Samuel J. Agresti

Director
Brady Ware & Company

Sam joined Brady Ware as partner in 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 clients realize financial rewards across their businesses.

Mike Arguelles

Partner
Stonehenge Partners, Inc.

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.

Jim Baich

Investor
MAD Capital

Jim is founder of MAD Capital, a private company with operating and commercial real estate investments. His operating company investments include Holly's Custom Print, Quality Quartz Engineering, Spoke Real Estate, IGS Solar and Heitmeyer Consulting. He was formerly the Chief Operating Officer for Advanced Drainage Systems and IGS Energy. Jim is Chairman for the Tri-W Group.

Steve Bennett

Market President
U.S. Bank

Steve has led the region as U.S. Bank’s senior executive since 2016. He has more than 27 years of experience in banking. As head of U.S. Bank’s Commercial Banking Group in the greater Columbus area, Steve focuses on helping middle-market clients work toward their goals and meet their financial and operational needs. In addition, he leads the local U.S. Bank Foundation.

Dave Billiter

Founder
Deep Lens, Inc.

Dave has a diverse background spanning his 20-year career in healthcare and life sciences, in both large corporations and start-ups. Prior to leading the creation of Deep Lens, Inc, Dave was the Director of Data Strategy for Cardinal Health (Fortune 500-Rank #14) where he developed data monetization strategies and new product development for the pharmaceutical and health care provider partners.

Before joining Cardinal Health, Dave was the first employee for Signet Accel a start-up company, spun out of The Ohio State University, where he led operations and business development supporting its federated data integration platform.

The impetus for Deep Lens, Inc. came with Dave’s tenure as the Director of Informatics at The Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital.

For over 10 years Dave led the innovative technology development that supported the Institute, primarily The Biopathology Center. Dave was a member of the Children’s Oncology Group, Gynecologic Oncology Group, and Southwest Oncology Group where his team managed the biospecimen data management and digital pathology reviews supporting the large cancer consortia.

Benton Bodamer

Member
Dickinson Wright PLLC

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.

Frank Capella

Founding Partner
Oxer Capital

Frank is founding partner of Oxer. By partnering with community banks as investors and obtaining additional capital through the SBA, Oxer has invested in over 28 companies since 2016. Capella originates and manages portfolio companies , in addition, to sitting on Oxer's investment committee, and has been involved in financing middle market companies for more than 30 years.

Norm Cook

Executive Vice President of Corporate Development
Sequoia Financial Group

Norm is executive vice president of corporate development at Sequoia Financial Group. Previously, he was president and CEO of Wealthstone Advisers and led Banc One/JPMorgan’s Institutional Investment Group, where he oversaw a team responsible for advising over $250 billion in assets. He also served as director at One Group Global Funds and director of JPMorgan Asset Management (UK) Ltd. and was on Banc One’s Investment Advisors’ Board of Directors and its Investment Policy Committee and Investment Management Group Risk & Policy Committee.

Jeg Coughlin III

President
JEGS Automotive

Jeg Coughlin III is a third-generation owner and operator of JEGS Automotive. Founded in 1960, JEGS is a leading DTC, e-commerce retailer, and distributor of automotive aftermarket parts and accessories to enthusiast customers. Coughlin III led the successful sale in 2021 to private equity firm Greenbriar Equity Group. Following the sale - he has remained with JEGS as President and serves as a member of the board. Prior to JEGS, Coughlin III attended The Ohio State University, where he played varsity golf.

Josh Curtis

Managing Director
Footprint Capital

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.

Sean Dunn

Director
Stonehenge Partners

Jon Eesley

Partner
Windsor Advisory Group

Jon Eesley dedicates much of his time to helping prominent business leaders-who often have complicated financial lives-with their personal and business financial matters. An empathetic problem- solver with broad-based business experience, Jon has spent the past four decades advising business leaders and owners about their wealth and how to manage the complexities of their personal financial makeup. Jon has many years of experience helping individuals and businesses achieve their financial goals. He has the ability to review, understand and respond to complex structures, transactions and financial activities. Current clients of Windsor Advisory Group continue to benefit from his in-depth experience.

