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.

William Blake III

Partner
Beringea

Bill is responsible for making and managing investments, shaping the firm’s strategic direction, and helping to lead a growing team of investors and analysts. He serves as a board director for Beringea portfolio companies Rush ReCommerce, ATLAS Space Operations, and Flywheel and is a board observer for Dentologie, Tovala, Hygenica, and Freeosk. He previously served as a board director for Fiber By-Products (acquired by Lignetics Group), Avid Ratings (acquired by ECI Solutions), Complion (acquired by Real-Time Software Solutions), and Montage Talent (acquired by Shaker International).

Bill was recognized as a Crain’s Detroit Business "40 Under 40” award winner and is a member of the Events Committee with the Michigan Venture Capital Association. Prior to joining Beringea, Bill was an investment banking associate in Southeast Michigan, where he supported the management of middle market sell-side and buy-side transactions, advising clients on divestitures, acquisitions, and refinancings.

He received a bachelor’s degree in finance from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

John Decker

Partner
Taft

John has expertise in complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financings, private equity and venture capital investments, cross-border transactions, general contracts, and securities. He represents a diverse client base ranging from individual entrepreneurs and professional athletes to private equity firms, private foundations, and global businesses. In addition, John serves as outside general counsel to several firm clients in support of their day-to-day and strategic, long-term operations.

Etrit Demaj

Co-Founder & CEO
KODE Labs

Brian Demkowicz

Chairman & Founding Partner
Huron Capital Partners LLC

Brian is a seasoned investor and entrepreneur with a 30+ year track record of successfully transforming and building middle-market companies in partnership with experienced operating executives. He founded Huron Capital in 1999 with the goal of building great companies with great people through the deployment of high-impact buy-and-build investment strategies, the core tenets of which include improving profitability through operating efficiencies and accelerating growth through strategic add-ons. Since inception, Huron Capital has successfully established six private equity funds totaling nearly $2.0 billion and invested in over 275 businesses throughout North America underpinned by its margin-of-safety approach.

Derek Dickow

Founder
Power Connections

Derek Dickow, a strategic networking advisor and founder of Power Connections, works with CEOs, and top innovators, sharing his expertise through his ‘5 Pillars of Purpose-Driven Networking.’ Through Power Connections, he also organizes high-impact conferences that foster meaningful connections and growth among among business leaders. In addition to his role as a board member of the Small Business Association of Michigan, Dickow is an ambassador for the Children’s Foundation and a member of the National Speakers Association.

Wafa Dinaro

Executive Director
New Economy Initiative

Wafa Dinaro is the executive director for the New Economy Initiative (NEI), a project of the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan. In this role, she leads the program and grantmaking activities for entrepreneurship-based donors of the Community Foundation. She also cultivates public support for inclusive entrepreneurship and small business development-related initiatives.

Before her current role, Dinaro directed economic development for Wayne County, Michigan. Her responsibilities included the oversight and execution of Wayne County’s economic development initiatives including business attraction, retention and expansion programs, small business, and entrepreneurial support.

Dinaro has held a variety of other positions in the private and public sector over the years and is seasoned at developing partnerships between business and government. Her professional background includes project management, community development, strategic planning, and communication. Dinaro’s experience also includes diplomatic work, where she led operations for the Department of Defense while assigned to Defense Attaché Offices in U.S Embassies around the world.

Dinaro holds a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in political science and communications from the University of Michigan.

Rick Ellis

Managing Director
Grand Sakwa Capital, LLC

Rick Ellis is a Managing Director and Co-Founder of Grand Sakwa Capital, LLC. The company invests in operating companies as well as alternative assets. Prior to that, Rick was a Managing Director and Licensed Investment Banker for JPMorgan Chase. He ran their Southeast Michigan Commercial Banking operations.

