2025 Northeast Ohio Smart Business Dealmakers Rising Stars

 

Building the Bench

An inside look at how Rising Stars are cultivated in Northeast Ohio

In the hypercompetitive world of M&A, talent is the ultimate key to success today and well into the future. The Smart Business Dealmakers Rising Stars program recognizes the industry’s most promising up-and-coming professionals. Here, we talk with business leaders from a variety of industries and disciplines to learn how they execute their strategies for attracting, developing and retaining the next generation of dealmakers.

For instance, Weinberg Capital Group Managing Partner Chip Weinberg says hiring great people who are well rounded is a reflection on who they are as a family office.

“We need to appeal to owners of companies that are scared about what might happen to their business when they sell,” he says. “Hiring a person that reflects our ‘core values’ enables us to increase the likelihood of the seller choosing us as a buyer. Our Gavitt Wire & Cable deal is a good example of this fact. The second generation owners bonded with Sam Heredos (our new hire) as part of our process and that was a factor in their decision to sell to us.”

Al Melchiorre, President and CEO, MelCap Partners LLC, says young talent is the life blood of any organization.

“We have been blessed to have several folks within MelCap that have risen from intern to principal,” he says. “In fact, Dan Bowman, Evan Lyons (2024 Rising Star) and

Anthony Melchiorre (2025 Rising Star) were all interns at one point at MelCap.”

Because Benesch has been so successful hiring young lateral associates and growing its summer associate program, Megan Mehalko, co-chair of the Corporate Practice Group and Partner, says the company has developed a deeper bench that’s enabled them to serve more clients, which has led to consistent growth.

“We also invest significant time and resources to developing our younger talent through both formal training and more informal opportunities to learn through shadowing and observation,” Mehalko says. “This investment positions our younger talent to take leadership roles in projects more quickly, including drafting, negotiations and interacting directly with clients.”

Angela Sebesy, VP of Global HR at Brennan Industries, says the company created two programs to attract and retain young talent, which has had a positive impact on the

company’s M&A activities. Its business development manager program runs for six to 12 months and provides rotations through sales, operations, supply chain and manufacturing so that participants can better understand everything from how parts are made, to how they are delivered to customers. Once they complete the program, they receive a territory and can grow their career through the sales organization. The two-year management trainee program includes rotations across every department. Participants are assigned meaningful projects that allow them to deeply engage in all areas of the business. At the end of the program, each trainee is placed in a role aligned with their interests and strengths. Sebesy says all four individuals who graduated from the program in 2024 are now in management-level positions.

 

Opening the door

To attract young professionals, Paul Bodnar, Chief Investment Officer at CM Wealth Advisors, says they offer the opportunity to look at a wide range of investments in

everything from venture capital to real estate.

“Last month, we invested in a spinout from a ‘Mag 7’ company and also invested in a service provider to restaurants,” Bodnar says. “It keeps everyone busy and offers numerous opportunities for learning. We have an entrepreneurial culture, so everyone is encouraged to bring ideas to the table and develop relationships across the industry.”

Melchiorre says MelCap is a big believer in hiring analysts from the firm’s internship program.

“We had two interns this summer and have offered both to join MelCap after graduation,” he says. “Every investment banker who joins MelCap has an opportunity to become an owner once they reach the director level. This year, we had three IBs reach that level.”

Similarly, at Benesch, Mehalko says young professionals are most often hired through its summer associate program, which offers participants the chance to explore all the firm’s departments.

“To encourage their interest in M&A, we invite their participation in department meetings and training programs, and we identify work assignments that give them opportunities to engage in multiple stages of a deal, meet our clients and observe our lawyers,” Mehalko says. “We also have fun — be it lunches or happy hours or closing dinners, we like to celebrate our collective successes.”

 

Sticking together

To ensure the retention and growth of young talent within their business, Weinberg says they share carried interest in each deal that vests over time.

“And, as a flat organization, the hires are involved in all aspects of our business, making the job interesting,” he says.

Bodnar says as the organization grows and gets more sophisticated on the investment side, there are greater opportunities for younger team members. He says there is also the opportunity for young team members to become equity owners in the firm as well as share economics from direct investment programs.

Benesch focuses on ensuring everyone feels integrated into the team and supported by the other attorneys they work with. Mehalko says they encourage associates to travel to the company’s other offices to meet face-to-face with partners and associates.

“Associates love the travel and we find the group is better integrated because of it,” she says. “We also work with our learning and development team to develop consistent training, much of which is focused on hands-on opportunities to practice the skills being developed. Department leaders meet individually with associates to discuss their goals and career advancement.”

Promoting from within is important for MelCap as is constantly challenging the team so that they can continue to grow. Melchiorre says culture is also important and cannot be underestimated.

“We try to have regular team-building events as well as charitable activities to give back to the community,” he says.