Marc Elberson

Vice President
Stonehenge Partners

Marc C. Elberson, Vice President at Stonehenge Partners, is responsible for negotiating transaction terms, performing due diligence, and providing analytical support for Stonehenge transactions and, for existing investments, working with Portfolio Company management teams, and monitoring Portfolio Company performance. Stonehenge Partners is an Ohio‐based private equity firm that focuses exclusively on the lower middle market. Stonehenge was founded in 1999 and has raised over $1.3 billion across six institutional funds.

Prior to joining Stonehenge Partners in January 2019, Mr. Elberson was a Transaction Advisory Senior Consultant with Plant Moran. Prior to this experience, Mr. Elberson was an Assurance Senior with Ernst & Young. Mr. Elberson graduated summa cum laude from Miami University where he received his B.S. in Accounting and Finance. Mr. Elberson also holds a CPA license (active status).

Mark Fleming Jr.

Founder
MEMM Capital, LTD

Mark Fleming Jr is an entrepreneur that bootstrapped his company to over $65 million in annual revenue and an eventual sale to Fortune 800 company, Stewart Title Company, in Feb '21. With prior experience in insurance and financial services, Mark has established MEMM Capital with a goal to acquire operating businesses that can be improved through an infusion of technology and process. Mark is also an angel investor and serves on the advisory board of several start-ups. He is the Co-Founder of TalentShare, a company that connects collegiate athletes with the parents of youth athletes for coaching and lessons through a marketplace and app.

Bill Forquer

Principal
Priiva

Bill spent 30 years in enterprise software. Bill is now a principal at Priiva Consulting which utilizes game-theory to optimize strategy for its clients. Bill pays-forward as an advisor, investor, and board member to startups and deserving organizations. He is board chair of I Am Boundless, Boundless Health, and volunteers his time supporting Soap Box Derby racing and at the Old Woman Creek National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Sean Gouhin

Of Counsel
Dickinson Wright PLLC

Ron Greenbaum

Owner & CEO
The Basement Doctor

With more than 30 years of experience in the basement waterproofing and foundation repair industry, Ron Greenbaum has helped build and grow the hugely successful brand, The Basement Doctor. In an industry not always known for ethical practices, Ron has established a long-standing reputation for honest, responsible and quality service. Prior to becoming The Basement Doctor, Ron was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for retailer Waterbeds ‘n’ Stuff, and co-owner of a local rock ‘n’ roll production company. He then worked in basement waterproofing for five years before partnering in 1992 with Tom Johnston, the owner of J&D Home Improvement. He served on the ethics committee for the National Association of Waterproofing Contractors for two terms. Then in 1999, Ron introduced the national trademark, “The Basement Doctor.”

He continues to be the face of his company’s brand in major advertising campaigns, and often consults for national trade publications. In 2006, Ron was named one of Columbus C.E.O. magazine’s “15 Business Superstars,” and was also recognized in 2012 in SmartCEO magazine’s 100 Best Run Companies. But it is perhaps his philanthropic contributions to organizations like Special Olympics, Honor Flight and Habitat for Humanity, and to important causes such as animal rescue, that stand out the most.

Francie Henry

Market President
Fifth Third Bank

Francie Henry serves as regional president of Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (Central Ohio). She is responsible for the growth and strategic direction of the Bank’s Commercial, Wealth & Asset Management and Consumer  businesses, while also delivering distinctive value to our customers and community throughout Central Ohio, Southeast Ohio, West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and Western Pennsylvania.

Francie has more than 30 years of banking experience and has spent her career at Fifth Third Bank, where she has held many positions including market president, managing director of Wealth & Asset management, retail executive, regional BankMart manager, and marketing coordinator.

Richard Hollington

Managing Partner
CW Industrial Partners

Mr. Hollington is the Managing Partner of CW Industrial Partners, formerly CapitalWorks, LLC. CW Industrial Partners is a lower middle market private equity firm focused on acquiring industrial businesses. Mr. Hollington’s responsibilities include day-to-day management responsibility for the firm, developing and maintaining relationships with investors and financial intermediaries, sourcing and executing acquisition opportunities and stewarding portfolio company investments.

Christopher Hopkins

Partner
Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP

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.