Laura Engelland

Principal
Uphill Partners LLC

Laura Engelland founded Uphill Partners to search for, acquire, and operate a business in Southeast Michigan. Prior to running Uphill, Laura built businesses and drove product adoption while working at market-leading companies like iRobot Corporation and Ford Motor Company. As a marketer and growth strategist, Laura creates a vision and secures the tools and resources to achieve it. Laura is a former NCAA Div. I athlete in cross country and track & field, bringing dedication and teamwork to her pursuits.

Dan Gallagher

Client Advocate
Lockton

Dan is a Producer at Lockton, responsible for new business growth and developing long-term client relationships. His expertise is primarily centered on complex large-scale property and casualty solutions for private equity, automotive manufacturing, and real estate clients. Dan is involved in the local and national business community through several non-profits and networking organizations.

Gerry Giudici

President
Barden Brook Capital, LLC

Gerry is President of Barden Brook Capital. This is an advisory firm and investment partner to private equity groups, portfolio companies, and privately-held companies. Gerry is an operating partner with Covington Capital, where he is President, Board Director, and shareholder of portfolio company Onodi Tool & Engineering. Gerry also serves as a Board Director for Spartan Light Metal Products, and as an advisor to Mauser Packaging and Dromos s.r.l. of Italy. Gerry continues his work with private equity groups as an investment partner, executive advisor, industry advisor, and Board Director assisting with deal sourcing, diligence, execution, and management. Gerry has held senior leadership roles for private equity sponsored manufacturing companies, including portfolio companies of the Carlyle Group, Wynnchurch Capital, and the Questor Fund.

Rob Godlewski

Area Managing Partner & Chief Growth Officer
Chief Outsiders

A growth-oriented, process driven senior level executive, Rob offers progressive global leadership experience and commercial awareness across all aspects of business operations. With a track record of accomplishments in Corporate Strategy, Business Growth and Organizational Excellence, he creates processes and procedures that drive profitability, improve productivity, focus on continuous improvement, and decrease costs.

Marc Griffin

Corporate Relationship Manager
Old National Bank

Marc Griffin has over 10 years of commercial banking experience serving Middle Market companies throughout the Midwest. Mr. Griffin is currently serving corporate clients at Old National Bank, with experience at Huntington Bank and Flagstar Bank.

Marc has an MBA and MSF from Walsh College.

Rob Grimaldi

COO
Viscogliosi Brothers

Rob Grimaldi is chief operating officer of Viscogliosi Brothers, a leading investor and innovator in the med-tech space, and co-founder and CEO of Ad Infinitum Cell Preservation Technologies, a firm creating novel cryopreservation solutions for medical research applications. He has been directly involved in many entrepreneurial led companies across multiple sectors from seed and venture stage to exit/IPO.

Matthew Gurwin

Private Wealth Advisor, Vice President
Graystone Consulting

Matthew Gurwin is a Vice President and Private Wealth Advisor for Graystone Consulting at Morgan Stanley. He specializes in advising wealthy business owners and families, especially those considering substantial liquidity events due to the sale or recapitalization of a privately held business. A veteran of the financial services industry, Matt draws on his 20 years of experience in the field to collaborate with professionals in a range of industries, build relationships with existing and prospective clients, and enhance internal operations to improve our clients' experience.

Matt earned both his Bachelor’s Degree and his MBA from the University of Michigan. Prior to joining Graystone Consulting -Chicago, Matt was a Principal at Doeren Mayhew leading their firm’s business development efforts

Earlier in his career, Matt worked at TelemusCapital Partners, LLC, as a managing director and as an Investment Banker for Deloitte Corporate Finance. Outside the office, Matt enjoys spending quality time with his wife, Aundrianna and their four children.

David Hamilton

Founder & CEO
Kickpoint Ventures

Rick Hampson

President
Old National Bank

Rick Hampson is a hands-on Business Leader with over 26 years of commercial banking experience in large corporate syndicated banking and middle market banking at Old National Bank, Citizens Bank, PNC Bank, Comerica Bank and Brown Brothers Harriman & Company.

