David Allen

Executive Director & Market Team Lead
J.P. Morgan Private Bank

David Allen is an Executive Director and Market Team Lead in the Cleveland office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank, covering Northern Ohio. Dave manages a group of professional advisors and specialists dedicated to designing integrated strategies that help families plan, invest, bank and borrow. A native of Cleveland, he delivers a local presence, extensive industry experience and the global capabilities of J.P. Morgan.

Dave is particularly focused on working with executives, entrepreneurs and business owners to help unlock the value of their concentrated wealth. As a former Chief Operating Officer, he is attuned to the diversity of their needs and takes a personalized approach to address their complex ecosystem. Dave is a dynamic leader who builds an environment of excellence for team members and clients alike. He is known for his ability to solve problems, remove obstacles and turn challenges into successes.

Over the course of his 20+ year career, Dave has built a well-diversified and successful background in financial services. Before joining J.P. Morgan, he was the Chief Operating Officer with Equity Trust Company, and spent the majority of his career in senior roles with Goldman Sachs Asset Management.

Dave has a B.S. from Miami University and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, specializing in Finance, Strategy & Marketing. He holds FINRA Series 7, 9, 10 and 63 securities licenses.

Robert Berdanier

Managing Director
Riveron

Robert Berdanier is a Managing Director in Riveron’s Business Restructuring & Turnaround Services practice. His focus is on middle-market companies, both distressed and healthy, seeking financial and operational improvement through interim leadership and re-organization. Robert is a seasoned restructuring professional, with significant experience in the manufacturing, distribution & hospitality.

Bob Campana

CEO
Campana Capital

Bob leads Campana Capital, a private equity, venture capital and real estate development firm. Bob previously served as president of P.C. Campana, master provider for the steel and foundry industries in North America. He is active in the community and serves on the boards of numerous for-profit and nonprofit organizations, including Northwest Bancshares.

Andrew Connors

Managing Director & Chair Business Owners Practice Group
Fairport Wealth

Andrew R. Connors is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional with 20 years of experience in the personal financial management arena. He has experience in advising family business owners how they can align their personal, family and business goals. His mission and purpose is to positively impact the long-term well-being of closely-held and family business owners by helping them create and maintain multi-generational wealth. He is known for his ability to translate complex financial strategies and concepts into understandable, actionable ideas.

Prior to receiving his MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, Andrew attended John Carroll University where he earned a B.S.B.A. He earned his Certified Financial Planner^TM (CFP^®) designation from the College of Financial Planning.

Jacob Derenthal

Partner & Business Services Group Chair
Walter Haverfield

As partner and Chair of Walter Haverfield’s Business Services Group, Jake focuses his practice on representing public and private companies, entrepreneurs, private equity firms, and financial and institutional clients in a broad range of corporate and securities transactions. He has extensive experience with matters involving mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity issuances, corporate restructurings, venture capital and angel investing, strategic alliances, and corporate governance matters. Jake also counsels management, directors, and shareholders in connection with entity formation, contract negotiation, operational and employment issues, commercial leasing, financing, and exit strategies. He is knowledgeable on transactions involving healthcare, manufacturing, technology, aerospace, real estate, and service sectors.

Dominic DiPuccio

Partner, Chair Mergers and Acquisitions Group
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

Dominic focuses his practice on mergers and acquisitions, and public and private equity and debt securities offerings. He represents entrepreneurs, emerging-growth, and seasoned companies (public and private), investors, venture capital, and private equity funds, and real estate sponsors in a wide variety of corporate finance transactions. Dominic is chair of Taft’s Mergers and Acquisitions group.

Tim Eippert

Chief Executive Officer
Stratus

Born and raised in Ashtabula, OH, Tim graduated from Kent State University before purchasing MC Sign Company and steadily grew its services to include signage, energy, refresh & remodel construction, facilities maintenance services, and brand environments. Tim sold to private equity 4 times, in 2008, 2015, 2017, and 2021 and has remained CEO throughout. The company name is now Stratus.