Ali Jamshidi

Vice President & CFO
CTL Engineering, Inc.

Ali Jamshidi, has been with CTL Engineering, Inc., with world headquarter in Columbus, Ohio consisting of eleven offices in the US and two International Branches in India, for over 35 years. He has served as a Comptroller, CFO and Vice President of Finance. He is responsible for Financial strategies, reporting and consolidation of 12 different domestic and international companies. In addition to strategic planning, his major role involves in maximizing retirement benefits such as ESOP & 401(K) as well as managing various investment portfolios for the company with an emphasis on planning and managing ESOP repurchase liability, overseeing HR Director and chairing the ESOP Administrative Committee.

For nearly a couple of decades, he has been closely involved with the State Chapter and National ESOP Association in different roles leading to the President of OH/KY ESOP Chapter, as well as serving as a member of the State & Regional Executive Committee of the ESOP Association. He is currently serving as a Trustee of the Employee Ownership Foundation and Chairman of the National ESOP Association. For the past eight years, he has been serving as an independent board member of other ESOP companies.

He has been involved in multiple acquisitions through ESOP and non-ESOP transactions to achieve the company’s strategic goals. Prior to joining CTL Engineering, he worked in the accounting and manufacturing industries. He is heavily engaged in philanthropy and contributes to such organizations as the American Red Cross where he served as an advisory board member and recognized as the most valuable board member of the year, and helps as a leader in fundraising efforts for the past 27 years for the American Heart Association.

Paul Janson

Chief Operating Officer
Capstone Partners

Mr. Janson is the COO at Capstone Partners. He handles all administrative, legal and compliance matters and serves on the Company’s Investment Banking Committee, approving all transactions firm-wide. On the banking side, he is active in telecommunications services, manufacturing and infrastructure. Paul brings twenty-five years of executive experience to the Capstone Headwaters management team.

Previously, he served as the President and CEO of Camiant, a leading player in the Packet Cable Multimedia broadband space. Paul was a CEO of Worldbridge Broadband Services Inc. Worldbridge was the largest technical services company in the Broadband and telecommunications space before its sale to C-Cor. Paul then became President of C-Cor’s Global Services Division. He earned his BA from Saint Anselm College.

Todd Kavalieros

Senior Vice President
FNB Corporation

Todd Kavalieros is a Senior Vice President and Market Leader with First National Bank in Columbus, Ohio. In this role, Todd will expand FNB’s presence in the Central Ohio region and develop new business opportunities with various middle market companies and municipal entities. Prior to joining FNB, Todd worked at several super-regional banks throughout the Midwest in leadership capacities within the commercial, municipal and treasury management banking verticals. Most recently, he worked as a senior management consultant delivering enterprise-wide strategic financing solutions and capital planning to entities with annual budgets up to $750 million.

Patrick Kennedy

General Counsel
Worthington Industries

Patrick J. Kennedy was named vice president - general counsel and secretary of Worthington Industries in January of 2021.

Kennedy joined Worthington in June of 2016, in a management development capacity as a part of the Worthington Industries Rotational Experience and Development program (WIRED). After two years in the program, he joined Worthington’s legal department as corporate counsel.

Prior to joining Worthington, he was a partner with the law firm Ice Miller LLP, where he was a member of the firm’s business law group.

Vamsi Kora

Founder & Former CEO, Gathi Analytics
Chief Data Strategy Officer, Apexon

Vamsi Kora is an entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist with an extensive background in enterprise data strategy. He is the former CEO of Gathi Analytics, a data and analytics consultancy based in Dublin, Ohio. Throughout the company’s impressive journey, it received numerous awards including #1 "Top Workplaces 2021” by Columbus CEO. The company was acquired after 5 years of exponential growth by Apexon (formerly Infostretch), a Goldman Sachs company. Vamsi continues to lead the strategy and expansion of the data and analytics practice for the Silicon-Valley-based company. Vamsi is a long-time supporter of the Boys and Girls Clubs with strong partnerships with the Central Ohio chapter. For his achievements and involvement with the community, Vamsi was recently awarded the 2022 EY Entrepreneur of the Year. 