Proven experience managing a commercial banking portfolio of corporate clients, guiding strategic market direction and overseeing P&L. Accomplished business development professional, skilled in asset-based lending, finance, middle market, lines of credit, and commercial lending.

Throughout my career I have developed additional experience in investment banking and managing M&A advisory efforts. I am an active community leader and current Board Member for organizations including Gleaners Community Food Bank, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Metro Detroit and Detroit Regional Chamber. M.B.A. from Columbia University Business School in Finance & International Business and B.S. from Boston College in Finance.

John Henderson

Chairman & CEO
AEL Holdings, LLC

John Henderson is Chairman and CEO of AEL Holdings and Executive Vice President of Walker Supply Chain Management, a global logistics company. The company has over one billion in annual revenues, and controls over 2 million square feet of operations in North America. He is experienced in the process of acquiring, scaling, and selling businesses, and inspiring other leaders toward success; has held senior management and board-level positions in banking, venture capital management, manufacturing, and logistics.

Tim Hildebrand

Co-CEO
Monument MicroCap Partners

Tim joined Monument in 2019 and opened the Michigan office in 2021. Tim has over 10 years of middle market buyout experience. Prior to Joining Monument, Tim was a Senior Associate at HKW. Previously, Tim was an investment analyst at Northwestern Mutual Capital, the private asset arm of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Tim earned his B.S. from Marquette University and MBA at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Ken Johnson

Founder / CEO
Spring Arbor Group

Ken Johnson is the Co-founder and CEO of the private equity firm, Spring Arbor Group. Ken is a visionary entrepreneur with a long track record of founding successful companies. Ken's businesses have spanned a number of diverse industries. He founded his first business in the Toy & Game industry, that company has operated continually for over 40 years. He has built and sold several other businesses, including a hedge fund and a telecommunications firm.

Randy Johnson

President & CEO
Pangea Made

Lindsey Kilbride

Investor/ Principal
Detroit Venture Partners

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. 

Philip L'Esperance

COO
Ascension Group International

With over 25 years of experience in the industrial space, Phil specializes in spearheading operations-focused initiatives that help organizations improve their business. He is responsible for managing relationships and new pursuits with an emphasis on operations performance improvement, planning, and lean process opportunities. Phil has extensive experience in multiple industries including automotive, industrial, food processing, and medical device manufacturing. Phil is the COO of Ascension Group International, a technology-led management consulting and private equity firm.

Tracy Larsen

Partner, M&A Practice Leader
Honigman

Tracy Larsen is a corporate partner and leader of Honigman’s M&A practice. Having one of the most active transactional practices in the Midwest, Tracy represents clients in a wide array of mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, recapitalization, restructuring and corporate finance transactions. He has led hundreds of M&A transactions, both domestic and international, involving tens of billions of dollars in trade value.

Alec Lee

CEO
Endless West

Alec is the Co-Founder and CEO of Endless West, a food technology company using innovative methods to create wines and spirits at the molecular level. After leaving Harvard Business School to pursue a new startup venture, Alec teamed up with fellow scientist and CTO, Mardonn Chua, to form Endless West. There they developed the first whiskey ever to be made note by note, using flavor and aroma molecules extracted from more efficient sources in nature. Unlike conventional spirits, Endless West’s products are made without any barrel aging, which means significantly less wood, water, and land is used in its production process.

Ethan Linkner

Managing Partner
Muditā Venture Partners LLC

VC by day, builder by night. Co-founding Partner of Muditā Venture Partners. Currently deploying from $125m fund II. Pre-VC, I've built and sold multiple tech businesses. Eternal optimist and allergic to excuses. I also have an unusually high winning percentage at small claims raffles. Umich '06, Go Blue.

Thom Lipari

Retired CEO
Benchmark Beverage Co.

Thom Lipari was the CEO of Lipari Foods, until June of 2024. Throughout the years, Thom has worked across every department of Lipari Foods to be grounded in all aspects of the company’s operations. He has played a major role in the company’s tremendous growth over the past 20 years, closing multiple strategic acquisitions and leading his team into new business opportunities, such as expansion into the multiple “Perimeter of the Store” categories as well as creating a National Sales & Importing division and a manufacturing division. The company currently services customers in over 37 states with over 3,000 associates and annual revenue of $1.8 billion.

