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By Jayne Gest
The managing partner of Stonehenge Partners shares his approach to buying with multiples approaching a peak, and how buying strategies have changed in the current environment.
May 21, 2019
Ancora’s Brian Hopkins: Relationships Fuel Dealmaking Activity
The Ancora managing director talks about the role relationship-building plays in his dealmaking activity and the value of maintaining discipline.
May 17, 2019
Signal's Marc Kiven: An entrepreneur's approach to dealmaking
The founder of the groundbreaking digital marketing company talks about what he looks for in an investment opportunity and how he sets the stage for the company’s future.
May 16, 2019
Ed Wethli: Kiva Han-Crazy Mocha deal took time to brew
A year into the Crazy Mocha acquisition, the benefits of the deal are finally falling into place for the coffee roaster that wanted a growing retail empire.
May 9, 2019
ASPIRE Dealmakers Conference Photos
The Renaissance Cleveland Hotel was the site of Northeast Ohio biggest CEO-focused dealmakers event on May 2. Check out 100+ photos from the event.
May 7, 2019
MCM's Mark Mansour: Stick To What You Know To Come Out Ahead
Mark Mansour was young, hungry and eager to establish his dealmaking credentials. Mal Mixon was an established entrepreneur who had already built a billion-dollar business at Invacare, but was always
April 24, 2019
OTC's Philip Derrow: On ESOPs, culture and getting good advice
Ohio Transmission CEO Phil Derrow, talks about the challenges of ESOPs, openness during transactions and two important rules when making deals.
April 18, 2019
ASPIRE Dealmakers Conference Photo Gallery
The Westin Book Cadillac was the site of Detroit's biggest CEO-focused dealmakers event on April 11. The ASPIRE Dealmakers Conference featured panel discussions with some of Detroit's top dealmakers, as well as extensive networking opportunities to meet with entrepreneurs, investors and advisers who make deals happen in metro Detroit.
April 17, 2019
Leon Rubinov on Incline Equity’s M&A strategy and value creation
Leon Rubinov doesn’t like to play favorites with Incline Equity Partners investments. “All our kids are cute,” the senior partner says. “We don’t love one any more than the other. They’re all special."
April 5, 2019
Ray Dalton: Good opportunity doesn’t always mean good fit
Focus drives results and results attract buyers, says A. Ray Dalton. This week, Ray discusses his approach to identifying the right investment opportunity and the importance of finding ways for your team to win in the dealmaking process.
April 5, 2019
Huron Capital’s Brian Demkowicz: Dealmaking is back in Detroit
The PE firm's co-founder explores the method that fuels his dealmaking productivity and the role Midwestern values play in the firm’s success.
March 29, 2019
Chip McClure finds deals in unloved world of Tier 2, Tier 3 suppliers
By founding Michigan Capital Advisors, he has created a private equity firm that addresses the lack of access to capital that prevents suppliers from keeping up with customer demand and diversifying beyond the auto sector.
March 29, 2019
Nordson's Anne Pombier: Creating value through acquisitions
Before joining Nordson, Anne Pombier led or participated in more than 100 transactions ranging from $500,000 to more than $1 billion in size. Now she helps identify and pursue M&A targets that can create value for Nordson on a global basis.
March 27, 2019
Quick Med Claims' Michael J. Lewis: A CEO's approach to M&A
In four years, the CEO of Quick Med Claims has gone through two sales and initiated five acquisitions. Now, he’s interested in passing along that knowledge.
March 22, 2019
BlueTree's big 2018: A unicorn, strong exits and new investors
It’s been an exciting and unprecedented year for Catherine Mott and BlueTree Capital, including her venture fund's first unicorn holding.
March 21, 2019
2019 Dealmaker of the Year Awards
Recognizing the top deals and dealmakers in the Pittsburgh region.
March 14, 2019
Irwin Car’s Bill Baker: Find synergies in your acquisition strategy
After doing nearly 60 deals throughout his career, Bill Baker knows himself. He’s a niche strategist who looks to buy companies where one-and-one makes three.
March 12, 2019
RPM’s Jim Karman: Skip the drama and avoid turnarounds
Retired RPM International COO Jim Karman reflects on the fateful deal that convinced him to steer clear of turnaround acquisitions and shares lessons learned from his dealmaking career.
March 8, 2019
Atlas Oil founder Sam Simon: How to maximize your deals
The master dealmaker talks about his humble beginnings, his approach to investment opportunities and the importance of being a disciplined dealmaker.