Wade Kozich

Senior Director & Director of Transaction Services
GBQ Partners LLC

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.

Ted Kramer

Chief Executive Officer
HKW

Ted has led the Sourcing activities for the firm since 2002. In 2014, he was appointed president of HKW, and in August of 2015, assumed responsibilities as Chief Executive Officer. Ted splits his responsibilities between Sourcing and Investor Relations while managing the day-to-day operations for the firm. Prior to joining HKW, Ted was an investment manager at White River Venture Partners and with Arthur Andersen, LLP. Before his career in business, Ted played professional hockey.

Ian Labitue

Director of Business Development & Strategy
Kaufman Development

Ian Labitue, Director of Business Development & Strategy, began his career as a financial analyst by completing JPMorgan Chase’s Global Investment Banking Program and then with GEEnergy by completing a two-year financial management training program. He also worked in the real estate groups of several law firms, assisting clients in the areas of commercial real estate development, real estate finance and commercial leasing. Most recently, he served as an assistant general counsel with Nationwide Realty Investors, Ltd. providing strategic legal and strategic guidance, analysis and management of various projects within NRI’s real estate portfolio. Ian earned a B.B.A. from Morehouse College, cum laude, and a J.D. from the University of Michigan Law School.

Alyson Letsky

Senior Managing Associate
Thompson Hine LLP

Alyson is a senior managing associate in the firm’s Corporate Transactions & Securities group. She focuses her practice on mergers and acquisitions, commercial contracts and general corporate matters.

Alyson’s experience at Thompson Hine has included assisting with a large volume of transactions, including a number of mergers, conversions, contributions and dissolutions in connection with a merger valued at more than $11 billion. She has also assisted with equity acquisitions and sales ranging from $8 million to nearly $100 million, some of which involved a private equity buyer or seller. In addition, Alyson’s experience encompasses providing assistance on a number of asset deals valued under $10 million.

Prior to joining Thompson Hine, Alyson was an associate with another firm in Columbus, where she gained experience drafting M&A and real estate transaction documents, licensing agreements and loan documentation. She advised on a variety of federal and state regulatory risks and compliance, and assisted clients with securities law compliance for private offerings, including preparing federal securities registration exemption memoranda, SEC notices and state blue sky law memoranda and notices.

Al Melchiorre

President
MelCap Partners, LLC

Al Melchiorre is President and founder of MelCap Partners, a middle market investment banking firm that he founded over 22 years ago, Over the past few years, MelCap has been recognized as boutique investment banking firm of the year multiple times by The M&A Advisor. MelCap's clients are predominately privately-held, family owned businesses going through a once in a life-time transaction.

Marty McCormick

Group Head at FNB Mezzanine
First National Bank

Marty’s work experience includes almost 30 years of lending, investment banking, and private equity experience. The last twenty years have been spent at private equity and subordinated debt firms investing primarily in the mergers and acquisition space.

Marty participates in several boards and is on the board of the Association for Corporate Growth, Cleveland Chapter. He has a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and an MBA from the Simon School at the University of Rochester.

Chris Michael

Partner
Ice Miller LLP

Chris Michael is Partner in the Business Group at Ice Miller LLP who spends most of his time counseling financial and strategic buyers and sellers on M&A matters in the lower middle market. His experience ranges over a variety of industries throughout the Midwest and beyond. Chris has called Ice Miller home ever since 2010.

Cindy Monroe

Founder
Thirty-One

Cindy Monroe, an experienced CEO and Entrepreneur who built the direct to consumer accessories company, Thirty-One. From launch to several hundred million dollars, she navigated both dramatic growth and significant decline while maintaining profitability and cash flow. In 2020, Cindy successfully negotiated the sale of a majority interest in the business and currently serving in an advisory, founder capacity.

Brett Motherwell

Managing Partner
Kassel Equity Group

Since joining Kassel Equity in 2013, Brett Motherwell has contributed to its business development team with his experience in global financial markets, creating multinational corporations’ global payroll platforms at Global Single Source Solution. He also helps oversee financial operations throughout the company and its subsidiaries, in concert with Thomas Werner. Previously, he worked with TTR, a Portland, Oregon-based company that specializes in the creation of customized sales and use tax rulings on business-related goods and services.

