The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in Boston.
In addition, The Boston 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 2026 class of winners on March 5 at the Boston Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Together, they provide a strong picture of the Boston business community.
Dealmaker Of The Year Honorees
Joel Bryce and Dave Crabbe, Co-Founders, Essential Holdings. Dave Crabbe and Joel Bryce are building Essential Holdings as a long-hold investment firm dedicated to preserving New England’s leading blue-collar businesses. In 2025, they acquired Air Safe, Eastern Massachusetts’ market leader in environmental remediation, marking the firm’s second platform investment. With a 37-year reputation for quality and integrity, Air Safe exemplifies the durable companies they seek to steward. Their approach pairs disciplined capital with respect for legacy and long-term workforce continuity.
Bryan Barletta and Tom Webster, Partners, Sounds Profitable. As partners of Sounds Profitable, Tom Webster and Bryan Barletta orchestrated a landmark merger with Podcast Movement, uniting two influential platforms shaping the business of podcasting. The combined organization supports major creators and expands podcasting’s presence at global forums such as SXSW and Cannes Lions. With integrated events, media and industry intelligence, the merger strengthens podcasting’s commercial infrastructure and accelerates its evolution into a mainstream marketing and media channel.
Boston Impact Initiative. The Boston Impact Initiative and its leadership have advanced economic justice through catalytic capital and community-centered finance. The group drove the closing of an oversubscribed $22 million fund, deployment of $20 million across more than 100 enterprises, and creation of hundreds of living-wage jobs. They also launched the ARC Fellowship to train impact fund managers nationwide. Through disciplined investing and ecosystem building, Boston Impact Initiative continues expanding equitable access to capital and entrepreneurship.
Barry Hume, CEO, Matter Surfaces. As CEO of Matter Surfaces, Barry Hume led the company’s strategic sale to global flooring leader Gerflor Group, positioning the Massachusetts-based brand for international expansion. Founded in 1971, Matter has become a premier North American provider of sustainable architectural surface solutions. The transaction reflects Barry’s stewardship of a design-forward, market-leading brand while enabling continued growth under global ownership with leadership continuity and operational momentum preserved.
Nathan Isaacson and Joe Rusckowski, Corduroy Capital Partners. Founded in 2024, Corduroy Capital Partners is a private investment fund focused on acquiring and operating a single privately held business for long-term growth. Co-Founders Nathan Isaacson and Joe Rusckowski recently acquired Boston-based Tread Labs, an innovative insole and footwear brand founded by Chaco creator Mark Paigen. As Co-Owners and Presidents, they are leading the fast-growing company into its next chapter, combining operational expertise with a commitment to preserving legacy and driving sustainable expansion.
Bharath Kannan, CEO, Atlantic Quantum. As CEO of Atlantic Quantum, Bharath Kannan led the MIT-founded startup to a transformative milestone: its acquisition by Google Quantum AI, accelerating the race toward scalable quantum computing. Under his leadership, the company advanced a modular chip stack integrating qubits with superconducting control electronics, addressing one of the field’s toughest scaling challenges. The transaction brings breakthrough technology and top-tier talent into Google’s quantum program, demonstrating Bharath’s ability to translate frontier research into strategic enterprise value.
Sean Kearney, CEO, UberDoc . As CEO of UberDoc, Sean Kearney positioned the digital health care marketplace for its next phase of growth through a definitive reverse-merger agreement to become a public company. The platform connects patients directly with thousands of specialists across more than 50 fields through transparent, direct-pay access. Supported by more than $25 million in funding, Sean is expanding nationwide access to expedited specialty care while advancing a consumer-driven health care model.
Heather Kelly, Vice President of Finance, Rare Beauty Brands. As Vice President of Finance at Rare Beauty Brands, Heather Kelly led a transformative acquisition that nearly doubled the company’s size and market presence. She directed every phase of the transaction — due diligence, negotiation, financing and post-close integration across teams and systems — ensuring a seamless transition. Heather’s strategic leadership positioned the organization for accelerated growth and operational scale, marking a defining expansion milestone in its evolution.