March 7, 2019
vitalxchange's Charu Ramanathan: survival skills trump MBA thinking
The co-founder and CEO at vitalxchange talks about the value of following your instincts and the real skills entrepreneurs need to succeed.
March 1, 2019
Michael Canty: How to navigate the tricky waters of turnaround investing
Turnaround maven Michael Canty offers his tips for investing in troubled companies and shares the strategy that got Alloy Bellows & Precision Welding back on its feet.
February 18, 2019
Market Garden's Sam McNulty
Sam McNulty talks about his approach to dealmaking, the value of strong partnerships and his keys to success.
February 7, 2019
TruWest Cos.: Innovators wanted
Matt Kennedy and Wendy Jarchow explain how TruWest Cos. and River SaaS Capital identify promising investment opportunities and position them for growth. “We’re looking for industries that are ripe for innovation,” Jarchow says.
January 24, 2019
Adam Kaufman
Last year, Adam Kaufman studied an estimated 500 early-stage companies to assess their long-term viability. Helping startups refine their message and pursue their goals brings the entrepreneur great
January 22, 2019
Lazear Capital’s Ted Lape on transparency, creativity and the rise of ESOPs
Ted Lape talks about transparency in dealmaking, when ESOPs make sense and his most memorable deals.
January 17, 2019
Provariant’s Murad Beg
Provariant's Murad Beg talks about how he stays objective to make the right deals for his clients.
January 9, 2019
Flashstarts' Charles Stack
Entrepreneur and early-stage investor Charles Stack talks with Smart Business Dealmakers about the role of confidence in dealmaking and how changemakers can use it to spark investment in Cleveland.
January 9, 2019
August Carlino on negotiating, risk and preserving a legacy
August Carlino talks about what gets his blood pumping, the Rivers of Steel's acquisition of RiverQuest and his advice for other dealmakers.
December 20, 2018
ChromoCare’s Hugh Cathey learns from success — and failure
Master Dealmaker Hugh Cathey talks about what’s changed in M&A, one of his biggest deals and the importance of learning from career wins and losses.
December 19, 2018
FALCON's Rob Huxtable
FALCON Managing Partner Rob Huxtable talks about his tips for finding leaders who can thrive under pressure, rise to a challenge and help PE firms maximize their investments.
December 7, 2018
Tecum Capital’s Stephen Gurgovits Jr.
Tecum Capital Managing Director Stephen Gurgovits Jr. talks about Tecum's evolution as an investment firm, it's appetite for risk and one of his most memorable deals.
November 16, 2018
BGL’s Andrew Petryk
Investment banker Andrew Petryk shares his thoughts and observations about how best to prepare for the M&A process and maximize the result.
November 9, 2018
Explorys co-founder Charlie Lougheed
Charlie Lougheed looks at the importance of clarity, the value of embracing opportunity and why a great idea alone isn’t enough to capture the excitement of potential investors.
November 8, 2018
Blue Point Capital's Jim Marra
BluePoint's Jim Marra about the challenge of competing in today’s private equity market and the best strategy to minimize risk with your investments.
November 2, 2018
Mark A. Filippell
Mark Filippell talks about important points to consider before you put your company on the market and a pivotal moment for M&A advisory firm Western Reserve Partners.
October 26, 2018
Douglas J. Sibila
Peoples Services CEO Doug Sibila talks about his methodical approach to dealmaking and the role networking plays in his company’s M&A strategy.
October 19, 2018
Jon J. Pinney
KJK Managing Partner Jon Pinney talks about the need for speed in closing transactions, his passion for learning and the role Blockland can play in facilitating more business activity going forward.
October 19, 2018
Chas Withers: Build a strong, consistent narrative for your deal
The Dix & Eaton CEO talks about how to tell a consistent narrative that ties together everyone's interests and conveys the value being created.
October 12, 2018
Advanced Robotics in Manufacturing Institute’s Suzy Teele
Entrepreneur Suzy Teele has helped at least 50 companies grow into market leaders, either as a consultant, adviser or executive. In this Q&A, she talks about how entrepreneurs can build relationships to create partnerships or find investors to grow their companies.
October 12, 2018
Richard R. Hollington III
CapitalWorks CEO Dick Hollington talks about the role preparation plays in developing an effective acquisition strategy and what private equity firms do to make sure they stay on top of their game.
