200 investments in CMU startups, which have raised more than $500 million in follow-on investments at nearly $2 billion in valuation. They have over $200+ million in realized exits.
As a serial entrepreneur, Dave co-founded mSpoke, which became LinkedIn’s first-ever acquisition in 2010. In 2006, Morgan Stanley's MSCI/Barra business unit acquired Peak Strategy, a quantitative investment recommendation engine, where Dave was co-founder, chairman and CEO. Prior to mSpoke and Peak Strategy, Dave was the general partner of PNC Technology Investors. Earlier in his career, he co-founded three successful startup ventures, including Premier Health Exchange (acquired by Medibuy), Hawk Medical (acquired by McKesson), and Industry.Net (merged with AT&T Business Network to form Nets, Inc.). Through teaching, investing and building, Dave continues to shape the future of entrepreneurship.