Frank Fantozzi

President & Founder
Return on Life Wealth Partners

Frank Fantozzi is the President and Founder of Return on Life Wealth Partners, an independent registered investment advisor (RIA) providing families and businesses in Northeast Ohio and nationwide with access to a full suite of wealth management and corporate retirement services. An accomplished business owner and board member, his broad experience includes entrepreneurship, business growth and non-profit fundraising.

Michael Fedeli

Portfolio & Business Development Associate
Clearstead

Mike Fedeli serves clients by building relationships that lead to financial value and clarity. Mike specializes in promoting Clearstead’s Private Client Services to high-net-worth individuals in the local market. He began his career as a Portfolio Manager working with clients and their investment needs and during that time achieved the CFA Designation.

Umberto P. Fedeli

President & CEO
The Fedeli Group

Since 1988, Umberto P. Fedeli has led The Fedeli Group, an Ohio-based insurance and financial services firm. It specializes in insurance, risk management, employee benefits, workers' compensation consulting, surety, environmental risk management, and estate planning.

Todd Federman

Managing Director
North Coast Ventures

Todd is the Managing Director of North Coast Ventures - a Cleveland-based venture firm with 500+ individual LP investors, and $100M+ deployed across 80+ startups. Previously, Todd consulted for AOL and DiamondCluster, and co-founded the One With Nature line of body care products carried in 4,000 retail locations. Todd holds a bachelor’s degree in Finance from Kent State University and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University.

Bob Girton

Partner
Edgewater Capital

Bob Girton is a partner at Edgewater Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in smaller performance materials businesses. In addition to traditional PE roles in sourcing, executing, and managing investments, Bob chairs Edgewater’s DEI initiative and is the partner in charge of the firm’s business development efforts. He lives in Shaker Heights, is a life long learner, and is very proud of his two kids, Ava and Theodore.

Kelly Greene

VP, Corporate Development
Park Place Technologies

Kelly Greene is VP of Corporate Development at Park Place Technologies, where she has led 30+ global acquisitions over the past decade, consistently exceeding growth targets. With expertise in M&A strategy, customer experience, and human capital, she brings a well-rounded approach to deal-making, ensuring successful integrations and long-term value creation.

Aaron Grossman

CEO
TalentLaunch

Aaron Grossman is a seasoned entrepreneur and visionary leader in the staffing and recruitment industry with over 25 years of experience. In 2001, he founded Alliance Solutions Group, a full-service staffing firm in Cleveland, Ohio, which quickly grew through its innovative service delivery model. Aaron’s achievements have earned him numerous accolades, including the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year and recognition on the Weatherhead 100. In 2016, he launched TalentLaunch, a national network of staffing and recruitment companies built on a platform of shared values, technology, and innovative practices, which is ranked as one of the largest staffing firms in the U.S. by Staffing Industry Analyst and has been listed multiple times on Inc. 5000’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies.

Aaron has also ventured into other successful businesses, including co-founding the technology firm Able, which was sold to Bullhorn in 2022, and establishing the Wrestlers In Business Network. He’s also majority owner and advisor for Praos Health, a platform that enhances healthcare staffing. Aaron holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance from Miami University of Ohio, where he was a varsity wrestler. He lives in Cleveland, OH and in his free time, he enjoys traveling, cycling, and coaching wrestling.

J. David Heller

Co-founder, President & CEO
The NRP Group

David Heller is President, CEO and Co-founder of the NRP Group, one of the largest multifamily development, construction, and property management companies in the U.S., having developed more than 58,000 apartment homes since 1994 and currently managing over 29,000 residential units across a fifteen-state footprint. Heller is a dynamic community leader, serving as the board chair of The Jewish Federation of Cleveland for the 2019-2022 term and is currently active on several boards across the City of Cleveland. He was recently named Multi-Housing News’ 2023 Executive of the Year.