Helping out

When it comes to support systems that foster professional development, Mehalko says every associate in Benesch’s M&A group is paired with a partner mentor. The partner meets regularly with the mentee to discuss career and leadership development.

“Our professional development team provides prompts so the partners are equipped to ask on-point questions that are meaningful to the mentee,” she says. “Department leadership meets with associates on a regular basis to discuss their workloads, skills development and professional goals. The Barista in our lobby is another unique and popular way of supporting them.”

Melchiorre says MelCap is one of 55 members in an international organization called Globalscope Partners. There, he says they put on a Senior and Junior Academy where younger investment bankers can train along side their counterparts from other firms around the globe.

For Weinberg Capital Group, professional development is fostered in part through immediate involvement in all aspects of the deal making and process to learn. They will also invest to send people to trade shows or for seminars if helpful, Weinberg says.

At Brennan, Sebesy says each participant in its professional development programs is paired with a mentor, typically at the director level or higher, who provides guidance and support throughout their departmental rotation. Following the company’s 2024 acquisition of Coterflex in Brazil, new career development opportunities opened for employees there.

“In 2025, one of our rising supply chain professionals joined us in Cleveland for the summer,” Sebesy says. “She worked closely with Matt Stahr, our VP of Corporate Development and Acquisitions, while also volunteering alongside our management team to experience Brennan’s culture and community focus. She returned to Brazil with a stronger understanding of our business, helping to further connect and strengthen our global facilities.” ●

 

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2024 Smart Business Dealmakers Rising Stars

 

• Dozie Agbim combines his analytical skills with practical execution experience, working across sectors including health care, food and beverage, consumer and building products.
• Dozie excels in structuring junior capital solutions or managing multi-faceted diligence with bankers, management teams, and independent sponsors.
• He leads by example, mentoring junior members and guiding associates through models.

 

 

 

 

• Samantha Barbara counsels public and privately held companies and private equity funds on complex M&A, capital markets transactions, corporate governance and securities law matters.
• She advised a private company on its $354 million IPO and related offerings.
• She structured a private company’s ~$400 million sale to a private equity sponsor with rollover and tax-optimized elements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Hunter Benson regularly leads deals as first chair, encompassing finance, real estate and development opportunities.
• His expertise extends to representing entities in both the purchase and sale of businesses, while also assisting owners in mitigating risks and accomplishing their goals.
• He has been recognized as a top business and corporate attorney in Cleveland.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Joe Brennan supports the execution of M&A transactions, capital raises and financial advisory services.
• Most recently, he was an Institutional Banking Associate at Huntington Bank where he assisted with the financial analysis, forecasting and underwriting of a portfolio of large corporate clients for syndicated debt financing.
• He has become an invaluable adviser to clients and a key contributor to GCG’s continued growth and success.

 

 

 

 

 

• Stephen Carpinello served as lead counsel to a multi-billion-dollar private equity firm in its acquisition of a Virginia company serving customers in more than 140 countries.
• He served as exclusive counsel to a private equity firm with $1 billion+ in assets under management in its $100 million+ acquisition of all of the equity interests of a manufacturing company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Jacob Davis represents financial advisory firms in their sales of equity interest.
• Davis assisted in the representation of a new markets tax credit investor in a $9.6 million transaction, which helped finance a new hospital campus.
• He represented Olympic Steel in connection with its acquisition of a manufacturer of products.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Michael De Matteis has been recognized as a Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” and an Ohio Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” honoree for both 2024 and 2025.
• On behalf of Edgewater Capital Partners, he represented the firm in the sale of Pure Wafer to ZMC.
• Acted as counsel in Mid-West Materials’ acquisition by Reliance Inc., North America’s largest metals service center company.

 

 

 

 

 

• Before joining Schill, Jono Fries co-led the growth of Grasscor into one of Cincinnati’s largest landscape firms, building a reputation for operational excellence and customer-first service.
• Today, he oversees operations across Schill’s 31-branch network, bringing a forward-thinking approach to communication, culture and performance.
• His leadership has driven the rollout of scalable SOPs, cross-market consistency, and gamified performance tracking that’s redefining accountability and engagement in the field.

 

 

 

 

 

• At Footprint Capital, Janice has played an integral role in deal execution for sell-side and buy-side engagements.
• She has played a key role in roughly 25 transactions.
• She brings over nine years of accounting experience with expertise in audit, reporting and analysis across a variety of industries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Sam Heredos started as a staff accountant at E&Y and quickly rose to become a senior manager at BDO on the mergers and acquisitions team.
• In his time at Weinberg Capital Group, Heredos has skillfully handled all aspects of deal making including negotiating, deal sourcing and growing portfolio companies post close.
• Heredos has an extremely well-rounded skillset.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Sachin Java has nine years of experience and over $1 billion in closed deal value.
• He has served as counsel on transactions including a $775 million long-term care acquisition, and a $72 million TASE-listed debenture offering.
• He serves as President of AABA Ohio, Legal Project Management Initiative Chair for the ABA M&A Committee, and M&A Contributing Editor for Business Law Today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Geet Kalra has invested in or is actively managing 11 portfolio companies across the state — four in Northeast Ohio.
• In the Ohio startup ecosystem, Kalra is known for building strong investor syndicates and elevating local founders.
• He plays a central role in deal sourcing, due diligence, board engagement and exit planning, and is also instrumental in managing Ohio fund operations, LP reporting and fundraising.