Thom retired from Lipari Foods in June of 2024 and is currently working with another family business, Benchmark Beverage, which is in the adult beverage industry. Besides his involvement in the beverage business, he also sits on several outside boards of companies in the food industry.

Fred Minturn

Group Chairman
MSX International

Fred Minturn is Group Chairman at MSX International. Under his leadership, the company has achieved double-digit growth year on year. Previously, he served as MSX’s President and CEO, as well as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

For 40 years, Fred has focused on developing global solutions for OEMs and continues to do so today. He serves on the Board of Directors for MSX, The Detroit Athletic Club, Automotive Hall of Fame, The Children’s Foundation, The HELM at the Boll Life Center and Business Leaders for Michigan. He was selected for Staffing Industry Analyst’s Staffing 100 as one of the most influential people in the industry. Additionally, Fred was recognized as a Supply and Demand Chain Executive. He has been named Crain’s Detroit Business CFO of the Year and has recently become a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

David Mitchell

Managing Partner
TRP Capital Partners

Dave Mitchell has spent 22 years at TRP Capital Partners where he serves as Managing Partner. TRP makes investments in growth-oriented businesses in the transportation sector and is currently investing out of its sixth fund. The firm capitalizes on strategic relationships, commercial synergies, and the transportation expertise of its partners to support existing management teams while giving them autonomy to run their businesses. Prior to TRP, Dave spent 11 years in consulting in the areas of distribution, supply chain, manufacturing and technology.

Robi Mitra

Managing Director
Sturbridge Capital

Robi joined Sturbridge Capital in November of 2020 as a Managing Director leading the firm’s business development and fundraising activities. Robi participates on the Investment Committee and helps source and evaluate new transactions.

Prior to joining Sturbridge, Robi spent five years in operational roles with Bollinger Motors as Finance Director and K&A Resource Group as Chairman & CEO. Prior to his role as an operator and entrepreneur, Robi advised on or participated in more than 75 transactions during his 26 years of family office, private equity, investment banking, and capital markets experience.

In his spare time, Robi is an active board member and advisory board member to the Tri-Community Coalition and the Einstein Educational Ecosystem. Robi received his Master Business Administration, with a concentration in Finance from Wayne State University and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Michigan.

Michael Nolan

Development Director
Sales Xceleration

Michael Nolan is the Development Director – Private Equity and Quality of Sales at Sales Xceleration. He is responsible for building relationships with private equity sponsors and helping their portfolio companies grow their topline performance to build value creation and accelerate performance. Michael and his team leverage a collective of 110 sales leaders with portfolio company experience to help their companies grow 32% in year 1, resulting in $1.7B in revenue growth. Their focus is to drive significant growth through strategy formulation, process development, and effective execution in pre-acquisition due diligence, value acceleration during the hold period, and value maximization to support successful exits.

Rich Pennock

President
Technology Resource Group

Rich is a human capital leader focused on driving innovation and business results through talent management and supply chain strategies. He is a 25 year veteran of the staffing industry.

During his industry tenure, Rich has been responsible for establishing customer-centric approaches to Operations Management across multiple Talent Solutions. This has included managing teams of recruiters and account managers challenged with driving growth while identifying and creating customized workforce solutions to meet talent demands.

When he is not supporting the team at Technology Resource Group, he can be found giving back to the Detroit start-up community by mentoring Mobility entrepreneurs.

Mykolas Rambus

CEO
Hush

Passionate leader with a focus on big data, SaaS, FinTech, and media. Global business experience with track record in P&L growth, business development, operations management, information technology, complex project management, and data protection and privacy. Highly experienced, media-savvy brand builder. Quoted regularly by CNN, WSJ, the New York Times, CNBC, the FT, Reuters and the BBC.