Elias Hussney

National Christian Foundation Ohio

Ansir Junaid

Chairman & CEO
Junaid Group

Founder and CEO of Junaid Group, Mr. Ansir Junaid has been recognized for his leadership and experience in global manufacturing, supply chain, real estate, and mergers & acquisitions both domestically and internationally. He is actively involved in numerous corporate and civic boards, prioritizing focuses on medical research, economic growth, and the empowerment of youth and women through expanded access to education and healthcare. Philanthropic work through the Junaid Family Foundation supports those same missions, with notable examples including grants to local organizations helping resettle refugees in Cleveland and a collaboration with Kirk Humanitarian Foundation and the Government of Pakistan to improve maternal health outcomes by providing groundbreaking multi-micronutrient supplementation to over 2 million women.

Jayne Juvan

Partner and Chair of the Tucker Ellis Mergers & Acquisitions and Securities & Capital Markets Practice Groups
Tucker Ellis LLP

Kurt Kappa

Chief Lending Officer
First Federal Lakewood

Kurt Kappa is the Senior Vice President, Chief Lending Officer at First Federal Lakewood, the largest depositor-owned community bank headquartered in Ohio with assets of $2.5billion. In this role, Kurt oversees all commercial, consumer lending, treasury management and investment services lines of business.

Jerry Kelsheimer

President & CEO
Medic Management Group

Jerry Kelsheimer serves as President & CEO at Medic Management Group, where he oversees daily company operations and sets the company’s overarching business strategy. He joined Medic Management Group in 2018.

In his role, Jerry is responsible for strategic planning, corporate development, and supporting clientele in achieving their business objectives. He leverages his expertise to help increase clients’ financial returns, enhance revenue cycle efficiency, manage risks, and improve patient outcomes and satisfaction.

With more than 30 years of experience in the professional services industry, Jerry is a proven leader known for a client-first attitude and delivering exceptional results. Throughout his career, he’s been responsible for creating remarkable client experiences; driving revenue, profitability, and market share; and generating and maintaining a high-performance workplace culture. Areas of expertise include process development, capital markets, change management, talent acquisition and development, project management, team building and motivation, financial budgeting, sales/risk management, product development, and corporate finance.

Prior to his current role, Jerry served as Managing Director and Principal of Exodus Capital Partners where he assisted privately owned companies and their shareholders. His career also includes senior leadership roles as Region Chairman, CEO, and President of Fifth Third Bank, Northeastern Ohio and President, Northern Ohio Region, Huntington National Bank.

Jerry earned his Bachelor of Science in finance from Indiana University and is a graduate of the Huntington Executive Leadership Program at Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University. He presently serves on the boards of University Hospitals Health System, The Center for Health Affairs, Rudolph Libbe Group, Inc., and GMI Industrial Corporation. He is a former director or trustee of other organizations including The Greater Cleveland Partnership, Destination Cleveland, Cleveland Development Advisers, Cuyahoga Community College, United Way of Greater Cleveland, the Tri-C Foundation, and Foundation Software, Inc.

Bobby Kingsbury

Managing Director
MCM Capital Partners

Robert Kingsbury is a Managing Partner at MCM Capital, a lower middle market private equity fund based in Cleveland, OH focused on acquiring niche manufacturing and value-added distribution companies. His responsibilities include deal evaluation and execution, management of portfolio companies and managing Limited Partner relationships.

Prior to joining MCM, Mr. Kingsbury was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 8th round of the 2002 Major League Baseball Draft. He spent six years playing professional baseball as an outfielder in the Pirates organization, participated in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, and was a 2008 inductee into the Fordham University Athletic Hall of Fame.

Lee M. Koury

Managing Partner
Smart Business Network Inc.

Lee is managing partner of Smart Business Network Inc., a national events, media and marketing company founded in 1989, primarily responsible for expanding the company’s Aspire deal-making conference throughout the U.S. He plays a key role in establishing corporate policies and developing long-term strategy and growth plans. Previously, he founded and chaired the Growth Group at national law firm Arter & Hadden LLP (now Tucker, Ellis & West), which focused on working with middle-market and high-growth technology companies. 

Brian Krusz

Founder, VP of Growth & Development
Sgt. Clean Car Wash

Brian is the Founder and Director of Growth & Development at Sgt. Clean Car Wash.