 

 

 

 

 

• Dede Kalt brings clarity and strategy to the financial complexities facing high and ultra-high-net-worth business owners and entrepreneurs.
• Her ability to bridge deep technical knowledge with a personalized, client-first approach makes her a trusted adviser to families navigating significant financial transitions.
• Her deal-making acumen is evident not only in the bespoke planning she delivers, but in the collaborative partnerships she fosters.

 

 

 

 

 

• Greg Kuntz organically sourced, underwrote and acquired 24 land development deals since April 2022. This includes making Naturion’s first acquisitions in Michigan, Missouri and Kentucky.
• Deal revenue is currently at $142 million and growing.
• Beyond being the company’s leading acquisition manager, he has trained junior staff and helped develop CRM software to support Naturion’s expansion.

 

 

 

 

 

• Daniel Luketic brings a decade of experience in early-stage venture capital.
• He is instrumental in connecting portfolio companies with critical insights and market-making customer and partner opportunities.
• He currently serves on the board of portfolio company Real Time Intelligence and spearheads many of the daily investment and portfolio support activities on behalf of the fund.

 

 

 

 

 

• Anthony Melchiorre has led and managed the closing of transactions for MelCap and originated nearly 10 deals over the past couple of years.
• He has the unique skill set at a young age to both source, manage and close complicated M&A transactions.
• He has closed deals with strategic buyers, international strategic buyers, and private equity groups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Brian Mielcusny has advised on a private equity client’s $1.5 billion sale of a portfolio company.
• He has represented a public company in its $1.9 billion acquisition of a major consumer brand in the pet food sector.
• Mielcusny has acted for a public buyer in a $232 million specialty materials compounding business acquisition.

 

 

 

 

 

• Pamela Parker has planned and executed Human Resources-related integration activities since early 2023.
• She redesigned the project plan to onboard employees onto Schill’s Human Capital Management system and coordinates in-person meetings to onboard newly acquired employees.
• Over a few months, she helped integrate six companies from six different payroll providers to one consistent system across the platform.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Nick Schepis joined The Fedeli Group in late 2024 as vice president of the construction and surety practice.
• He hit the ground running in 2025, generating $300,000 in new revenue, bringing on eight new clients during the first six months of the year.
• Growth has quickly exceeded expectations and there is excitement about the practice.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Ryan Smith is an engineer by background but spent two years analyzing and investing in M7 Ace Neo’s venture capital portfolio before he got involved in a buy-side search for M7 Ventures.
• He is adept at financial modeling and due diligence on both the financial and operations side.
• He also works closely with portfolio companies from an operational perspective during the ownership transition period.

 

 

 

 

 

• Matt Stahr has led two landmark acquisitions — a major complementary business in Brazil and a strategic foothold in Houston.
• The Brazil acquisition brought in a thriving operation that adds both value and diversity to Brennan’s portfolio.
• The Houston acquisition expanded Brennan’s offerings, diversified its customer base, and created operational synergies from day one.
• Under his leadership, Brennan’s pipeline is robust, with several new opportunities in active evaluation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Allysa Tse has led the accounting integration for four acquisitions and finalized two other acquisition integrations.
• Tse leads a large group of finance professionals and efficiently directs their involvement in each acquisition and integration.
• Tse has shown an enormous amount of grit, determination and pride in how she approaches the work for each acquisition while overseeing the monthly ongoing accounting processes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

• Andrew Vento has accelerated Unison Risk Advisors’ M&A program, driving strategic growth through targeted acquisitions and facilitating smooth integration handovers.
• He’s led or supported 11 deals in 14 months, adding over $90 million in annual revenue and over 325 employees.
• His blend of strategic vision, deal acumen and preparation, due diligence rigor and people-first integration focus has propelled Unison Risk Advisors into its next chapter of growth.

 

 

 

 

 

• Ben Wallace serves on the firm’s private equity and investment committees.
• He has played a key role in nearly 30 direct deals.
• He primarily focuses on sourcing and conducting thorough due diligence on private investments, including both funds and direct deals.
• He works with clients on their portfolios and raising capital for the firm’s private investments.

 

 

 

 

 

• Brandon Wojtasik advises a wide range of clients across the M&A ecosystem through all phases of complex transactions.
• With experience leading deals valued from $5 million to $200 million, Wojtasik has helped clients achieve strategic growth through acquisitions, execute succession and exit plans, and navigate distressed transactions that preserve business continuity.