Dealmakers Roundtable: Leaping into 2024

John Lewis is a founder of his law firm, dedicates his focus to assisting clients in building their business value, including M&A, succession planning and corporate governance. John's passion comes from his childhood involvement in his father's trucking business, including being thrust into running the business and selling it when his father suddenly died when John was 29.

Rob joined PNC Mezzanine Capital in 2007. Prior to joining PNC, Rob was an analyst for the Sterling Group, L.P., where he evaluated and executed leveraged buyout investments in middle market industrial companies. Before Sterling, Rob was an associate consultant for L.E.K. Consulting LLC where he provided strategic and operations advisory services to a broad range of clients.

Rob is a director of Eastern Vault Company, Inc., Identity Group Holdings Corp, Kellstrom Holding Corporation, Magnum Magnetics Corporation, Polycor, Inc., Rescon Holdings, LLC; and has oversight responsibility for PNC Mezzanine’s investment in SemiTorr Group. Rob was previously a director of Century Mold Co., Inc. and VWS Holdco, Inc. (dba Virginia Waste Services).

Rob received a BA in Economics from Northwestern University and an MBA with high honors from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Bill Delaney is the CEO of Distributor Service, Inc. (DSI) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. DSI was a family-run business, which was founded by Bill Delaney’s father in 1968.  Bill was named as President of DSI in 1998 and grew the business to 8 distribution locations in 5 states with approximately 150 employees.  DSI is headquartered in Carnegie, PA and provides raw materials to the cabinet and woodworking industries.  DSI was sold to Hood Industries, a MS wood manufacturer and distributor with 15 distribution operations located in 13 states. The geographical fit was a key component in making this an attractive acquisition for Hood. This makes the Hood - DSI combination one of the largest distributors in the architectural wood products industry. The work to begin integrating the two companies sharing synergies on both sides are now the primary focus for both companies.

Brian D. Walters was appointed Executive Vice President and General Counsel in 2021. In this role, he directs and manages all legal matters for Matthews, both nationally and internationally. Brian serves as the Secretary for the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of Matthews' Board of Directors. Brian is also responsible for overseeing the Corporation's evolving compliance programs, including anti-corruption, export controls, insider trading, anti-trust, and more.

Prior to his current role, Brian was the Senior Vice President and General Counsel. He first joined Matthews in 2005 as Corporate Counsel at a time when Matthews' global expansion was just beginning. Before this, Brian worked in private practice for ten years.

A graduate of Boston College and Duquesne University School of Law, Brian was a member of the Order of Barristers and a published author and editor of the Duquesne Law Review.