Corporate growth and M&A
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The M&A landscape in 2024 showed a cautious uptick in dealmaking activity, with companies focused on sustainable value creation and new growth opportunities despite economic challenges and geopolitical risks. Signs point to more consistent deal flow in 2025, with strategic sellers, buyers and private equity firms primed for further investment. This year’s ACG Cleveland guide offers valuable insight to help inform your dealmaking decisions and gain a competitive market edge in 2025 and beyond. Produced by Crain’s Content Studio, this interactive resource explores the latest M&A trends and outlook, areas of opportunity, financial considerations, deal value creation, how to handle private equity interest in your business, exit strategies and much more. Founded in 1954, the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG)’s mission is to drive middle-market growth. ACG has 61 chapters worldwide. Its Cleveland chapter is considered one of the most preeminent and active networks, comprised of about 500 Northeast Ohio-based professionals who engage in middle-market mergers and acquisitions and broader corporate finance. ACG Cleveland is committed to supporting organic and acquisitional growth of Northeast Ohio businesses by fostering connections and providing valuable resources, such as curating timely and relevant thought leadership content featured in this year’s ACG Cleveland Guide.
ACG is a global organization focused on driving middle-market growth. Its 15,000-plus members include professionals from private equity firms, corporations and lenders that invest in middle-market companies, as well as experts from law, accounting, investment banking and other firms that provide advisory services. Learn more at www.acg.org. ACG Cleveland serves professionals in Northeast Ohio and has about 500 members.
ACG Cleveland President Beth Haas offers additional perspective.
Learn more about ACG Cleveland.
About acg
trends and outlook
Thought leaders weigh in on timely and relevant topics in M&A.
M&A private equity and deal flow outlook for 2025
Legal issues impacting private equity transactions
Top five concerns in M&A in 2025: What buyers need to know
Advice on how to compete in the competitive M&A marketplace
2025 M&A boom: Key sectors primed for enhanced growth
Consider how taxes, capital position and operations impact deal worth.
Financial and deal structuring advice
Real estate valuation challenges in M&A deals
A legal perspective on the art of the Letter of Intent
Crafting the optimal tech stack for private equity marketing
Key considerations for family offices before acquisitions
A pragmatic and creative approach to building value in private equity and M&A.
Deal positioning
Executive officers
President
Beth Haas, Cyprium Investment Partners Past President Jay Moroscak, Aon
President Elect Tom Libeg, Grant Thornton Executive Vice President, Annual Events Terry Doyle, Calfee Executive Vice President, Branding Peter Cavrell, Fortress Security Risk Management Executive Vice President, Governance (Co-Chair) Charles Aquino, Edgepoint
Executive Vice President, Governance (Co-Chair)
Mitch Gecht, Benesch Executive Vice President, Innovation Ryan McGovern, Star Mountain Capital Executive Vice President, Membership Dawn Southard, Team NEO Executive Vice President, Programming John Allotta, BakerHostetler
Nick House, Vorys
Executive Vice President Sponsorship Ann Seger, Calfee
top deal makers to be honored
Treasurer Don Stanovcak, Plante Moran
At-Large Tricia Balser, CIBC Corrie Menary, Kirtland Capital Partners
Mark Heinrich, Plante Moran
board of directors Rob Cheffins, CIBC
Steve Danford, KeyBanc Capital Markets
Michael Fanous, PwC
Dave Fechter, Acchroma
Sarita Gavhane-Ritz, Edgewater Capital Partners
Matt Koleman, Deloitte
Mindy Marsden, Bober Markey Fedorovich
Craig Panzica, CIBC
William Parker, Parker Revenue Growth Strategies
Brandon Patton, Aon
Lizabeth Roth, Copper Run
Kevin Rozsa, Nexa Motion Group
Larissa Rozycki, Harris Williams
David Schindelheim, Jones Day
24-25 Officers and Board of Directors
Event
New Member Meet Up
WIT: White Elephant: WInTer Wonderland Edition
ACG Akron: Winter Social & Networking
FEI / ACG Joint Event: Todd Federman,
Managing Director of North Coast Ventures
Deal Maker Winner: Brian E. Hall, 2Northstar Capital
New Member Meet Up
WIT: Understanding the Capital Stack Panel Event
CIBC Joint Event with YACG: March Madness
YACG: Meet the Founder Event
Our Region’s Economic Outlook as We Look Ahead to 2030
New Member Meet Up
New Member Happy Hour
ACG Akron: Spring Panel Event
WIT: Poppy’s Empowerment Luncheon:
Celebrating Local Female Founders
New Member Meet Up
WIT: Canterbury Kick-Off Golf Clinic
Dealsource® & Summer Social
ACG Annual Golf Outing
Hill n’ Dale Clay Shooting
Location
2025 events calendar
Read about this year’s winners and event.
ACG Cleveland will recognize the winners of its 28th Annual Deal Maker Awards. The event is scheduled for Jan. 29 at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland’s Atrium Ballroom. The awards honor Northeast Ohio’s leading deal makers for their accomplishments in using acquisitions, divestitures and financings to fuel sustainable growth.
A guide for deal makers focused on middle-market growth
Sponsored Content Partners
Published Jan. 13, 2025 | Back to top
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Feb. 5
Feb. 6
Feb. 19
Feb. 26
March 5
March 13
March 20
Mid-April
Late-April
May 7
May 8
May 22
Panera Rockside Road
Brightside
Nuevo Lakeside Event Space
TBD
Panera Rockside Road
TBD
Nano Brew
TBD
TBD
Panera Rockside Road
Alley Cat
Buckingham, Doolittle & Burroughs
Flip through the print edition of this report.
Avoid distress: These failures are not an option
“Best” deal structure to minimize taxes for private company sale
Mastering net working capital: Key factors that shape a deal
Key considerations in raising debt or equity capital
From start to finish, completing a successful deal requires astute planning and execution.
Strategic buying and selling
What's next — planning for business succession
Preparation is the cornerstone to a successful exit
I want to sell my business. How do I prepare, and where do I start?
How to handle private equity interest in your business
May 29
Poppy’s Shaker Heights
June 4
Panera Rockside Road
June 12
Canterbury Country Club
June 24
The Shoreby Club
Sept. 29
Firestone Country Club
Nov. 6
Hill n’ Dale
Trends
Deal Structure
Deal positioning
Officers
Buying and selling
Events
Content Partners
Employee stock ownership plans: The business succession solution
Timing the exit process to achieve a successful outcome
Feb. 11
Top Golf Akron
What's next — planning for business succession
Preparation is the cornerstone to a successful exit
Feb. 19
Nuevo Lakeside Event Space