Lee Rawlings

Managing Director
ID Ventures

Lee Rawlings is Managing Director at ID Ventures and has 20+ years in operations, strategy, and financial transactions in several of, what he likes to call, modern society’s connective tissue technologies: Telecom, Energy, Aerospace & Defense, and Automotive / Mobility. Over the span of his career, Lee has helped drive over $3Bn in transactions, including M&A, public equity & debt financings, and more recently, early-stage technology investing. Lee's stops along the way include U.S. Army, Credit Suisse, Morgan Stanley, Cruise, and GM Ventures. Lee earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and his MBA from Harvard Business School.

Sean Roberts

Managing Partner
HighGrove Companies

Sean Roberts is the Managing Partner of HighGrove Companies, a private investment firm focused on acquisitions of consumer products, consumer services, and business services companies in the lower middle market. Since founding HighGrove in 2019, HighGrove has closed 5 acquisitions through 4 separate portfolio companies. Sean is an active board member of each company, providing strategic direction to execute growth initiatives. Prior to founding HighGrove, Sean was a Partner at Huron Capital.

Robert Ross

President & COO
Helm & Target Marketing Group

Dominick Schiano

President and Co-Founding Partner
Evergreen Capital Partners LLC

Mr. Schiano is the President and co-founding Partner of Evergreen Capital Partners LLC. Evergreen has been engaged by The Gores Group as a Senior Advisor in the industrial sector, by TowerBrook Capital Partners where Mr. Schiano was a member of the Management Advisory Board and by DLJ Merchant Banking Partners where held the position of Vice Chairman – Global Industrial Partners. Prior to forming Evergreen, Mr. Schiano served as a Managing Director and member of the Investment Committee of Questor Partner Funds.

Previously, Mr. Schiano served in various senior operating, finance and M&A roles at Textron Inc., TRW Inc. ( now ZF), Wickes Companies Inc., and its predecessor, Gulf+Western Industries Inc. Mr. Schiano began his career at Emerson Electric Company Inc. He is a six-sigma champion

Dom has served on over 30 local government, sponsor owned, joint venture, public company and charitable boards. He is currently on the Board of Luminar Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: LAZR) and a number of sponsor owned companies.

Dan Shanahan

Director
Mason Wells

As a Director of Mason Wells Buyout Funds, Mr. Shanahan is primarily responsible for supporting the investment activities of those funds. In this capacity, Mr. Shanahan is responsible for initiating investment opportunities, conducting due diligence, negotiating debt financings, serving on the Board of Directors of portfolio companies, and working with portfolio company management teams.

Before joining Mason Wells in 2018, Mr. Shanahan worked as an Investment Banking Associate in Robert W. Baird’s Industrial Group, where he focused on middle-market M&A advisory engagements.

Mr. Shanahan received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with Distinction in Finance from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Michael Shebak

Head of Enterprise Sales and Marketing
Clearstead Advisors, LLC

Mike joined Clearstead in 2006. Mike leverages his many years of institutional investment consulting experience to serve as Clearstead’s Head of Institutional Consulting. In this role, he sets the direction and management of the firm’s institutional consulting practice and OCIO business (PRISM). As a member of the Leadership Committee, Mike leads efforts to deliver innovative solutions to clients, grow our practice, and mentor our talented professionals. Proudly, Mike also continues to directly manage some of the firm’s most complex institutional clients.

Mike obtained his MBA from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, and his BA from Wittenberg University. Prior to joining Clearstead, Mike led the investment advisory product management and investment operations functions for two large regional banks. Mike currently serves on the Board of the Community Foundation of Lorain County as Chair of the Foundation’s Investment Committee, and on the Board of the Cleveland Chapter of Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Chris Sheeren

Partner
Longhouse Partners, LLC

Chris has over 20 years of private equity experience, after spending 10+ years in turnaround consulting, public accounting, and sales. Prior to co-founding Longhouse, he was a Partner at Huron Capital, and he has also worked with Conway McKenzie, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Revlon.

