Committee

Sam joined Brady Ware as partner in January 2006. He leads the firm’s Dealership Services team, working with dealerships to decrease their tax burden, maximize tax benefits, streamline processes and financial reporting, increase profits, prevent fraud, and expand operations to new markets. He links these services with overall tax, audit, and strategic planning initiatives to help his clients realize financial rewards across their businesses.

Michael D. Arguelles, Partner, is responsible for initiating investment opportunities, structuring investments, performing due diligence, negotiating transaction terms, working with Portfolio Company management teams, and managing the disposition of investments. Mr. Arguelles graduated from The Ohio State University in 1993 with a B.S.B.A. in Finance. Mr. Arguelles received his MBA with a concentration in finance from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University.

Mary E. Auch is regional president of PNC Bank for Central Ohio. With a career spanning more than 28-years at PNC, Auch has extensive banking experience and deep roots in Columbus. She began her career as part of the bank’s Retail Development Program in 1995 and then moved into Corporate Banking in 2001. She has been the regional president since 2019.

Ben is a corporate transactional attorney who has represented a wide range of public and private companies and many of the leading international private equity sponsors. He has significant experience advising clients on domestic and cross-border M&A, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, minority investments, divestitures and restructurings. Ben also is an adjunct professor at The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and serves on the board of NoticeAbility and the advisory board of Calmer Choice.

Hugh Cathey is the chairman and CEO of ChromoCare, a company involved in genetic testing of patients’ medication compatibility. He is also the founder of Columbus Partners, an advisory that provides technology firms guidance on capital acquisition, M&A activity and growth strategy.

Rick is Co-founder and Partner of Slate Capital Group and he runs Slate's Cincinnati office. Having been a CEO multiple times in the lower middle market, Rick spends most of his time with Slate portfolio companies on talent development and operational excellence. In his spare time, Rick serves on a few philanthropic boards, spends time with his family, and completes ultra-hikes with his fellow Sufferfesters (ask him! :)

Scot manages the firm’s corporate, M&A, private equity, securities and tax practices, and is also the head of the cannabis group, which consists of more than 40 attorneys throughout the U.S. and Canada. He has extensive experience in corporate, mergers and acquisitions and tax law and has served as lead counsel in mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, private offerings, venture capital financings, mezzanine debt offerings, divestitures and other related financial transactions, in a number of industry sectors, including the cannabis industry.

Josh works with business leaders on ownership transactions and liquidity events, including sell-side and buy-side engagements and transactions, such as management buyouts, succession and exit planning, ESOP formations, capital sourcing and leveraged recaps. Prior to leading Footprint Capital, Josh was vice president at Insource Spend Management Group. He led Insource through two synergistic acquisitions and ultimately, its sale.

Cindi is a serial entrepreneur, business advisor and coach. She is passionate about working with like-minded people ready to support and invest in women-owned businesses. She is excited by the opportunity to create wealth for female founders and ROI for investors. Cindi leads the organization as the fund manager. As a long-time angel investor herself, Cindi looks forward to helping founders scale and successfully exit their businesses.

Mark Fleming is the managing partner of MEMM Capital, a holding company focused on acquiring and tech-enabling businesses that generate between $1 mil and $3 mil of EBITDA. Previously, Mark was the founder of Signature Closers, LLC, a real estate services and technology company that was acquired by Fortune 800 Stewart Title Company in Feb '21.

Ryan Frederick helps people and organizations to transform for greater fulfillment, value, and impact. Ryan is a Principal at the digital innovation firm Transform Labs and its financial arm, Transform Labs Capital. Ryan has written two books about starting and managing companies.

Chris Greenfelder is a CFO who has completed over 20 buy-side transactions for public, private and PE-sponsored companies during his career as well as leading two PE-sponsored, sell-side exits in his last two jobs at Salon Lofts Group, LLC and Sunless, Inc. He is currently the CFO of CK Construction Group, Inc. in Westerville, OH.

Matt is currently the Chairman/CEO and President of FST Logistics, Inc. FST Logistics (FST) is a 100% employee owned, third-party logistics provider based out of Columbus, Ohio, with over 500 employees.

Matt’s career started in the wholesale electrical distribution industry, serving the industrial, automation and construction sectors, and has expanded through many facets of supply chain and technology. This broad background provides him with a very deep understanding of the supply chain and the many ancillary lines of business within the supply chain, from new construction through final delivery of goods.

As a serial entrepreneur, Matt’s focus has always been on creating very efficient and very effective business operating processes through the utilization of technology. Matt’s broad experience in new construction, facilities, finance, sales & marketing, operations and technology allows him to provide valuable insight across the enterprise.

Matt resides in Dublin, Ohio with his wife Stacy and their youngest son Blake.

