The Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year Awards recognize exceptional individuals who are shaping the landscape of business and innovation in St. Louis.
In addition, The St. Louis 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 April 30 at the St. Louis Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Together, they provide a strong picture of the St. Louis business community.
Dealmaker Of The Year Honorees
Amit Bhagat, Founder & CEO, Amitech Solutions. Amit spent 26 years building a powerhouse in healthcare technology. Since 1999, he’s turned Amitech into a staple for data and automation. That journey reached a major milestone in 2025 when he guided the company through its acquisition by Naviant. It’s a testament to the discipline and value he’s cultivated over two and a half decades.
Mike Birkel, President, Birkel Electric. Mike Birkel built Birkel Electric into a well-regarded commercial and industrial electrical contractor — In 2024, he led the company through its acquisition by ASH & Co., positioning the firm for its next phase of growth. It was a complex deal, but Mike managed to keep the business's momentum perfectly intact while positioning it for its next big growth phase.
Austin Birner, CEO, Renewal by Andersen — The Birner Group. Austin has grown Renewal by Andersen's Birner Group into a multi-state operation built on a simple proposition: quality work, accountable teams, and real community commitment. In 2025, he led the successful acquisition and expansion into Central Pennsylvania, extending the company's regional footprint. Austin has also driven the Renewal Cares initiative, embedding a culture of service alongside a culture of growth — proving the two aren't mutually exclusive.
Drew Dennison, Managing Director, Lightchain Capital. Drew brings a clear lens to complex opportunities. At Lightchain Capital, he played a key role in raising Wugen's $115 million Series C and C-1 — funding that advances a pivotal clinical trial for cancer therapies targeting leukemia and lymphoma. Drew’s work reflects a consistent focus on backing healthcare companies with the potential to reshape treatment and deliver long-term value for patients and investors alike.
David Karandish, Co-Founder & CEO, Capacity. David has been building the case for AI-powered workplace automation since before it was a headline. Since founding Capacity in 2017, he has grown the platform through both capital raises and strategic acquisitions — including Starmind, Textel, and YouCanBookMe — securing more than $145 million in funding through a current Series E round. Each move has expanded Capacity's footprint in customer support automation and knowledge management, positioning the company at the front edge of agentic work.
Steve O'Loughlin, President & COO, Lodging Hospitality Management. Steve O'Loughlin helped turn a historic train station into a premier Midwest destination. As a driving force behind the redevelopment of St. Louis Union Station, he oversaw the transformation of the landmark property into a full-scale entertainment and hospitality hub — anchored by the Aquarium and the Wheel – redefined urban revitalization. It is a perfect example of what happens when big vision meets flawless execution.
Chris Parcell, EVP & CFO, Sunstar Insurance Group. Chris has been the financial architect behind one of the most aggressive growth strategies in the Midwest insurance market. He has helped guide Sunstar through more than 35 acquisitions across the Midwest and Southeast, building the firm into one of the nation's largest independent insurance agencies — with more than $1.5 billion in premiums placed. Chris' combination of disciplined deal execution and strategic financial leadership has turned a regional firm into a national force.
Steve Riek, CFO, and Jeff Wolff, President & CEO, Anchor Packaging. Jeff and Steve led Anchor Packaging through one of the most significant transactions in the company's history. Together, they guided the $1.35 billion acquisition of Anchor by Georgia-Pacific — a deal that positioned the company as a core growth platform in Georgia-Pacific's food-to-go strategy. As a leading manufacturer of rigid food containers and film solutions, Steve and Jeff ensured that a compelling asset became a well-executed one.
Michael Rubenstein, CEO, Wally’s. Michael is building something you don't see every day — a travel center brand with genuine momentum. Wally's first two locations have posted 20% annual growth for four consecutive years, with combined revenues on track to exceed $100 million in 2026. Now the company is expanding, with a 54,000-square-foot store opening in Whitestown, Indiana this June and a fourth location underway in Independence, Missouri. Michael is scaling the Home of the Great American Road Trip — and doing it with discipline.
Isaac Zike, Managing Director, RiverVest Venture Partners. Isaac played a key role in advancing a $115 million Series C and C-1 funding round supporting innovative cancer therapies. The investment will help bring forward promising treatments targeting aggressive forms of leukemia and lymphoma, addressing critical unmet medical needs. Through his work at RiverVest Venture Partners, Isaac continues to back breakthrough life sciences companies, combining strategic capital with deep industry expertise to accelerate development and deliver meaningful outcomes for both patients and investors.
Social Impact Award Honoree
Jennifer Bardot, Founder & CEO, G.R.I.T. Community. Jennifer Bardot doesn't just talk about building community — she architects it. Through G.R.I.T. and her Elevate and Lead platform, she has created ecosystems where professionals, particularly women in business, find the connections, resources, and support they need to grow. Her work spans leadership development, knowledge-sharing, and meaningful economic opportunity across the St. Louis region.
Jennifer has also extended her reach through seven international best-selling anthologies and five accredited courses offered through the University of California. That combination — part platform builder, part educator, part connector — reflects an approach to social impact that's both practical and sustainable. She is growing leaders while growing a movement.
Dealmakers Hall of Fame Honorees
Robert O'Loughlin, Chairman & CEO, Lodging Hospitality Management. Robert O'Loughlin founded Lodging Hospitality Management in 1986 — and for four decades, he has been reshaping how St. Louis looks and feels. LHM has developed and managed more than 150 hotels nationwide, building one of the most respected hospitality platforms in the country. But no project defines his legacy quite like St. Louis Union Station — a historic redevelopment that blended preservation with innovation, creating an entertainment and lodging destination that anchors the city's downtown.
Robert’s work is the rare combination of scale and soul. His portfolio spans landmark properties and experiential venues that have driven real economic impact. Beyond the deals, his civic and philanthropic commitments run deep. This is a career that has genuinely changed a city.
David Hoffmann, Chairman, Hoffmann Family of Companies. David Hoffmann's career is a study in building at scale. He founded DHR International and grew it into one of the world's largest executive search firms — spanning more than 40 offices globally and placing leaders across industries. That success became the foundation for the Hoffmann Family of Companies, a diverse portfolio of businesses and investments that he continues to grow through strategic vision and disciplined dealmaking.
What sets David apart is the scope of his influence. His philanthropy reaches cultural institutions, healthcare organizations, and educational causes across the region. He has built wealth and wielded it thoughtfully — a dealmaker whose legacy extends well beyond the transactions.
Robert Millstone, Managing Partner, Millstone Capital Advisors, LLC. Few people in St. Louis business bring the breadth of experience that Robert Millstone has assembled over his career. He began as a Senior Trial Attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, then moved into leadership roles — serving as President, CEO, and General Counsel of Millstone Bangert — before founding The Millstone Company and creating Millstone Capital Advisors. Each chapter added a layer: legal, operational, financial.
That combination has made Robert a distinctive force in private equity and real estate development. Through Millstone Capital Advisors, he has built and managed investment platforms focused on long-term value creation — while remaining deeply engaged in the civic and philanthropic life of St. Louis. His is a career defined by range, discipline, and staying power.