Founded in 2013, Sgt Clean Car Wash is an express exterior chain, currently with 16 locations throughout Northeast Ohio. Sgt Clean is a five-time Inc 5,000 winner, four-time Weatherhead 100, three-time Vet100 winner, two-time Smart Culture Award recipient and Smart50 Award Recipient.

Brian spent eight years in the United States Marine Corps and graduated from Kent State University with an undergraduate degree in Business Management.

Kevin Leonard

President & COO
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Stouffer Realty & The Preferred Realty

I am a big picture thinker, innovator, and revenue-generating powerhouse with 18+ years of experience in Real Estate, development, investing, mortgage, title and insurance. I am tactical, driven, and persuasive and have proven to thrive in the most challenging economic landscapes. As a readily adaptable and well-networked senior executive, I position my brands for success and keep ahead of the competition. I make the most of cutting-edge technologies for automation, productivity, and accountability. Analyzes and synthesizes data to forecast opportunistic trends in the market. As a growth-minded leader of leaders, I influence stakeholders to buy into my vision through a deep commitment to success.

Jared Maloof

CEO
Standard Wellness

Stephen McHale

Founder, Director & CEO
Graici

For more than 30 years, Stephen McHale has successfully built data, analytics and technology companies across health care, mainstream media, and more. Now he is dedicating his experience as founder and CEO to his latest venture, UnifyWork, a workforce intelligence platform powering equitable regional talent delivery networks. 

Al Melchiorre

President
MelCap Partners, LLC

Al Melchiorre is President and founder of MelCap Partners, a middle market investment banking firm that he founded over 22 years ago, Over the past few years, MelCap has been recognized as boutique investment banking firm of the year multiple times by The M&A Advisor. MelCap's clients are predominately privately-held, family owned businesses going through a once in a life-time transaction.

Corrie Menary

Partner
Kirtland Capital Partners

Corrie Menary joined Kirtland in the summer of 2004 as an intern and returned full-time in June of 2005.  Prior to joining Kirtland, Corrie was an analyst in National City Bank's Debt Capital Markets group and worked in the bank's credit underwriting department.

She received her undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University and a master’s in business administration from Michigan State University.

Michael Moran

CEO & Managing Partner
Walnut Ridge

Mike leads a multigenerational family office for the founders and owners of GOJO / PURELL, where he is also on the Board. Mike was previously a private equity partner at Linsalata Capital Partners and an M&A investment banker at KeyBanc Capital Markets. Mike has degrees from Miami University (BS Finance) and Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management (MBA).

David Pease

Partner
Pease Bell CPAs

David's role as Managing Director with Pease Capital Advisors includes directing the day to day operations and leading client relationships. He also plays a pivotal role in evaluating client opportunities, term sheet preparation, and negotiations.

Prior to founding Pease Capital Advisors, David worked in corporate insurance consulting, with a specialty of mitigating risk during a transaction.

Boyd Pethel

Executive Vice President - Metro Commercial Banking
First National Bank

Phil Ryan

Partner - Co-Lead Private Equity Services
Cohen & Co.

Phil Ryan is an assurance partner in Cohen & Company's Cleveland office and co-leads of the firm’s national Private Equity industry services group. In his Private Equity Market Leader role, Phil helps develop, implement and execute the firm's strategy towards private equity firms and owned businesses. He helps provide tailored, industry-focused solutions across the private equity ecosystem, including at the fund level, operating company level and M&A advisory.

Jerry Schill

Founder & CEO
Schill Grounds Management

Jerry Schill founded Schill Grounds Management in 1993, and as CEO he sets the strategic vision for the company and makes executive and financial decisions that drive profitable growth and scale.

Beginning in 2020, Jerry partnered with Argonne Capital to proactively drive consolidation in the highly fragmented commercial grounds management and snow and ice removal industry by acquiring independent privately held businesses that add contiguous geographic expansion for SGM.

Jerry has three decades of leadership experience, and he believes in running the business with family values, integrity, respect and honesty. He also holds leadership positions with industry professional organizations including serving as an active member of the Accredited Snow Contractors Association’s Government Affairs Committee and the Ohio Landscape Association’s Snow and Ice Committee.