Cory Hinaman is a Manager at Windsor Advisory Group. Windsor is an investment advisory firm providing family office services to highly successful individuals, their families and family offices. Cory joined Windsor Advisory Group after he graduated from The Ohio State University in 2019 with a B.S.B.A. in Finance and Economics.

Christopher has diverse experience representing top-tier leveraged buyout and private equity funds, fund sponsors and investors, and their portfolio companies. Chris advises clients on corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, venture capital and private equity financings, joint ventures, and other investment transactions with an emphasis on middle-market transactions. Chris represents financial sponsors and their portfolio companies, as well as strategic buyers in connection with mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations, growth equity financings, and other investment transactions. Prior to joining Benesch, Chris practiced at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP in New York, New York.

Lee is managing partner of Smart Business Network Inc., a national events, media and marketing company founded in 1989, primarily responsible for expanding the company’s Aspire deal-making conference throughout the U.S. He plays a key role in establishing corporate policies and developing long-term strategy and growth plans. Previously, he founded and chaired the Growth Group at national law firm Arter & Hadden LLP (now Tucker, Ellis & West), which focused on working with middle-market and high-growth technology companies. 

As senior director and director of transaction advisory services at GBQ, Wade coordinates a team of 10 professionals, highly skilled in various aspects of transactions, including valuation, due diligence, ESOPs, tax structuring and buy and sell side advisory. He also serves as chief liaison to Footprint Capital, GBQ’s investment banking affiliate, where he helps complete investment banking deals. Since 2015, GBQ’s transaction group has collectively worked on over 550 transactions.

Ryan was previously a partner at Ember Capital (fka Nomura Mezzanine), a private credit manager which managed a ~$350 million mezzanine fund sponsored by Nomura in addition to ~$200 million for senior debt investments. Before joining Nomura in early 2005 to help launch its private credit investment business, Ryan was an investment professional at AIG-MezzVest, a ~$750 million mezzanine fund sponsored AIG. Earlier in his career, he was an investment banker at HSBC and at Stephens Inc. Ryan has an MBA from HEC Paris and a BA from Vanderbilt University

Al Melchiorre is President/CEO and founder of MelCap Partners, a middle market investment banking firm, which is celebrating its 25th year anniversary. Over the past few years, MelCap has been recognized as boutique investment banking firm of the year multiple times by The M&A Advisor and Global M&A Network. MelCap's clients are predominately privately-held, family-owned businesses going through a once in a life-time transaction.

Dwight Montgomery serves as the President of The National Christian Foundation of Ohio, whose mission is to mobilize resources by inspiring biblical generosity. Dwight has 34 years of experience as a financial professional and was the CEO of his own wealth management firm. Through his leadership and vision his firm became one of the most respected financial firms in the Columbus Ohio area.

In 2013, Dwight sold his firm in order to devote his time to the ministry of NCF. Dwight is also a member of the coaching team at SMART Concepts Group. SCG is focused on providing financial advisors strategic and operational advice to achieve business success. Team members help advisors define their operating models and processes to enhance growth, drive performance and the value of their business.

Prior to his career in financial services, he was an educator and college football coach.

Dwight received his BA in Education from The Ohio State University and his MA in Education from Bowling Green State University. Dwight currently holds a Certified Financial Planner CFP® designation and a Certified Kingdom Advisor® designation. He is active in the community serving as a board member for, For Columbus. Leisure time for Dwight involves fishing, fishing and more fishing. Dwight lives with his wife Dona in Dublin. They have three children, Matt, Luke, and Ellie.

Rob Ouellette is a partner in the Business Group and focuses his practice on complex corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions, particularly private equity investments and transactions, and a range of financing transactions.

Rob actively assists clients from a wide variety of industries including manufacturing, distribution, logistics, financial services, high technology and professional services; and at all levels of the capital structure.

Prior to joining Ice Miller, Rob practiced for 20 years with Schottenstein Zox & Dunn Co., LPA where he was co-chair of the Corporate Practice Group for 12 years and a member of the management committee.

Tom is Vice Chair of the Firm’s Business Group where he focuses his practice on complex corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions including private equity and independent sponsor investments and transactions, debt and equity financing transactions, as well as general corporate and commercial matters. He also serves as outside general counsel for a wide array of closely held businesses, family offices and entrepreneurial businesses.

Tom’s practice encompasses a variety of industries including manufacturing, technology, software, franchising, energy and alternative energy, retail, real estate, construction, wholesale, marketing and advertising, and personal and professional services ranging from financial services, wealth management and accounting to healthcare and related services.

Prior to joining the Firm’s Business Group in 2000, he served as Vice President and General Counsel of Shoe Corporation of America, Inc. Tom holds a Certificate in Family Business Advising from the Family Firm Institute.