October 12, 2018
MRI's John Ensign on strategy, due diligence and 10,000 rats
John Ensign talks about his acquisition strategy and the importance of making in-person visits to potential acquisition targets.
October 5, 2018
Baiju R. Shah
BioMotiv CEO Baiju Shah talks about his approach to building a team that can get deals done and the opportunity that health care innovation presents to other industries.
October 5, 2018
Thogus' Matt Hlavin: Why I take dealmaking slow and steady
The CEO talks about the drive he had to become more entrepreneurial and factors that have kept him from being more active on the deal scene.
September 28, 2018
Tony Ciepiel
Step2Discovery CEO Tony Ciepiel talks about his strategic approach to dealmaking and the importance of reaching beyond M&A as a means of completing deals that can benefit your business.
September 28, 2018
Tom Chema: Getting Gateway done and the value of taking risks
Tom Chema played a lead role in overseeing the public/private partnership that brought downtown Cleveland a new ballpark for the Indians and an arena for the Cavaliers.
September 28, 2018
Austin Capital Partners' Darrell Austin
Darrell Austin talks about the effect that rising purchase prices have had on M&A players who used to be a lot busier.
September 19, 2018
Paul Smucker Wagstaff
Paul Smucker Wagstaff shares his dealmaking strategy, the role that his team plays in M&A transactions and some key lessons he learned from his time at J.M. Smucker.
September 19, 2018
Steve McHale on flawed deals and knowing when to pivot
Steve McHale shares his thoughts on deals he has made and the approach that leaders take when things don’t go according to plan.
September 14, 2018
Dan T. Moore III
Dan Moore reflects on his career in business, his skill as an innovator and how dealmaking has helped bring it all together.
September 14, 2018
Team NEO’s Bill Koehler
Bill Koehler talks about one of the most gratifying moments of his dealmaking career and the value that a formal M&A strategy can bring to your business.
September 14, 2018
EY’s Chris Smyth
We catch up with EY's Chris Smyth to talk about his principles of effective dealmaking.
September 7, 2018
Cascade Partners’ Ken Marblestone
Ken Marblestone explains why he’s always concerned about something and why there are times when you should not take the advice of your financial adviser.
August 31, 2018
Jon W. Park
Westfield Bank's CEO talks about how to build an effective M&A strategy and common pain points that arise when looking to make a deal.
August 31, 2018
Signet's Tony Manna: Why I'm always ready for a deal
Tony Manna talks about his readiness to examine deals and some great advice he got in his youth from Worthington Industries founder John McConnell.
August 31, 2018
Beth Haas
Cyprium Partners' Beth Haas shares her thoughts on how to find the right vehicle to obtain the necessary capital for your business and how to work through any anxiety you may have over working with an outside firm.
August 24, 2018
Ron Weinberg
Ron Weinberg talks about the origins of today’s active private equity market and his hands-on approach to creating opportunities that lead to profitable deals.
August 24, 2018
Independence Excavating's Victor DiGeronimo Jr.
Vic DiGeronimo talks about taking risks and his key to finding happiness when making a deal.
August 17, 2018
JPMorgan Chase’s Rudy Bentlage
Rudy Bentlage explains the value of transparency in M&A activity and talks about how to know when it’s the right to time to consider selling your business.
August 10, 2018
Metz Lewis’ Chris Brodman
Metz Lewis partner Chris Brodman talks about deal-killing issues and the principles of successful dealmakers.
August 3, 2018
Fred Nance
The global managing partner at Squire Patton Boggs talks about the craft of dealmaking and shares the lessons he has learned to get things done under difficult circumstances.
August 3, 2018
Evolution Capital Partners’ Jeffrey Kadlic
Jeffrey Kadlic about what could be done to open up private equity investment to more people, the common pain points he sees in the M&A process and one of his most memorable deals.
July 27, 2018
Stewart Kohl
The co-CEO of The Riverside Co. talks about how he got his start and mentors who guided him early in his career.
July 19, 2018
Howard W. “Hoby” Hanna IV
Hoby Hanna talks about what drove two pivotal transactions for his real estate company, the value he places on market share and his perspective on turnarounds.
July 19, 2018
Calfee’s Brent Pietrafese
The dealmaking attorney talks about recent trends in dealmaking and how to avoid legal headaches when involved in M&A activity.
