The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in Dallas.
In addition, The Dallas 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 March 27 at the Dallas Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Together, they provide a strong picture of the Dallas business community.
Dealmaker Of The Year Honorees
Paul Adams, CEO, Columbia Home Services. Columbia Home Services is a home services platform headquartered in Dallas and serving markets throughout the U.S. CHS was formed by Tenex Capital Management and Oxbow Equity Partners in September 2023. Since then, CHS has completed 10 acquisitions in California, Colorado, Texas, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania, with several more pending. As CEO of CHS, Paul has spearheaded CHS’ acquisition efforts, approaching potential sellers as partners to build on their legacy and drive value to the platform and its customers.
Spencer Almy and Santiago Castelazo, Partners, Citation Capital Management. Spencer Almy and Santiago Castelazo, of Citation Capital, acquired a majority stake in Cibo Vita, a high-growth innovator in the better-for-you and functional snack category. The company, known for its Nature’s Garden brand, produces trail mixes, nuts, dried fruit and other snack products from its three manufacturing facilities in Totowa, NJ, employing over 1,100 people. This deal marked Cibo Vita’s first institutional ownership, with Citation becoming the company’s first outside shareholder. Co-founders Emre Imamoglu and Ahmet Celik retained significant ownership to maintain leadership continuity. It was also the first transaction from Citation’s inaugural fund, highlighting the firm’s entry into the middle-market private equity space.
Edward Crawford and Ralph Manning, Co-Founders & Co-Chief Executives of Coltala Holdings. Coltala Holdings launched Coltala Aerospace with the acquisition of APG through an LBO in January of 2025. The transaction was supported by an undisclosed amount of debt financing. For Edward and Ralph, this acquisition marks a milestone in Coltala's mission to build lasting, transformative businesses, reinforcing America's leadership in aerospace and defense. APG’s record-shattering 60 percent growth last year is just the beginning. Together, they’re poised to drive innovation, ensure safe air travel, and fortify national security.
Tricia D’Cruz and Joe D’Cruz, co-founders and co-managing directors of Catalyze Partners. Corporate Innovation Capital (CIC) is an emerging model that combines multinational R&D investment with startup methods to spin out ventures targeting markets beyond a corporation’s core focus. Under the leadership of Tricia and Joe, Catalyze Partners has been a pioneer of CIC since 2014, building strong partnerships with companies like Lockheed Martin, IBM, GE, Textron, Boeing, and BCG. The team has launched three new companies using IP sourced from these partners and is already showing strong early results. Catalyze has also attracted family office capital, drawn to its exclusive access to pre-invested IP and the value of its majority stakes in each company. The model is proving to be a compelling, repeatable path to bring breakthrough technologies to market.
Sam Glasgow, CFO of Olive & June. Olive & June is a provider of nail salon services that delivers for women personalized attention to their nails at an approachable price. The company provides manicure services and offers a customizable set of nail polishes and tools for at-home manicures, enabling customers to access offline and online nail care services. Olive & June was acquired by Helen Of Troy for an undisclosed amount on December 16, 2024, in a transaction Sam spearheaded.
Mike Hanna, Co-Founder & CEO of TrueSpot. TrueSpot is a startup serving the automotive market with Real Time Location Services. Reynolds & Reynolds has entered into a partnership with Mike and his team at TrueSpot, which has a large market share to provide back-office automation to car dealerships. Reynolds & Reynolds has tapped into its most recent investment fund to make an eight-figure investment into TrueSpot, currently valuing the company at just over $30 million. Hanna and his team, with Reynolds as a key partner, is now rolling out the solution to all 6,000 of Reynolds’ dealership customers.
Derek Shaw, Owner, SERVPRO Team Shaw. SERVPRO Team Shaw, based in Grapevine, is the fourth fastest-growing company in North Texas, specializing in restoration and cleanup services across the DFW metroplex. The team has expanded into Houston, East Texas, and South Carolina, bringing its high service standards to new markets. Under Derek’s leadership, it also deployed team members to assist with Hurricane Milton recovery in Florida and has invested in advanced equipment and technology to support large-scale restoration efforts. Team Shaw remains focused on growth, innovation, and delivering top-tier service across regions.
Social Impact Honoree
Elizabeth Wattley, President & CEO of Forest Forward. Forest Forward is a nonprofit dedicated to revitalizing South Dallas while preserving the neighborhood’s rich history and culture. Its work focuses on three core areas:
- Culture – The centerpiece is the restoration of the historic Forest Theater, which will include a concert hall, rooftop deck, studio theater, and creative lab. The $80 million project, funded through philanthropy, grants and tax credits, is set to open in spring 2026.
- Education – In partnership with Dallas ISD, Forest Forward is expanding educational access by transforming the Dr. Martin Luther King Center into the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Arts Academy, now serving students Pre-K through 8th grade.
- Community – After the theater’s completion, Forest Forward will support the development of mixed-income housing, with a strong focus on affordability and preventing displacement.
Under Elizabeth Wattley’s leadership, the organization has secured full funding for the theater project and purchased nearby land for future housing development. She has become a leading advocate for South Dallas and has earned widespread recognition for her work and community impact.
Hall Of Fame Honorees
Sanjeev Singh, Founder and CEO of Zenwork Inc. Sanjeev Singh is the Founder and CEO of Zenwork Inc., a leading provider of digital tax compliance and regulatory reporting solutions trusted by over 100,000 businesses nationwide, including 30,000 CPA firms and 500,000 platform users. Under his leadership, Zenwork has grown into a premier technology platform powering brands such as Tax1099.com and Compliancely.com, helping businesses stay ahead of constantly evolving IRS and state filing requirements.
He brings more than 20 years of experience in the technology sector, with a strong background in product management, regulatory compliance, and SaaS development. Before founding Zenwork, he spent eight years at ADP, where he led product management teams and served as a Project Director, delivering enterprise-grade solutions. He also held senior roles at Vertte Inc, managing high-impact technology initiatives. A passionate technologist and entrepreneur, Sanjeev continues to drive innovation in digital compliance, helping businesses simplify complex regulatory processes at scale.
Scott Wheeler. Scott Wheeler is a seasoned executive and investor who has helped build companies and led billions of dollars in M&A and capital market transactions across multiple industries and company sizes. His distinguished career spans roles as CEO, President, CFO, Board Member, Mayor, and most recently, Interim Dean of the College of Business at Texas A&M University–Commerce, a position he held from January 2023 through December 2024.
Scott recently founded Pecan River Advisors, a newly launched family office focused on long-term investing, leveraging his deep expertise in business growth, corporate finance, and strategic leadership. Previously, he served as President and CFO of Daseke, Inc., where he helped transform the company into North America’s largest flatbed and specialized transportation firm. He has also held financial leadership roles at Rockwell Collins and Honeywell.
Scott’s contributions have earned him accolades such as CFO of the Year and Public Company Board of the Year. In a unique tribute, a bridge in Northern Dallas County bears his name.
