The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in Cleveland.
In addition, The Cleveland 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 on June 12 at the Cleveland Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Together, they provide a strong picture of the Cleveland business community.
Dealmaker Of The Year Honorees
Todd Federman, Managing Director of North Coast Ventures; and Adam Roth, Founder & President of AmpliFund. Together, Todd and Adam helped take AmpliFund, a Cleveland-based grant management software company, from early-stage growth to an acquisition by Euna Solutions, backed by GI Partners. North Coast Ventures led both the Seed and Series A rounds for AmpliFund, and their shared journey culminated in a high-impact transaction that expands Euna’s capabilities and reaffirms Cleveland’s growing strength in tech. The deal highlights the power of aligned leadership, long-term vision, and strategic capital in scaling public sector-focused innovation.
Tracy Garrison, CEO of Geon Performance Solutions; and Rob Abrams, Principal, SK Capital Partners. In a strategic move, GEON acquired Foster Corporation, expanding its footprint in the high-growth medical polymer market. This deal marked GEON’s fourth acquisition since 2021 and significantly strengthened its position in engineered polymer solutions for health care and beyond. Backed by SK Capital Partners, Tracy and Rob have built a disciplined, acquisition-driven strategy that has propelled GEON to become a formidable global leader in the specialty materials sector.
Jerry Grisko, President & CEO of CBIZ. Under Jerry’s leadership, CBIZ completed the largest deal in its history with the acquisition of Marcum in 2024. The transaction created the largest professional services provider of its kind in the U.S., expanding CBIZ’s reach to over 160 offices and 10,000 team members nationwide. Jerry has fostered a high-performance culture rooted in innovation, client service, and national reach — all while staying grounded in Cleveland. His vision continues to shape CBIZ as a forward-thinking powerhouse.
Aaron Grossman, Chairman of Praos Health. Aaron led Praos Health, a tech-forward hiring optimization platform for clinicians, through a successful acquisition by TalentLaunch and into a new phase of growth. After closing a pre-seed round in 2023, Praos is now raising a $4 million seed round to further expand its footprint in health care staffing innovation. Aaron’s ability to connect strategy, capital, and mission has helped shape Praos into a forward-thinking force in health care talent solutions, and his leadership is helping reshape how providers and professionals connect.
Chris Jones, Managing Partner of Align Capital Partners. Chris and his team at Align Capital Partners have built one of the most prolific and respected lower-middle-market private equity firms in the country. With $1.8 billion in committed capital and more than 140 deals closed — including 40 in the last two years — Align is powering impressive growth across business services, tech, and manufacturing. Chris has helped Align become a national benchmark for disciplined investment and operational excellence.
Robert Klonk, Chairman & CEO of Unison Risk Advisors and Oswald Companies. Robert and his team have transformed Unison Risk Advisors into one of the fastest-growing platforms for risk management and insurance brokerage in the country. With 25 closed deals since 2022 and more expected, URA’s unique employee-ownership model and brand-agnostic approach are redefining what growth can look like for independent firms. This approach not only preserves legacy brands but accelerates their growth through shared infrastructure, talent, and culture. Special recognition goes to Jessica Jung, Andrew Maisano, and Andrew Vento for their instrumental roles.
Brian Krusz, Chief Growth & Development Officer, Sgt. Clean Car Wash. Sgt. Clean Car Wash has rapidly scaled from a local startup to a 16-location chain across Northeast Ohio. In 2023, the company completed a strategic debt recapitalization to fuel continued expansion and acquisitions, following a successful partnership with Prairie Capital. Brian’s leadership and entrepreneurial drive have helped Sgt. Clean build one of the region’s most recognized consumer brands, and his vision has been key to the brand’s strong culture, growth, and community impact.
Sanjay Singh, Private Investor and Board Advisor, Mace Security International. Sanjay guided Mace Security International through a transformative merger with W Electric Holdings, ushering in a new era of innovation and growth for this iconic personal safety brand. Known for its trusted pepper sprays and self-defense products, Mace is now poised for greater reach and capability in both consumer and professional markets. Sanjay’s steady leadership was key in aligning operational strength with long-term strategic vision as he took the public company private as part of the deal.
Justin Thomas, Partner, Cohen & Co. Cohen & Co. completed a landmark strategic growth investment with Lovell Minnick Partners in 2024, marking its first institutional capital raise. The deal accelerates the firm’s long-term plan to invest in innovation, expand services, and increase equity ownership among employees. It also reinforces Cohen & Co.’s commitment to its people while strengthening its national leadership in the advisory space. Justin’s leadership helped guide this pivotal step forward.
