Executive Committee: John Saada Jr., President

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1 Executive Committee: John Saada Jr., President Saada is a partner at Jones Day, where he represents clients in the formation and governance of private investment funds, as well as the documentation of fund sponsors internal firm arrangements and compensation matters. Saada is chairman of the board of trustees for the Positive Education Program, and serves on the board of directors and executive committee for ACG Cleveland and on the board of directors for United Way of Greater Cleveland. He is also a member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of Saada earned a bachelor s degree, cum laude, from John Carroll University and a J.D., magna cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University. Brian Kelly, President-Elect Kelly is a partner of transaction services at PwC, where he leads the Lake Erie Mergers & Acquisitions practice. During his 25 years with PwC, Kelly has spent the past 16 years exclusively in M&A across industries that include retail and consumer, industrial products, specialty chemicals, automotive and mining. He has been engaged on more than 300 transactions, nearly half of which were outside the U.S. Kelly serves as chair of ACG s Deal Maker Awards and on the boards of ACG Cleveland and Junior Achievement of Greater Cleveland. He is a CPA in Ohio and earned a bachelor s degree in accounting from Miami University. David Dunstan, Immediate Past President Dunstan is a managing director at Western Reserve Partners, where he leads the firm s Business Services and Consumer practices. He is also a board member and executive committee member for Achievement Centers for Children and Rainbow Babies and Children s Hospital National Leadership Council, and a board member for Miami University s Finance Advisory Board and ACG Cleveland. He earned a bachelor s degree in accounting from Miami University and an MBA, with distinction, from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. He is an alumnus of Leadership Cleveland and was named as a Crain s Cleveland Business 40 Under 40 winner in Brad Kostka, Executive Vice President Brand, Media & Publicity Kostka is senior vice president at Roop & Co., where he is responsible for business development, agency management and account services for a variety of clients, ranging from global, publicly traded corporations to local startups. Kostka serves on the executive committee of ACG Cleveland, where he leads its branding function. He is past president of the Public Relations Society of America s Greater Cleveland chapter and the International Association of Business Communicators. He earned a bachelor s degree in journalism from Ohio University s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism and an MBA from Baldwin Wallace University.

2 Dale Vernon, Executive Vice President Programming & Innovation Vernon is principal at AB Bernstein, where he advises and consults affluent individuals, families and business professionals regarding management of their assets. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland as executive vice president of programming and innovation. Vernon earned a bachelor s degree in business administration, management and operations from Heidelberg University. Joseph C. Adams, Executive Vice President Resources Adams is an audit partner at Plante Moran s Cleveland office, where he specializes in serving entities with complex equity and debt structures often associated with private equity or foreign ownership. In addition to providing audit and tax services, he assists clients in improving operating controls and financial reporting. Adams is a CPA in Ohio and Michigan, serves as treasurer for ACG Cleveland and is a member of Plante Moran s firm-wide Private Equity Group practice. Adams earned a bachelor s degree in accounting from University of Michigan-Dearborn. Brian Leonard, Treasurer Leonard is chief financial officer and chief compliance officer at Edgewater Capital Partners. Previously, he was director of transaction services at BKD CPAs & Advisor and director of transaction advisory services at Grant Thornton, LLP. Leonard serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland. He earned a bachelor s degree from Miami University. M. Joan McCarthy, Secretary/Administrator McCarthy is the president and owner of MJM Services, where she oversees operations and event planning for more than 25 professional and alumni organizations. She serves as secretary and administrator for ACG Cleveland and on the board of trustees for Notre Dame College.