July 13, 2018
Ancora’s Fred DiSanto
Fred DiSanto talks about his approach to dealmaking, his willingness to take risk and his partnership with Carl Grassi.
July 6, 2018
PWC Group’s Ansir Junaid
Ansir Junaid talks about principles of dealmaking strategy and how two trips led to pivotal business deals that made his business what it is today.
June 28, 2018
First National Bank’s Boyd Pethel
Boyd Pethel talks about why companies seek outside capital, the tools banks provide to help in this process and what Cleveland needs to do to take the next step in its own evolution.
June 22, 2018
Cyprium Partners’ John Sinnenberg
John Sinnenberg talks about his evolution as a dealmaker and the lessons he’s learned from deals good and bad.
June 14, 2018
Michael E. Gibbons
Mike Gibbons talks about selling a business, his perspective on the growth of the international M&A market.
June 14, 2018
Transtar’s Neil Sethi
Transfer CEO Neil Sethi talks about what experience has taught him about the flow of deal activity and the important distinction between markets and micromarkets.
June 1, 2018
Anthony Manna
Anthony Manna talks about his approach to dealmaking and the team he’s built to vet and often take the lead on potential opportunities.
May 25, 2018
Victor DiGeronimo Jr.
Vic DiGeronimo talks about how he got his start in the family business and first began to develop the entrepreneurial and dealmaking skills.
May 18, 2018
Stewart Kohl
The Riverside Co. co-CEO talks about how curiosity fuels his passion for dealmaking, how he judges the success of a transaction and the factors that determine the ideal amount of a capital to provide a young business.
May 18, 2018
Rakuten OverDrive’s Steve Potash
Steve Potash talks about the challenges he faced launching OverDrive in the pre-digital world of the 1980s and the pros and cons of debt vs. equity investors.
May 11, 2018
J.W. Sean Dorsey
Master dealmaker Sean Dorsey discusses how the dealmaking business has shifted through the decades and the insights he’s learned along the way.
May 11, 2018
Tucker Ellis’ Jayne Juvan
M&A attorney Jayne E. Juvan talks about what’s driving the increased scrutiny on corporate transactions and the points companies should consider before entering into their next deal negotiation.
May 11, 2018
AdCap Management’s Joel Adelman
Joel Adelman talks about the keys to raising capital, taking risks and doing business in the disaster recovery space.
May 4, 2018
Stephen J. McHale
Steve McHale about the evolution of Explorys, his altruistic approach to dealmaking and what he’s working on now.
May 4, 2018
Attorney Margaret W. Wong
Margaret Wong started her firm in 1978 and it’s only since 2000 that she became more active in dealmaking. She talks about the important deal she made with her godchild and her approach to making acquisitions.
April 27, 2018
RPM's Frank Sullivan
RPM CEO Frank Sullivan talks about his approach to making acquisitions and how he balances M&A with his leadership of the business.
April 27, 2018
Gregory J. Skoda
Master dealmaker Greg Skoda talks about the philosophy of dealmaking, lessons learned creating CBIZ and why it’s so important to listen.
April 27, 2018
Fifth Third Bank’s Joe DiRocco
Joe DiRocco talks about what you should know about your business before you pursue your next M&A transaction.
April 20, 2018
Developer Scott Wolstein
Former Developers Diversfied CEO Scott Wolstein talks about how to know when to walk away, how to minimize mistakes and why you need a strong team to be an effective dealmaker.
March 29, 2018
PwC’s Mark Ross
When Mark Ross isn’t working with George Lucas or helping the NYSE buy Euronext, he’s leading transactions that range up to $10 billion.
March 29, 2018
LeafFilter’s Matt Kaulig
Matt Kaulig talks about the challenges he overcame to position LeafFilter for sale and the passion he has for making deals.
March 23, 2018
PartsSource’s Philip Settimi
Dr. Philip Settimi about the approach he took to negotiate the sale and why he is more focused on organic growth right now than acquisitions.
March 16, 2018
Rocco Di Lillo
Rocco Di Lillo talks about his approach to dealmaking, the process he follows to learn about the business he’s looking to acquire and why being overly cautious can make it a lot easier to sleep at night.
March 9, 2018
R. Louis Schneeberger
Master dealmaker R. Louis Schneeberger talks about the critical first steps to take when looking to make an acquisition, the importance of understanding your industry and why you need to know who’s on your team before you close a deal.