Jeff Parson, MBA, specializes in assisting business leaders in achieving smoother business growth through tailor-made HR solutions. My services encompass a range of options, including PEO and non-PEO solutions, employee benefits, HR strategy, compliance support, technology integration, and more.

Jeff is Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Kensington Hill Partners, brings over 20 years of experience in general management, customer success, and service delivery in B2B software. He brings passion and experience for enabling organic and M&A business growth through scalable and repeatable processes.

As an advisor, board member, and investor, he assists companies across varying industries for strategic growth, sustainability, and diversity to provide potential M&A opportunities. Focused on initiatives that help build communities and businesses, KHP has assisted hundreds of companies providing the most current and strategic initiatives tailored client success.

Kensington Hill Partners was built on a foundation of forming long term relationships. Focused on c-suite clients and national brands, Kensington Hill Partners has developed a reputation for assisting high growth companies nationally. Board of Director development and recruitment have been a sustaining part of KHP since its inception, which delivers strategic perspectives to its clients and member partners.

Sopp is very involved in the community and is an active member in the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), Young Professional’s Organization (YPO), and International franchise association (IFA). Mr. Sopp was a proud recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year (EY EOY) for “Realizing Business Potential” and the Smart 50 Business Award.

Always interesting in further developing great leaders, Mr. Sopp recently published a book, Words Matter,  that is focused on leadership concepts, phrases and life experiences to help leaders navigate relationships with professionalism and integrity.

Catherine Strauss is the Managing Partner of Ice Miller's Columbus office. She is also an adviser and advocate for employers with workforces in Ohio and nationally. She is also a skilled coach to human resource professionals and business executives. Preferring practical outcomes based on a keen knowledge of the law and common sense judgment, Catherine is an effective adviser in managing risks and conflict avoidance.

When disputes are unavoidable, Catherine is a tenacious trial attorney, having successfully represented employers and businesses in all types of legal proceedings, both in Ohio and nationally.

Finally, Catherine serves as a neutral investigator in all types of matters involving or impacting employees.

Faith Voinovich is a Principal at Ohio Innovation Fund where she serves as a key member of the investment team. Since joining the team in 2018, Faith has led investments spun out of top research institutions, helped facilitate numerous follow on equity (and non-dilutive) rounds across the portfolio, assisted on several M&A exit transactions (value exceeding $500 million), and served in a variety of board roles including at Invirsa, Clarametyx, Genetesis, DatAnchor, Complion (merged with Realtime CTMS), and Stirling Ultracold (merged with BioLife Solutions, NASDAQ: BLFS).

Andy is Managing Director and Co-CEO of Bellmark Partners, LLC, and head of the firm’s Cleveland office. Andy has 30 years of investment banking experience, having personally completed well over 100 M&A, special committee, and board advisory assignments. Previously, he was with KeyBanc Capital Markets, where he was head of the sponsor coverage, consumer & retail, and M&A investment banking groups.

Julie is an Audit Partner with Crowe and has over 18 years of experience. She serves upper middle-market privately owned clients in the manufacturing, distribution, and service industries. Julie’s clients range in size from $20 million to more than $1 billion in revenues, across a wide range of industries and companies with multi-national and multi-state operations and complex accounting and audit issues. Julie works with family owned and private equity owned businesses.

Dean Zody is a business-oriented Global Operations Leader with an engineering background delivering innovative solutions with measurable growth and profitability. Accomplished background in start-ups, cost reduction initiatives, and operations management in telecommunications, chemical and consumer product. Multiple disciplines include operations, supply chain, procurement, and logistics. Strong database and data analytical skills. In 2016, he founded GhostWave, commercializing patents from Ohio State University.

Frank is a partner at Vorys, a national law firm headquartered in Columbus. 

Frank advises privately owned companies in merger & acquisition and joint venture transactions.  Frank represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies, family offices, startup companies and other growth-oriented companies and entrepreneurs in numerous industries including manufacturing, technology and fintech, retail and consumer brands, consumer services, industrial services, esports and gaming and others.  Frank guides clients through strategic and financial merger & acquisition transactions on both the buy- and sell-side, joint ventures and other business combinations, capital raises and other transactional matters.  Frank is a leader in the Vorys private equity practice, which represents private equity firms and their portfolio companies in a broad range of matters across the United States.

Brian Zuercher is a General Partner of 1870 Ventures. 1870 Ventures is a venture capital studio bringing brilliant IP to market. We discover, fund, and build companies around breakthroughs that originated at universities and institutions. Brian has been the co-founder of several companies and is passionate about supporting entrepreneurs in the Central Ohio region.