Lisa Mullaney

Director, Strategic Client Development
Fifth Third Private Bank

Lisa serves as Director of Strategic Client Development for the Business Transition Advisory Team. She is responsible for helping high-net-worth business owners navigate through the transition/sale process, focusing on both the personal and financial impacts before and after transition. 

Lisa previously served as Senior Director at Bank of New York Mellon and was responsible for strategic development of multi-generational families and established foundations and institutions. Lisa began her 20+ year financial services career in private equity and mergers and acquisitions and has broad experience across wealth management including estate planning, portfolio management, balance sheet optimization, debt strategies, business sales, and divorce protection. 

Bill Noble

Founder, Owner & CEO
West Point Optical Group

Julia Papastavridis

Managing Director
Aon

Based in New York City, Julia Papastavridis is a Managing Director on Aon's M&A and Transaction Solutions team. Julia is an experienced corporate attorney and M&A insurance broker with a demonstrated history of work in transactional risk in the insurance industry. Julia also brings extensive experience to Aon from her prior positions as a representations & warranties insurance underwriter at AIG and at Everest.

Before joining the insurance industry, Julia was a corporate M&A associate at the law firms of Kramer Levin and Dentons in New York City. Julia earned her J.D. from University of Michigan Law School and M.B.A. from the Institut Administration des Entreprises in Lyon, France.

Joe Pardi

CFO & COO
Irth Solutions

Joe Pardi joined Irth Solutions in 2017. His passion for SaaS companies drives his focus on operational excellence, fiscal responsibility, and long-term growth. Prior to joining Irth Solutions, Joe served as the Finance Director for Astute Solutions, where he led the Finance, Legal, and Sales Operations teams. Joe holds an MBA from Otterbein University and a B.S. degree in Finance from Ohio State University.

Rhett Ricart

CEO & Owner
Ricart Auto Group

Rhett Ricart is CEO of Ricart Automotive Group, in Columbus, Ohio. Ricart Ford was founded in June 1953, by his father, Paul Ricart Sr. In 1982, Rhett and his brother, Fred, assumed ownership of the dealership. Today, they employ over 700 and annually sell approximately 15,000 new and used vehicles across 10 new product lines.

Katie Ruberto

COO
Feazel

Katie Ruberto serves as COO for the Feazel family of companies and is responsible for overall company operations. In addition, she leads our service, customer and employee experience, marketing, and technology teams. Katie has a background in operations from companies including Best Buy and Target. Katie has her Doctorate in Business Management with a focus on Diversity Management combined with an MBA in Marketing.

Robert H. Schottenstein

Chairman & CEO
M/I Homes, Inc.

Robert H. Schottenstein is Chairman and CEO of M/I Homes, Inc., one of the largest homebuilders in the United States. Mr. Schottenstein has been active in a number of business and charitable organizations. He is Vice Chair of The Policy Advisory Board of Harvard University’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, is a member of the Pelotonia Board, a member of The Columbus Partnership, a member of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center Board and The Ohio State University Foundation Board and a member of the board of JewishColumbus. Previously, Mr. Schottenstein served as a Trustee of The Ohio State University and was Chairman of The Ohio State University Board, served as a member of the Board of LBrands, BBW, Inc., Installed Building Products, Inc. and Huntington Bancshares, Inc. He is married to Jeri Block, has four children, five grandchildren and resides in Jefferson Township, Franklin County, Ohio.

Mark Slayman

Senior Vice President, Commercial Region Manager
The Huntington National Bank

Mark is a 30 year veteran of the commercial banking industry in Columbus, Ohio who recently joined Huntington to lead it's middle market commercial banking efforts there. The entirety of his career has been dedicated to helping local businesses grow through the provision and sourcing of capital, the streamlining of payment systems, and the mitigation of financial risk.

Robert A. Smith

President
Armada Waste - OH

With over 32 years of solid waste and recycling experience, Rob has successfully led teams as small as 7 and as large as 1300 to increased sales and profits, cost controls, and process improvements which have resulted in consistent advancement in profits, safety, compliance, customer service and operational efficiencies. After time as a District Manager, Market Area GM, and Area Vice President, Rob started his own company, from scratch which has grown over the past 10 years to become Armada Waste, a regional force in the Solid Waste and Recycling business, spanning 5 locations across Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky with a current annual run-rate of nearly $40 million.