Jerry earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management from Glenville State College, where he was the wide receiver on the football team and was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He is also the founder of Holiday Feast, an annual event that provides free meals for thousands of people in the Cleveland area. Jerry’s contributions to the industry were recognized when he was chosen for the National Leadership Award by SNOW Magazine and Lawn & Landscape Magazine.

Greg Skoda, Jr.

Partner
CBIZ

Brian Stovsky

VP, Business Development Leader
Oswald Companies

Brian Stovsky is Business Development Leader, Private Equity at Oswald Companies. He enjoys writing about his profession (employee benefits, insurance, private equity), community and sports.

Cheryl Strom

Partner
The Riverside Company

As a highly experienced private equity professional, I bring a range of capital choices to business owners, management teams and advisors. Utilizing growth capital, non-control capital, majority-stake equity partnerships, full acquisitions, and debt for small and middle-market businesses, I can help your company or client. Tapping into 16 years of experience at The Riverside Company, I lead the firm’s Origination initiatives with deal source firms and referral sources based throughout the Midwestern United States. Together with a team of 16 Origination professionals across North America, we collectively establish new stand-alone companies, also called platform companies; and find and complete add-on acquisitions which enable Riverside's portfolio companies to expand by adding new product lines, service offerings, or geographies.

Aurora Toth

Area Managing Partner & CMO
Chief Outsiders

Aurora is an energetic, global brand leader, strategist and marketing expert known for quickly identifying business growth opportunity areas and developing pragmatic solutions. Her disciplined, metrics-based approach to strategy is grounded in best practices, driving customer demand while building loyalty. Aurora’s deep channel experience working with professional services, independent dealers, distributors/wholesalers, manufacturers, eCommerce, retail and franchise organizations enables her to connect-the-dots across distribution channels and create value. A seasoned operating executive, Aurora also matches Chief Outsiders CROs and CMO to client needs, advises CEOs and coaches marketing teams.

Chip Weinberg

Managing Partner
Weinberg Capital Group

Mr. Weinberg is the current Managing Partner of Weinberg Capital Group. Prior to joining Weinberg Capital, Mr. Weinberg served as Managing Director of Global Acquisitions and Business Development for Hawk Corporation (AMEX: HWK), a manufacturer of specialized components used in the aerospace, industrial and specialty consumer markets. Additionally, Mr. Weinberg was an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Ohio under the term of Attorney General Lee Fisher.

Ed Weinfurtner

Executive Chairman & Co-Owner
Great Day Improvements

Amy Willey

Member, M&A Group
McDonald Hopkins

Amy Willey is a Member in the firm’s Business Department and Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. Her practice is focused on representing both strategic buyers and sellers including private companies and private equity funds in various types of transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, leveraged buyouts, distressed acquisitions and dispositions, and investments. 

In addition to her merger and acquisition practice, Amy works extensively with family and privately owned companies on a variety of general corporate matters, including commercial contract negotiation, structuring business organizations, compliance and operational issues and business succession planning. Amy also works with companies in structuring and consummating venture capital and securities offerings. 

She has a strong passion for helping entrepreneurs and businesses on corporate social governance matters to help impact-driven companies continue to grow the revenues while having a positive social impact by assisting with business initiatives ranging from social finance and impact investing to organizational matters for “b corporations.” Amy brings this passion to her M&A practice by helping both buyers and sellers to ensure cultural alignment and integration planning in their transactions, and works as general outside counsel for companies with the dual objectives of profit and purpose. 

Amy earned her J.D., cum laude, from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2013. She also received a Master of Elementary Education, summa cum laude, from Arizona State University in 2009 and a B.A. in political science from Yale University in 2007, where she served as a coordinator for Dwight Hall, the largest campus-based student-run service organization in the country.  Following her undergraduate studies, she joined Teach for America as a corps member where she taught fifth grade and computers in Phoenix, Arizona, where she helped facilitate professional development programs and district curriculum development