2024 Hall of Fame Inductees
David Bovenizer
CEO
Lionheart Industrial Group LLC
Throughout his career in manufacturing and banking, David has completed more than 30 transactions totaling billions in value including leveraged acquisition financings, public debt offerings, joint ventures, cross border M&A, 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, as Executive Vice President and Partner, 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 Vice President, of North America for Zomax Incorporated, a media manufacturing, and supply chain management services company. He played a significant leadership role in expanding 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.
Prior to joining Zomax, he held several leadership positions at The Dyson-Kissner-Moran Corporation, including President, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Vice President of Finance, Director of Marketing, and Director of Operations. DKM is a privately held holding company based in New York City. He held leadership positions in its technology manufacturing business units including infrared optoelectronic components, fiber optic transceivers, automotive electronics, semiconductor test relays, and electronic sensors/actuators. In addition to operating responsibilities, he designed and launched a rotational MBA management development program called DAY ONE! He earned his MBA from the Columbia Graduate School of Business, graduating from Beta Gamma Sigma. He graduated magna cum laude from Lehigh University with a BA in Industrial Psychology.
Paul Farr
Investor
Canadeo Investments, LLC
Farr took Talen Energy Corporation public from PPL Corporation in mid-2015 and was its CEO while it was a public company. After a large private equity fund (Riverstone Partners) took Talen private in December of 2016, Farr and his executive team exited the company. Riverstone subsequently had Talen put a number of assets and businesses up for sale, including their entire portfolio of mechanical and industrial services companies. Farr and a number of investors, including 21 members of management from those companies, purchased McClure Company and Burns Mechanical in May, 2017. Burns was sold to an industry competitor in October 2020 and a majority stake in McClure was sold to a Japanese trading company in November, 2021, generating an amazing return on their original investment.
Farr continues to be involved in numerous other ventures, including startup diagnostics company HueDx (formerly Group K diagnostics) based in Philadelphia, a grow-process-dispense cannabis business in New Jersey and a portfolio of businesses in the mid-west specialized in commercial and industrial electrical and mechanical contracting. Farr was also a Smart Business Dealmaker of the Year Award winner in September, 2021.
Mitch Gyger
President & COO
OPS Security Group
Mitch brings over fifteen 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. His direct responsibilities include managing teams across key functional areas such as security services management, operations, business development, marketing, human resources, talent acquisition and development, finance, and quality assurance.
In addition to his operational duties, Mitch plays a pivotal role in the development and implementation of process improvement initiatives and strategic departmental plans that align with the company’s mission and are focused on delivering measurable results. He is also deeply committed to fostering community engagement, actively collaborating with local municipalities and agencies to establish best practices that enhance the safety and security of OPS Security Group’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.
C. Frank Igwé
President
Moravia Health
Dr. C. Frank Igwé is the Founder and President of Moravia Health, a Pennsylvania based Home Healthcare 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 (class of 2021) by the Philadelphia Business Journal. 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. He has been highlighted in various newspaper publications, including the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia Tribune, City and State, and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Frank holds a BS in Environmental Engineering from the University of Oklahoma, an MPP from the Fels School of Government at the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the Wharton School, also from the University of Pennsylvania. Frank received his PhD in Information Sciences & Technology from Penn State University in 2008, and is a 2008 Fellow of the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Craig Ritter
CEO
Ritter Insurance Marketing, LLC
Craig Ritter is the CEO of Ritter Insurance Marketing, a national field marketing organization (FMO) 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 2020-22, Ritter engaged in a combination of twelve acquisitions, both equity and asset transactions, culminating in a sale to Integrity Marketing Group. Craig is now a managing partner at Integrity Marketing Group.