3 Board of Directors: Kevin Bader, Vice President Membership Bader is responsible for conducting industry research and financial analysis, and developing offering memorandums, financial modeling, proposals, presentations and other marketing materials at HTV Industries. He is a CPA and merger and acquisition advisor, and serves as a vice president of ACG Cleveland s membership committee. Bader earned a bachelor s degree in accounting from The Ohio State University. Rudolf Bentlage, Vice President Golf Event Bentlage is senior vice president of JPMorgan Chase, where he is responsible for originating, structuring and closing asset-based loans, primarily in the middle market and upper-middle market, throughout the Great Lakes region. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland as vice president of its annual golf event. Bentlage earned a bachelor s degree in finance from the State University of New York Buffalo, and an MBA in Finance from Kent State University. Mark Brandt, Vice President Sponsorships Brandt is director of private equity and business development for the Ohio region of RSM US LLP. The firm offers audit, tax and consulting services. It is very strong in the private equity world with more 100 major funds as clients and over 800 diligence projects in the past three years. Brandt earned a bachelor s degree in applied economics from Cornell University. Denise Carkhuff, Vice President Women in Transactions Carkhuff is partner at Jones Day, where she has acted as the principal outside lawyer on scores of completed M&A and private equity transactions for nearly 20 years in practice. Carkhuff has authored several articles on M&A and corporate governance topics, and is a blogger for Crain s M&A e-newsletter. She serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland and Breakthrough Charter Schools, and leads ACG Cleveland s Women in Transaction group. Carkhuff earned a bachelor s degree from Miami University and a J.D. from the University of Toledo College of Law. Jeffrey Fickes, Vice President Programs Fickes is a partner in the Vorys Cleveland and Akron offices and a member of the corporate group. He has decades of experience in business and advises company owners, boards, and senior executives on organization, finance, governance, acquisition and disposition of businesses, as well as general business and contract matters. Jeff also advises clients on routine regulatory compliance; incentive compensation arrangements; customer, vendor, distributor, sales representative, and consultant agreements and shareholder management; general commercial terms and conditions; non-disclosure and other restrictive covenants; license agreements; and other general company policies and agreements.

4 John Grabner, Vice President Programs Grabner is vice president at AON Risk Solutions, where he establishes strategic objectives for the achievements of the overall company goals and oversees various departments within the organization. In 1983, he founded Cardinal Fastener, a company that is now a leader in the fastener and manufacturing sector. Grabner s marketing plan and awareness for strategic sales drew the attention of President Barrack Obama, who selected Cardinal Fastener as the company to launch his American Recovery Plan. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland as vice president of programs. Grabner earned a bachelor s degree in Business Administration in accounting and finance from Emory University. Beth Haas, Vice President Programs Haas is a partner with Cyprium Partners. Previously, she was with Key Principal Partners (KPP). She joined KPP from KeyBanc Capital Markets where she was an Associate in the Investment Banking division. Haas was actively involved in the completion of a variety of corporate finance transactions, including private equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, private placements and fairness opinions. Previously, she served as an analyst at Carleton, McCreary, Holmes & Co. where she was responsible for research and financial analysis in support of middle market mergers and acquisitions. Haas received her B.A. degree in Government with honors from Dartmouth College and received her M.B.A. from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. Chris Hogan, Vice President Membership Hogan is director at KeyBanc Capital Markets, where he is responsible for all mergers and acquisitions holdings and ensuring compliance with regulations. With more than eight years of experience as a financial professional, Hogan is licensed as a Broker-Dealer Registered Representative (RR) and is authorized to buy and sell securities on a client's behalf. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland as vice president of membership. Hogan earned a bachelor s degree in finance, statistics, economics and marketing from Miami University. Jonathan Ives, Vice President Great Lakes Capital Connection Ives is managing director at SCG Partners, where he leads the private equity and corporate development efforts, including deal sourcing strategy and execution, managing deal flow, analyzing and executing on acquisition opportunities, and maintaining intermediary communications. Ives has more than 14 years of financial advisory and investment banking experience. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland as vice president of Great Lakes Capital Connection. Ives earned a bachelor s degree in business administration from Eastern Michigan University and an MBA from University of Michigan s Stephen M. Ross School of Business.

5 Ray Lampner, Vice President Akron Network Lampner is partner of entrepreneurial services at BCG & Company, where he leads the firm s Merger & Acquisitions practice and provides clients with traditional M&A assistance, financial advisory solutions and exit planning. He is a CPA, valuation analyst, exit planning advisor and in financial forensics, as well as being accredited in business valuation. Lampner serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland, Exit Planning Institute s Northeast Ohio chapter, Cascade Capital Corporation and Fairlawn Community Improvement Corporation. He earned a bachelor s degree in accounting from the University of Akron. Sean McCauley, Vice President Membership McCauley is senior vice president and relationship manager for RBS Citizens Corporate Banking Group, where he develops and manages relationships for middle-market companies with revenues between $25 million and $500 million. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland. McCauley earned a bachelor s degree in economics and a master s degree in business administration, both from John Carroll University. Jay Moroscak, Vice President Deal Maker Moroscak is senior vice president at Aon Hewitt, where he advises clients on complex economic challenges regarding risk management and insurance. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland as vice president of the Deal Maker Awards. Moroscak earned a bachelor s degree in history from Northwestern University and a J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Kevin Murphy, Vice President Deal Maker Murphy is a mergers and acquisitions director at Deloitte, serving both private equity and corporate clients on both sides of transactions. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland. Murphy earned a bachelor s degree in accounting from New York University at Buffalo and an MBA from Indiana University Bloomington. Matthew Roberts, President Young ACG Roberts is an associate at MelCap Partners, where he helps companies form their stories after a sale, acquisition or capital raise. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland as president of Young ACG. Roberts earned a bachelor s degree in accounting from Robert Morris University, as well as an MBA and Certificate for Global Sustainable Business Practices from Cleveland State University.