Mark Spiecker

President
STAQ Pharma

Mark Spiecker is President of STAQ Pharma, a 503B Outsourcing Facility in Columbus, OH and Denver, Colorado that will provide sterile injectable compounded medications to hospitals across the country. Prior to joining STAQ, Marks’s career spanned a number of strategy and leadership roles. In each role Mark utilized his passion for business development, process improvement and innovative operations to successfully guide complex organizations through significant change.

Mark is the former CEO of Sharklet Technologies, Inc. a medical device firm that developed a texture inspired by Sharkskin to control bacteria on surfaces. Mark exited Sharklet to a Bioscience group out of China, providing significant returns to shareholders. Mark is an active community leader, currently serving as a Chair and Board Member of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, a Trustee at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Prior to 2019, Mark served as Chair of the Board of the Colorado Biosciences Association.

Sean Stoner

Group Senior Vice President, Stewart Title
Former Owner & CEO, Title First Agency, Inc.

Sean Stoner is a Group Senior Vice President for Stewart Title and is also President of Title First Agency, Inc. He is responsible for the management of business development and operations on a national scale, with focus in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Alabama and Arkansas. Sean began his career with Title First in 2004 as the regional vice president, where he oversaw all aspects of sales, operations and business partnerships for central Ohio, southwest Ohio and Indiana.

He also served as senior vice president of the company’s commercial division before being promoted to president in March 2012. Stoner purchased the agency in March 2016 and recently sold his agency to Stewart Title, a publicly traded company (NYSE) with over 5,000 employees and annual revenue of approximately $3.3 billion.

Prior to joining Title First, Stoner served as director of regional real estate and in-house real estate counsel for Family Dollar Stores, Inc., in Charlotte, N.C. Stoner is a member of the North Carolina and Ohio Bar Associations and the North Carolina and Ohio Bar (corporate status). He is also a member of the American and the Ohio Land Title Associations and is licensed for title in Ohio and 32 states. Stoner earned a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Policy and Analysis and Political Science from Bowling Green State University, and he holds a Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law.

Tim Swineford

President
Ashland Conveyor Products

Tim Swineford is President and past owner of Ashland Conveyor Products. Ashland Conveyor is a highly recognized unit handling conveyor manufacturer in North America. Ashland produces a line of gravity conveyor such as roller, skate wheel, and ball transfer, as well as powered conveyor. He recently helped guide ownership of Ashland to a private equity firm and continues his role as president for the new owner during the transition.

Doug Terry

Director of Valuations
Bodine Perry

Doug received a Doctor of Jurisprudence (JD) degree from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law and a Master of Business Administration degree from The Ohio State University Fisher College of Business. He is a Certified Public Accountant and is Accredited in Business Valuations. Doug has more than 15 years of experience in corporate, partnership, and individual finance and taxation. He oversees tax, accounting, and valuation engagements for a wide range of clientele. Doug is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and its section for Forensic and Valuation Services.

Andrew Vollmer

Managing Director
BellMark Partners, LLC

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.

Fred Vorys

Founder & Principal
Aegis Advisors

Fred has made non-control investments and served as financial advisor during the last 33 years, currently as Founder & Principal at Aegis Advisors and previously as a Managing Director with Banc One Capital Markets/Banc One Capital Partners. He has been involved in recapitalization, growth financing, and m&a transactions totaling over $2.0 billion in value and direct investments cumulatively yielding a 35+% IRR.

Katy Wiles

VP, Legal
Hawthorne Gardening Company

Katy is vice president, Legal, for The Hawthorne Gardening Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. She serves as lead attorney and legal adviser for Hawthorne, a leading manufacturer and distributor of hydroponics products. Previously, she was lead counsel at Scotts for mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and joint venture relationships.

Brian Zuercher

Co-founder & CEO
Align

Brian is the Co-founder and CEO of Align. At Align we equip organizations with data about their workforce to redesign their full work experience — from real estate optimization to remote policies.