Hall of Fame Honorees
Fady Chamoun, CEO of Seasoned Brands LLC. Fady Chamoun is the visionary behind Aladdin’s Eatery, the beloved American-Lebanese restaurant he co-founded with his wife, Sally, in 1994. What began as a single location has grown into Seasoned Brands, a restaurant group that now operates 48 locations across four states and employs over 2,000 people. The portfolio includes successful concepts like Sittoo’s, Boaz Café, and Taza — A Lebanese Grill, along with farm-to-table ventures like The Oak Barrel and Forage Public House. Fady didn’t stop at food service — he built a bakery to supply fresh ingredients, launched Jasmine Distributing, and operates a 50,000-square-foot facility producing over 100,000 pitas per week. A serial entrepreneur with deep community roots, he’s also a real estate developer, philanthropist, and former EY Entrepreneur Of The Year. Fady’s legacy is defined not just by growth, but by values — he leads with heart, invests in people, and creates spaces that bring communities together. He also invests in education — including his support for the University of Lebanon Foundation. But for Fady, family remains his No. 1 priority.
Chuck Hallberg, Co-Founder and Chairman of Airotone and CEO of Hallberg Family Investments. Chuck Hallberg is a true force in health care entrepreneurship. After working as a trial and corporate lawyer, he took his first entrepreneurial step at a Revco subsidiary, helping take it public. He later founded a pharmacy benefits manager that was sold after merging with a mail-order pharmacy. The next day, he launched MemberHealth with a $75,000 SBA loan, working from his basement with his daughter. By 2007, MemberHealth had grown to 1,200 employees and $1.5 billion in annual revenue before being sold for $630 million. Chuck was also an early investor and adviser to CoverMyMeds, which sold to McKesson for $1.4 billion. Today, he is focused on building Airotone, a new company aimed at improving outcomes for the 52 million Americans living with respiratory diseases. His work has touched millions of lives and redefined what’s possible in healthcare delivery.
Jerry Schill, President & CEO of Schill Grounds Management. Jerry Schill started his landscaping company in 1993 with a truck, a mower, and a dream. Today, Schill Grounds Management has become a national platform, operating across six states and Ontario, encompassing nine brands and employing more than 1,700 team members. Since 2020, Jerry has executed more than 15 acquisitions, scaling the company rapidly while staying true to its values of service, integrity, and performance. He attributes his growth to when he pivoted from a traditional full-service landscaping company to focusing on corporate grounds management — creating a recurring revenue stream that could be replicated. Jerry’s leadership extends beyond business — he serves on national industry boards and founded Holiday Feast, which provides thousands of free meals to families in need each year. A former collegiate athlete and a passionate advocate for mentorship, Jerry has earned national recognition for his growth leadership and people-first culture. He’s helped redefine what it means to scale with soul in a tough industry.
Richard Schwarz, Partner, Edgewater Capital Partners. For more than four decades, Richard Schwarz has shaped businesses from the inside out. He began his career at PPG Industries, launched a global antimony chemicals business through a leveraged buyout, and later co-founded Sycamore Partners, an early-stage medical and software investment firm. Since joining Edgewater Capital in 2003 and becoming a partner in 2004, Richard has helped guide investments in advanced materials and specialty chemical firms, earning a reputation as a sharp strategist and trusted operator. He’s also served on public company boards like Associated Estates Realty Corp and Enpath Medical, bringing decades of perspective to complex decisions. A licensed engineer with degrees from Ohio State and Case Western, Richard blends deep technical expertise with financial acumen. His legacy is one of transformation — of companies, industries, and leaders. And yet, he still has time to for golf, mountain bike riding, and skiing.
Ed Weinfurtner, Execuive Chairman & Co-Owner of Great Day Improvements. Ed Weinfurtner is one of Cleveland’s most accomplished and respected entrepreneurs. Since leading the acquisition of Great Day Improvements in 2014, Ed has transformed the business from a regional company into a $1.6 billion national platform with over 300 locations and more than 4,600 employees. Through 10 strategic acquisitions — including brands like Patio Enclosures, Champion Windows, and The Bath Authority — he’s built one of the fastest-growing home improvement companies in the U.S. But Ed’s legacy began well before that — he and his brothers grew Gateway Megatech into a $52 million enterprise before its sale, and he’s held leadership roles in more than a dozen businesses. A Harvard graduate, Ed also co-founded Blue Olive Partners and has received multiple Deal of the Year and Dealmaker of the Year awards. His leadership, vision, and discipline have helped power a generation of entrepreneurial success in Northeast Ohio.