Mary Larkin, President, Americas, Nineteen Group. As President of Nineteen Group Americas, Mary Larkin accelerated U.S. expansion through three strategic 2025 acquisitions, including The Lead, a premier portfolio of executive-level retail events. The transaction strengthens presence in the American retail market, adding The Lead Summit and its influential forums and media platforms serving thousands of senior brand leaders. By backing founder-led brands and scaling high-impact communities, Mary continues positioning Nineteen Group as a growth platform for industry-defining events.
Paul Lipson, Co-Founder and Partner, Fort Point Capital. Paul Lipson helped lead the successful sale of Jones Lake Management to Leonard Green & Partners, marking a transformative exit for Fort Point Capital. Since investing in 2022, he partnered with management to execute a sustainable growth strategy, expanding operations from four states to 26 while tripling revenue and increasing EBITDA more than fourfold. The transaction underscores Paul’s disciplined lower middle-market buyout approach and his ability to scale service businesses into national leaders.
Court Townsend and Jim Townsend, COO and Executive Chairman, Townsend Energy. Court and Jim Townsend led the strategic merger of Townsend Energy with Bartlett & Steadman, expanding plumbing and HVAC capabilities across Massachusetts’ North Shore. By retaining the longstanding Bartlett & Steadman brand and workforce, they advanced a growth strategy rooted in service excellence and community continuity. The combination strengthens Townsend Energy’s full-service home and energy platform while preserving trusted local relationships and regional scale.
Social Impact Dealmakers Award Honoree
Sarah Clabby, CEO, and Maxine Winston, Chief Development Officer, Magical Beginnings Learning Centers. At Magical Beginnings Learning Centers, Sarah Clabby and Maxine Winston are building a growth-driven model of social impact in early education. Since early 2025, they have guided the private equity–backed organization through leadership transition and rapid expansion, growing from 13 Massachusetts centers to 20 locations across two states in just eight months. They pair disciplined dealmaking with empathy and trust, integrating independent childcare providers while preserving community roots. By investing deeply in educators, operational excellence and relationship-driven growth, they are scaling access to high-quality early education. Their work strengthens families, supports the workforce, and expands opportunity across the communities they serve.
Dealmakers Hall of Fame Honorees
Arthur N. Mabbett, Chairman & CEO, Mabbett & Associates, Inc. Arthur has devoted more than half a century to advancing environmental health, safety, and engineering excellence. In 1980, he founded Mabbett & Associates, growing it into a multidisciplinary consulting and engineering firm while remaining personally engaged in technical work across complex projects. Over his career, he has led multiple acquisitions and successful exits across the U.S. and U.K., reflecting both entrepreneurial vision and disciplined leadership. Before founding Mabbett, Arthur established the Health and Environment Group at a major Cambridge engineering firm and served as an Environmental Science Officer in the U.S. Army, earning the Meritorious Service and Army Commendation Medals.
Mark McWeeny, Co-Founder & CEO, Rue Gilt Groupe. As co-founder and CEO of Rue Gilt Groupe (ROO GILT GROOP), Mark McWeeny has helped shape one of the most influential digital commerce platforms in off-price retail. Since assuming the CEO role in 2016, he has guided the company through transformative growth, expanding membership to more than 20 million and leading major strategic initiatives, including the acquisition of Gilt and the joint venture with Simon Property Group to launch ShopSimon.com. Mark’s leadership spans finance, strategy and new ventures, reflecting a deep understanding of digital marketplaces and consumer behavior as he has positioned Rue Gilt Groupe as a durable leader in online retail.
Daya Singh, Founder and CEO, Apache Trucking and Logistics. Daya Singh has spent decades building businesses grounded in resilience, specialization, and respect for the workforce. After earlier success growing Sharp Airfreight into New England’s largest airfreight trucking company, he returned to his core passion in 2014, launching Apache Trucking and Logistics with just two trucks. Guided by a philosophy of customer-first service, refrigerated transport expertise, and above-market pay for drivers, Apache rapidly scaled into a leading regional carrier. Daya has continued expanding his entrepreneurial footprint, founding Boston Perishables freight brokerage and Singh Realty Group, a value-add real estate development firm. Across industries, his approach remains consistent: invest in people, operate with discipline, and build organizations positioned for long-term growth and opportunity.