March 9, 2018
Bobby George: The best dealmakers are the quiet ones
Corporate Management Group President Bobby George about what he needs to see in order to buy a business, the discipline to say no and the respect he has for Cleveland’s top dealmakers.
March 2, 2018
Laudan Properties' Kevin Weidinger
Kevin Weidinger talks about the steps he follows to either make a good deal or gain the knowledge he needs to walk away from the table and get to work on the next opportunity.
February 23, 2018
Exodus Capital's Jerry Kelsheimer
Jerry Kelsheimer talks about his approach to making your business attractive to buyers and the value of viewing your company from the perspective of a shareholder.
February 8, 2018
Edward F. Crawford
ParkOhio CEO Edward F. Crawford offers his thoughts on losing his first business, the value he places on people and dealing with rejection.
February 8, 2018
KeyBank's Kip Clarke
Sharing lessons from decades of dealmaking experience, KeyBank's Kip Clarke talks about his strategies for mastering the M&A game.
February 2, 2018
Chris Quinn: What I learned selling Step2
For InterDesign CEO Chris Quinn, dealmaking is all about trust. “Trust begins the very minute you decide to engage and go through the sale process."
February 2, 2018
Directional Aviation Capital’s Kenn Ricci
Directional Aviation Chairman Kenn Ricci shares his company’s 16.6 Rule and why discipline and rigor — a commitment to a plan — are so important.
January 26, 2018
All Pro Freight's Chris Haas
Chris Haas spent a decade growing All Pro Freight Systems at a “grinding” pace until he realized that growth by acquisition could multiply his capacity more quickly.
January 19, 2018
Resilience Capital’s Bassem Mansour
Resilience Capital Partners' co-CEO Bassem Mansour talks about the shifting entrepreneurial mindset, the value of an unbiased professional opinion and the state of today’s capital market.
January 12, 2018
Lubrizol’s Eric R. Schnur
Lubrizol CEO Eric R. Schnur talks about his approach to M&A and how his range of experiences at Lubrizol has made him a better dealmaker.
January 5, 2018
Michael Feuer: How egos killed an OfficeMax/Staples merger
OfficeMax founder Michael Feuer talks about the times he let ego get in the way of a deal and how his approach to dealmaking has changed over the years.
December 15, 2017
BDO’s Bob Littman
Bob Littman talks about being ready to act, finding the right partner and how options have changed for dealmakers over the years.
December 15, 2017
Chris Hyland: Assume nothing
Hyland Software CFO Chris Hyland talks about the importance of asking the tough questions and why you can’t always trust sellers to paint a true picture of the culture at your new acquisition.
December 15, 2017
Stewart Kohl on the art of the deal
Stewart Kohl talks about how the art of the deal has changed over the last 30 years.
December 8, 2017
Tony Mercurio: Bring more leaders
Tony Mercurio shares his thoughts on how to avoid falling victim to the ticking clock when making a deal and why becoming a regular dealmaker could be deadly to your business.
November 30, 2017
Brown Gibbons Lang's Michael Gibbons
Investment banker Mike Gibbons to talk about what CEOs need to know right now about selling their businesses.
November 30, 2017
Bob Campana: 'We have a lot of upside'
Bob Campana talks about the state of the current capital market, some tips that guide his approach to dealmaking and one of his most memorable deals.
November 16, 2017
Sotera Health's Michael Petras
Michael B. Petras knows how to grow a business and he spoke with Smart Business Dealmakers about the best approach to take when negotiating deals with other companies.
November 9, 2017
Monte Ahuja on coming back to Transtar
After Transtar filed for bankruptcy, founder Monte Ahuja reinvested in the company and returned as CEO. We sat down with him to learn why he was willing to take back the helm at Transtar and what he experienced on his return
November 9, 2017
UH’s Tom Zenty
University Hospitals CEO Tom Zenty III talks about his approach to dealmaking and explains why culture can make or break any transaction.
November 9, 2017
Steve Demetriou's 3 rules of dealmaking
Jacobs CEO Steve Demetriou shares his three rules of dealmaking with the Aspire 2017 audience during a question and answer session with Smart Business CEO Fred Koury.
November 3, 2017
Riverside Co.'s Stewart Kohl
Stewart Kohl leads a global private equity firm with more than $6 billion in assets under management and nearly 500 acquisitions under its belt. None of that would have been possible if Kohl had not taken the time to prepare for each negotiation.