Paul Talbot

Business Performance Advisor
Insperity

With over two decades shaping agile workforces, Paul Talbot advises growth stage companies on how to execute their business strategies through and with their people. Paul designs cohesive talent strategies by integrating talent acquistion, talent development, training, employee relations, total compensation, and compliance programs that optimize the employee experience. As an Advisor for Insperity he depends on a world class team of HR specialists to execute on plans that increase the likelihood, speed, and degree of success for his clients.

Pete Thomas

Chair
Vistage Michigan

Pete facilitates peer groups of C-level leaders who are committed to professional and personal growth and the success and well-being of each other. At monthly peer group meetings, Vistage members offer agenda-free advice — and challenge each other to take courageous, thoughtful steps. Vistage members become better leaders and make better decisions.

Scott Thomsen

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman
LuxWall

Alison Todak

Director
Plymouth Growth

Alison is the Director of Platform at Plymouth Growth. In this role, she focuses on supporting and developing critical resources for Plymouth’s portfolio companies, and leading efforts across marketing, communications, and overall community building. Prior to Plymouth Growth, Alison worked to create founder-focused communities and events for technology entrepreneurs, focusing on building bridges between entrepreneurs and the greater technology community.

Alison's passion project is Shine & Rise, a support network for women in tech that she co-founded in 2019 alongside Kristina Oberly.

Sam Valenti III

Chairman & CEO
Valenti Capital, LLC | World Capital Partners

Sam is chairman of the board of TriMas Corp., a NYSE $1 billion manufacturer of highly engineered precision products for industry. He is also lead director of the board of American Axle Corp., a $7 billion company. He is the former president of Masco Capital Corp., and a 40-year veteran of the company.

Stephane Vedie

CEO
LUXIT Group

Stephane is the CEO of LUXIT Group, a global lighting supplier to the Automotive Industry.

He has 25 years experience in the automotive industry working for global corporations in Europe and North America. Prior to joining LUXIT Group, Mr. Vedie was the North American CEO at Magneti Marelli (now Marelli) and the Global CEO at Varroc Lighting Systems (now Plastic Omnium Lighting).

He joined New Water Capital in September 2021, a PE firm located in Boca Raton Florida, to lead their automotive platform. LUXIT Group was created with the acquisition of 5 different privately owned companies. Mr. Vedie holds dual Masters Degrees, one in Purchasing from University of Grenoble (France,) and the other in Business Administration from the Graduate School of Business in Amiens (France). He is also a Non-Executive Director and a Board Member at Seeing Machines (LSE: SEE).

Brittany Westerman

Chief Operating Officer
365 Retail Markets

Brittany Westerman is the Chief Operating Officer for 365 Retail Markets, the market leading provider of unattended retail technology. Through organic growth and acquisitions, 365 has built a technology platform that foodservice operators rely on to power their stores and run their operations. While with 365, Brittany has overseen all transactions including mergers, acquisitions, and private equity recapitalizations.

Monica Wheat

Managing Director, Techstars
Executive Director, Venture Catalysts

Monica Wheat is a Strategist, Investor, Consultant and Venture Developer. She currently serves as the Managing Director of the Techstars Detroit powered by JP Morgan Accelerator, part of a global seed-stage accelerator network in 44+ cities worldwide. She is the Founder & Executive Director of Venture Catalysts, an ecosystem development group serving 50,000+ program attendees. She previously served as a Techstars Startup Programs Lead for 10+ years and Managing Director for Backstage Capital Accelerator.

Samantha Ziarko

Managing Partner
Diag Partners

Daniel Zinser

Senior Vice President
Old National Bank

Dan is a Corporate Banking Senior Vice President at Old National Bank. He is responsible for helping lead Old National Bank’s growth effort in Southeast Michigan. Daniel has more than 15 years of commercial banking experience including credit, portfolio management, middle market, and large corporate lending. He has an M.B.A and a BS in Finance from University of Detroit Mercy.