2026 Dealmakers of the Year Honorees
Presented By: HUB International
Adam Cook
Co-Founder, Managing Partner & Chief Investment Officer
Culper Capital Partners
Adam Cook, Co-Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of Culper Capital Partners, stands out as a 2026 New York City Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year honoree for his disciplined strategic approach to lower middle-market investing. Cook has led a series of strategic platform transactions across industrial and MedTech manufacturing sectors, which includes add-on acquisitions designed to drive operational scale and long-term value. His leadership reflects a focus on building platform companies through thoughtful deal execution and targeted growth initiatives. By combining investment expertise with a hands-on approach to value creation, Cook continues to strengthen Culper Capital’s presence in the private investing landscape.
Jennifer Keida
Owner & CEO
Standard Heating, Cooling & Insulating
Jennifer Keida, Owner and CEO of Standard Heating, Cooling & Insulating, is a 2026 New York City Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year honoree for her leadership in building and transforming a legacy business into a thriving, modern enterprise. Since joining the company, Keida has driven significant operational improvements, expanded service capabilities and strengthened its market position in a highly competitive industry. Her hands-on leadership and long-term vision have fueled consistent growth while maintaining a strong commitment to employees and customers. By focusing on culture, performance and sustainability, Keida has created lasting value and positioned the company for continued success.
Ihar Mahaniok
Founder & Managing Partner
Geek Ventures
Ihar Mahaniok, Founder and Managing Partner of Geek Ventures, is a 2026 New York City Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year honoree for his leadership in early-stage technology investing. Mahaniok has guided the firm’s growth through a focused strategy of backing high-potential seed-stage companies, building a portfolio of more than 70 investments across the U.S. His disciplined approach has helped drive increasing deal sizes and valuations while identifying emerging opportunities in software and productivity solutions. Through thoughtful capital deployment and a commitment to founder success, Mahaniok continues to play a key role in shaping the next generation of innovative technology companies.
James Sidwa
Managing Partner
Andrea Nelson
Managing Director
Heartwood Partners IV, LP
Andrea Nelson, Principal, and James Sidwa, Managing Partner at Heartwood Partners, are 2026 Smart Business New York City Dealmakers of the Year honorees for their leadership in the successful sale of Sur-Seal to Brodie Generational Capital. The transaction marks a strategic milestone for the engineered sealing, thermal management and custom materials company, positioning it for continued growth and innovation. Nelson and Sidwa guided the investment through a period of operational expansion, including acquisitions and enhanced manufacturing capabilities. Their thoughtful approach to value creation and partnership helped strengthen Sur-Seal’s market position, culminating in a successful exit and a strong foundation for the company’s next chapter.
Jay Sprague
Principal
Tamarix Equity Partners
Jay Sprague, Principal at Tamarix Equity Partners, is a 2026 New York City Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year honoree for his role in advancing strategic investment in the environmental services sector. Sprague led Tamarix’s investment in Royal Oak Recycling, supporting the company’s continued expansion as a leading provider of commercial recycling solutions across the U.S. The partnership strengthens Royal Oak’s ability to scale its operations and provide customers with improved profitability and environmental outcomes across paper, plastic, and metal waste streams. Through thoughtful deal execution and a focus on long-term value creation, Sprague continues to drive impactful investments in sustainable, growth-oriented businesses.
Marco Stegmaier
CFO & COO
Moth Quantum
Marco Stegmaier, CFO and COO of Moth, is recognized as a 2026 New York City Smart Business Dealmakers Dealmaker of the Year for his role in advancing the capital strategy of a pioneering quantum technology company. Moth is a quantum computing company pioneering technologies and consumer applications for a new era of media, entertainment, and creativity - leveraging quantum phenomena. He has helped guide Moth through major funding milestones, including a $5 million initial pre-seed round and an additional $8 million seed raise, while supporting the company’s international expansion across the UK, Switzerland, and the US. Through his financial and operational leadership, Marco has helped support disciplined growth, manage investor demand, and position the business for future large-scale capital raises and expansion. His work continues to contribute to the commercialization of quantum computing solutions.
SOCIAL IMPACT INVESTING
Gregory Leibert
Founder & CEO
Cullet
Gregory Leibert, Founder and CEO of Cullet, stands out as a 2026 Smart Business New York City Dealmakers Social Impact Investing honoree for his leadership in advancing sustainable materials innovation. With a mission to modernize and scale glass reuse & recycling, Leibert is building a circular economy platform that reduces waste and improves environmental outcomes across communities and industries.
In 2026, he led Cullet through the acquisition of Repeat Glass LLC, establishing the company’s first operating platform and accelerating its expansion strategy. By integrating technology, logistics and processing capabilities, Cullet is creating a more efficient and economically viable approach to glass reuse & recycling.
Leibert’s work reflects a commitment to aligning environmental impact with business performance, demonstrating how strategic dealmaking can drive both sustainability and long-term value creation.