6 Jeff Schwab, Vice President Sponsorship Schwab is an M&A practice leader at Oswald Companies, where he manages teams that focus on insurance, executive liability, employee benefits, retirement plans and executive compensation plans. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland and on the board of trustees for Urban Community School, which provides innovative education to low-income children in Cleveland. Schwab earned a bachelor s degree in English and marketing from Miami University. Peter Shelton, Vice President Governance Shelton is partner with the Corporate & Securities Practice Group at Benesch, Friedlander, Coplan & Aronoff, where he focuses his practice on transactional and corporate work. He is also a member of the firm s Private Equity Group and China Practice. Shelton serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland and is treasurer for the Greater Cleveland International Lawyers Group. He earned a bachelor s degree from the University of Colorado and a J.D. degree from Cleveland State University. Bertrand Smyers, Vice President Programs Smyers is co-founder of New Heights Research, where he is responsible for the firm s management and strategic direction. He has 20 years of experience in investment banking, strategy and valuation consulting, and operations management. Smyers serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland as a vice president of programs. He earned a bachelor s degree in government from Harvard University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. Cheryl Strom, Vice President Programs Strom is an associate director of origination at The Riverside Company, where she generates new investment opportunities in America and oversees strategies behind cross-border add-ons. She serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland as a vice president of programs, as well as on the board for Promise Partners, a group that aids its inexperienced members in navigating toward business ownership. Strom earned a bachelor s degree from John Carroll University and an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University. Karen Tuleta, Director Tuleta is a lead investment partner of the transaction deal teams at Morgenthaler Private Equity (MPE), where she works closely with the firm s portfolio companies to manage value creation initiatives, financing structures, liquidity events and process administration. With more than 25 years of corporate finance experience, Tuleta has originated, negotiated and closed more than 50 third-party financing transactions during her tenure with MPE. She also serves on the board of directors for ACG Global and on the board for United Pipe & Steel. Tuleta earned a bachelor s degree in business from Baldwin- Wallace College.

7 Theodore Wagner, Director Wagner is tax partner at Libman, Goldstine, Kopperman & Wolf, where he leads the firm s Subchapter S and Mergers and Acquisitions teams and consults with middle-market businesses. He serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland, The City Mission and The City Mission Endowment Foundation. He earned a bachelor s degree in accounting from Miami University. William Watkins, Vice President Deal Maker Watkins is managing director at Harris Williams & Co. With more than 23 years of investment banking and corporate finance experience, he has completed a range of financial advisory assignments, including M&A leveraged buyouts and capital raising on behalf of private equity firms and public and private company clients in several industries. He serves on the board of directors for the Lake Erie Nature & Science Center and ACG Cleveland as vice president of the Deal Maker Awards. Watkins earned a bachelor s degree in business from Indiana University Bloomington and an MBA with concentrations in finance and operations management from the University of Chicago. Thomas Welsh, Vice President Deal Maker Welsh is a partner at Calfee, where he works closely with publicly held clients and private equity firms on general corporate growth and mergers and acquisitions. He serves on the board of directors for the Cleveland Baseball Federation and ACG Cleveland as the vice president of the Deal Maker Awards. Welsh earned a bachelor s degree from Miami University and a J.D. degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Rebecca White, Vice President Women in Transactions White is a director at Western Reserve Partners, where she heads the firm s Capital Raising practice. She serves on the board of directors for ACG Cleveland as a vice president of women in transactions and is the former Young ACG president. In 2009, White was named a Crain s Cleveland Business Twenty in their 20s winner. She earned a bachelor s degree in mathematics and accountancy from Mount Union College and an M.S.M from Weatherhead School of Management.