2026 Dealmakers of the Year Honorees
Presented By: Grant Thornton
Paul Adams
Executive Chairman & Founder
Columbia Home Services
Paul Adams, Executive Chairman and Counder of Columbia Home Services, is being honored with the 2026 Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year award for his strategic leadership and success in scaling growth through acquisitions. In 2025, Adams led the company in securing $160 million in acquisition financing, positioning Columbia Home Services to accelerate its expansion strategy. With executive experience spanning Fortune 1000 companies and international markets including the United Kingdom, Europe and South Africa, Adams has built a reputation for driving operational excellence, market growth and turnaround initiatives. His ability to execute complex strategies and build high-performing teams continues to strengthen Columbia Home Services’ competitive position and long-term growth trajectory.
John Block
CEO
Unity Partners LP
John Block, co-founder and CEO of Unity Partners, is being honored with the 2026 Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year award for his exceptional leadership and dealmaking success. With a background that includes roles at HGGC and Bain & Company, Block has built a reputation for strategic investment and operational insight. In 2025 alone, the Unity team led 26 direct investments, including three platform deals, demonstrating remarkable momentum in the market. His experience spans numerous successful investments and board roles, reflecting a deep commitment to value creation. Under his leadership, Unity Partners continues to drive impactful transactions and growth across its portfolio.
Greg Hirsch
Founder & Owner
Hirsch Ventures
Greg Hirsch, owner of Hirsch Ventures, is being honored with the 2026 Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year award for his entrepreneurial leadership and track record of value creation. Over the past decade, Hirsch has helped source and close more than 20 M&A transactions representing over $1 billion in combined revenue. Most recently, he led the transformation and successful exit of Pella of DFW through a management buyout in 2025. After acquiring the business at $40 million in revenue in 2021, the company more than doubled in size organically to the mid-$80 million range by 2025, while growing employment from 90 to nearly 200 team members and investing millions into the DFW market through new Experience Centers and showroom infrastructure. The Pella of DFW team also earned Dallas Business Journal Top 100 and Fast 50 recognitions. He is now actively seeking his next blue-collar-roots company to acquire and scale.
David Lilley
Founder & CEO
Reap Capital
David Lilley, founder and CEO of Reap Capital, is being honored with the 2026 Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year award for his entrepreneurial drive and success in multifamily real estate investing. Since beginning his real estate career in 2013, Lilley has built a rapidly growing portfolio, sponsoring the acquisition of 2,366 multifamily units valued at more than $278 million. His hands-on experience spans acquisitions, construction and property management, enabling him to scale investments strategically. Prior to real estate, Lilley served as a U.S. Marine, firefighter/paramedic and security contractor supporting U.S. government operations, experiences that shaped the leadership and resilience behind his success.
Simon Martin
EVP, Chief Strategy Officer
ERW Site Solutions
Simon Martin, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of ERW Site Solutions, is being honored with the 2026 Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year award for his role in guiding the company’s landmark employee ownership transition. Simon helped lead the strategic ESOP transaction that placed full ownership of the rapidly growing Fort Worth-based construction management firm in the hands of its employees. Since 2018, ERW has expanded through multiple acquisitions and significant organic growth, scaling from a $20 million business to a company targeting $400 million in revenue. His leadership helped position ERW for long-term stability, shared prosperity and continued growth under employee ownership.
Social Impact Investing
Debra Caudy
Co-Founder President & CEO
Clay Heighten
Co-Founder
29acres
Debra Caudy and Clay Heighten, co-founders of 29 Acres, are being honored with the 2026 Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year award for their leadership in social impact investing. Inspired by the needs of families with young adults on the autism spectrum, they founded the nonprofit to create a supportive living community paired with comprehensive services in North Texas. Their vision addresses a growing challenge as thousands of neurodiverse individuals age out of the school system each year. Through 29 Acres, Caudy and Heighten are building a model that empowers residents to live with independence, purpose and connection while providing families with long-term peace of mind.