The State of the Deal: Forces Shaping M&A in 2025
Presented By: First National Bank
Start your day with a high-level look at the trends, risks, and opportunities defining today’s dealmaking landscape. This powerhouse keynote session brings together leading voices from across the M&A spectrum for a dynamic, data-driven conversation on the state of the market. From interest rate pressures and capital availability to regulatory shifts and geopolitical tensions, our expert panel will unpack what’s driving—and disrupting—deals in 2025. Whether you're buying, selling, or advising, this session will frame the conversation for the year ahead.
Moderator:
Executive Vice President - Metro Commercial Banking
First National Bank
Boyd Pethel is the Executive Vice President of First National Bank’s Metro Markets. He is also the Regional President of their Ohio region. First National Bank, or FNB, is approximately $45 billion in assets, and it’s Ohio headquarters is located in downtown Cleveland’s Public Square. The bank entered the Cleveland market over ten years ago by acquiring Park View Federal. FNB is one of the longest standing banks in the country, having been established more than 155 years ago. Additionally, FNB is a full service bank specializing not just in lending, but also in retail banking, treasury management, private banking/ wealth support, leasing and insurance.
Boyd is a native Clevelander that has been in corporate banking for more than 35 years. Prior to joining FNB, Boyd spent 25 years at PNC Bank, formerly known as National City Bank, where his last role was managing the middle market banking group. His background consists of corporate, commercial, business and retail banking. He currently serves on the boards of and the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, Achievement Center For Children and the American Heart Association. He is also active in the Young President’s Organization (YPO).
Boyd is a graduate of Denison University where he holds a BA in Economics and he completed his MBA at John Carroll’s Boler School of Business. He and his wife Jen have two kids (now in college), Tia and Jackson.
Panelists:
CEO
Team NEO
As Chief Executive Officer of Team NEO, Matt Dolan is dedicated to driving economic growth and prosperity across Northeast Ohio. With a career spanning law, business, and government, Matt has a deep understanding of the region’s opportunities and challenges. His leadership is focused on strengthening Northeast Ohio’s economic competitiveness by advancing business attraction and retention strategies, strengthening the supply chain, fostering innovation, enhancing site preparedness, and promoting the region as a premier destination for investment.
Before joining Team NEO, Matt served in both the Ohio House of Representatives and the Ohio State Senate, chairing the Finance Committee in both chambers. In these roles, he oversaw billions of dollars in budget decisions and spearheaded initiatives to strengthen Ohio’s economy. He was instrumental in shaping the economic development tools used by JobsOhio and Team NEO to attract new businesses, support the expansion of existing companies, and drive job creation across the region. His leadership in the General Assembly was marked by key efforts in tax reform and infrastructure investment, laying the groundwork for long-term economic growth.
Beyond public service, Matt has been a leader in the private sector as a partner at Thrasher, Dinsmore & Dolan, LPA, where he provided strategic legal counsel to businesses and municipalities on land use, economic development, and regulatory matters. His business acumen extends to real estate and family enterprise leadership, having overseen investment and development initiatives at 7th Avenue Properties and 422 Company. Inc.
Matt’s leadership has earned him widespread recognition, including numerous legislative and business advocacy awards. He is a recipient of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce Champion of Business Award and has been recognized for his contributions to sectors ranging from healthcare to energy policy.
A Northeast Ohio native, Matt holds a Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Boston College.
Executive Chairman & Co-Owner
Great Day Improvements
Ed is an entrepreneur and the Executive Chairman and Co-Owner of Great Day Improvements, a $1.6B business which is one of the Top 2 Direct to Consumer home remodeling companies in the US. It is the parent company for leading brands such as Patio Enclosures, Universal Windows Direct, Champion Windows, LeafGuard, The Bath Authority, and more.
Great Day is one of the 20 largest privately held companies in Northeast Ohio and has been the area’s fastest growing company over the past five years through a combination of aggressive organic growth and M&A. Great Day has grown from 12 locations to 316 today serving 110 metropolitan markets throughout the U.S while employing over 4,600 people. The company is also a vertically integrated manufacturing business that makes over 80% of the products it sells and installs.
Ed, a Harvard graduate, also co-founded Blue Olive Partners and has been an owner, investor, and operator of multiple privately held businesses in a variety of industries over the past 40+ years.