The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in Chicago.
In addition, The Chicago 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 2025 class of winners October 16 at the Chicago Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Together, they provide a strong picture of the Chicago business community.
Dealmaker Of The Year Honorees
Diego Cuevas, Managing Partner of Pinnacle Capital Partners LLC. Diego completed Pinnacle Capital Partners’ first acquisition with the purchase of Southern Illinois Piping Contractors, rebranding the firm and positioning it for rapid expansion in the construction and home services sectors. This inaugural deal not only marks Pinnacle’s entry into M&A but also establishes a scalable platform with a $200 million acquisition pipeline — setting the stage for sustained mid-market growth across Illinois and beyond.
Tom McDonough, Founder & Managing Partner of TJM Capital Partners. Tom has led TJM Capital Partners through an impressive run of recent acquisitions, investing in companies such as Fore-Front Mechanical, Bridgeport Machine Tool, and Bourn & Koch. His disciplined focus on profitable lower-middle-market businesses has fueled long-term growth and platform expansion. Through strategic roll-ups and operational improvement, Tom continues to drive industry transformation while creating enduring value for investors, employees, and customers alike.
Bryan Schwartz. Bryan guided Trim-Tex through its first-ever acquisition in the company’s 56-year history, purchasing Plastic Components, Inc. to expand into exterior-grade PVC profiles. The transaction unites two strong brands and creates the industry’s most comprehensive finishing-solutions provider. By separating the real-estate assets, structuring a growth-focused deal, and executing a seamless integration, Bryan delivered a transformative milestone that positions Trim-Tex for accelerated expansion and innovation.
Michael Sheng. Michael played a key role in securing $50 million in Series A venture funding from Volition Capital and other investors — valuing ABCS Insights at $151 million. Under his technical leadership, the company has earned a place on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. The investment will fuel innovation in data-driven analytics and strengthen ABCS’s position as a rising force in the insights economy.
Steve Xu. Steve led Sibel Health through a $38.25 million Series C round backed by Drägerwerk, Steele Foundation for Hope, Samsung NEXT, and Maruho Co., Ltd. The funding accelerates commercialization of Sibel’s next-generation wearable sensors, which enable continuous, non-invasive patient monitoring. By bridging advanced technology with clinical precision, Steve is advancing health care innovation globally and redefining how data empowers better outcomes for patients and providers.
Social Impact Award Honorees
Roscoe Uniforms — Jim Buik, CEO; and Barbara Polk, Office Team Leader. For more than a century, Roscoe Uniforms has shown what it means to grow with purpose. Led by Jim Buik and Barbara Polk, the company has blended operational excellence with deep community commitment. From expanding through strategic building acquisitions and technology investments to hiring and training local residents, Roscoe has built both business strength and neighborhood pride. Jim’s work in forming a local business association and his leadership with Rotary/One Foundation’s Job1 program further amplify that impact — creating opportunities for Chicago teens and families. Together, this team has turned a legacy company into a model for sustainable, people-centered growth.
Dealmakers Hall of Fame Inductees
Mike Gamson. Prior to co-founding Permanent Capital Ventures, Mike had a 20+ year career as an operator and investor. Most recently, Mike served as CEO of Evozyne, an AI biotechnology company that aims to create novel proteins to solve long-standing challenges in therapeutics and sustainability. Prior to Evozyne, Mike was CEO of Relativity, a legal technology company backed by Silver Lake and ICONIQ. Prior to Relativity, Mike spent 11 years on the executive team at LinkedIn leading the global sales team of more than 5,000 people driving more than $5 billion in revenue through the $26 billion exit to Microsoft.
As an angel investor, Mike has advised and worked with 100+ companies over the last 20 years. Mike is on the board of three nonprofits: One-Goal, P33, and Green Schoolyards America. In 2019, he received the Entrepreneurial Champion Award from 1871 and the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center.
Mike holds an undergraduate degree in Comparative Religions and Fine Arts from Amherst College. Before jumping into Corporate America Mike spent a year running a surf lodge in Costa Rica. He currently resides in Chicago with his wife and three children.
Laurence Birch. Throughout his three-decade career, Larry Birch has led and transformed companies across life sciences, technology, and manufacturing, creating significant enterprise value along the way. As CEO of Anju Software, he guided the company through a period of rapid growth and global expansion, culminating in its 2024 sale to Valsoft Corporation, a transaction that positioned Anju among the largest independent providers of life sciences data solutions. Previously, Larry held leadership roles at Datatrak, NeoPharm, Baxter, and EDS, where he consistently drove innovation and strategic execution. Beyond business, Larry gives back as an adviser and educator, teaching leadership and strategy at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and supporting organizations like the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago and MATTER. His legacy reflects a rare combination of financial acumen, operational excellence, and deep community impact.
Louis Dodd. For more than five decades, Louis Dodd has exemplified entrepreneurial drive and long-term vision. Through Dodd Diversified Holdings, he has built a diversified portfolio valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars, spanning hospitality, financial services, and real estate. Louis has co-owned and developed landmark Chicago properties including The Amber Inn, The Chicago South Loop Hotel, and The Sable at Navy Pier — a $100 million Hilton Curio Collection property that stands as one of the city’s signature hotel developments. His ventures, including the renowned Pearl’s Place Restaurant, have generated local jobs and revitalized communities. A mentor and civic leader, Louis continues to invest in people as passionately as he invests in properties, sharing his knowledge with emerging entrepreneurs and supporting education initiatives throughout Chicago. His enduring influence embodies the true spirit of the Dealmakers Hall of Fame.
Martin Franchi. Martin Franchi has built his career at the intersection of finance and technology, transforming NinjaTrader into one of the most trusted trading platforms for active retail investors. Under his leadership, the company has grown into a leading fintech enterprise supporting tens of thousands of traders globally, combining innovative technology with a customer-first approach. Martin’s ability to scale operations, attract investment, and deliver enterprise value has positioned NinjaTrader as a model for sustainable, technology-driven growth. A champion of high-performance culture, Martin believes that purpose and values drive lasting success. He has led organizations through digital transformation, product innovation, and market expansion, always with an eye toward empowering teams and users alike. His leadership reflects a unique blend of operational excellence, strategic clarity, and cultural integrity.
Michael Werner. Michael Werner is reimagining the home services industry through technology and innovation. As founder and CEO of HomeX, he created a platform that blends human expertise with AI and augmented reality to solve home maintenance challenges quickly and intelligently. HomeX’s growing network of service companies across the Northeast reflects Michael’s vision for modernizing a legacy sector while improving customer experience and efficiency. Before HomeX, Michael served as President and CEO of Globe Union Group and led Werner Ladder Co. — his family’s century-old business — through significant growth and global expansion. His early career at Goldman Sachs shaped a disciplined approach to capital and strategy that now drives his entrepreneurial success. Deeply committed to community, Michael serves on the boards of the Lymphoma Research Foundation and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. His career unites innovation, leadership, and service.
