Smart Business Dealmakers: The Middle-Market M&A Podcast

Smart Business Dealmakers interviews the entrepreneurs doing deals, the PE, VC and family office players investing in them, and the M&A advisers making them happen. Topics include raising capital, buying and selling companies and managing a liquidity event.

Staying Healthy at the Top with Dr. Brian Dooreck 03/31/2026

Staying Healthy at the Top with Dr. Brian Dooreck Dr. Brian Dooreck is a board-certified physician specializing in gastroenterology and hepatology who leads Executive Health Navigation. The firm helps high-net-worth individuals and those in the c-suite ensure they and their family have unmatched accessibility, support and navigation to the best doctors — in the U.S. and around the world. In this conversation, Dr. Doorick talks about what it is that he saw throughout his career that led him to launch the business, why integrated health planning is a must for family offices and wealth managers, and what CEOs tend to ignore about their health and what should they do about it. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/40684050

Top 10 M&A Negotiating Mistakes with Bill McComas of Jensen & McComas 02/20/2026

Top 10 M&A Negotiating Mistakes with Bill McComas of Jensen & McComas Negotiating mistakes in M&A, on either side of a deal, can strip value and hamstring the opportunity for long-term post-deal success. So, avoiding the most common mistakes at critical junctures is immensely important. Bill McComas, co-founder of the law firm Jensen & McComas, drops by to talk about the top M&A negotiating mistakes from both the buy and sell side, what they can do to a deal, and how to avoid them. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/40176560

The Arc of a Deal with Mark Jensen of Jensen & McComas 09/25/2025

The Arc of a Deal with Mark Jensen of Jensen & McComas For most business owners, the first time they sell their company is often the last. With only one chance to maximize the value that will be leveraged during life after business, it’s important to get it right. Mark Jensen, a member at Jensen & McComas, offers an overview of the arc of an M&A deal — from assembling the deal team to the day of close. He offers tips on what to do and what not to do, and how to deal with the emotional issues that come with selling what is often a life’s work. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/38359715

The ESOP Exit: Rethinking the Endgame 09/25/2025

The ESOP Exit: Rethinking the Endgame For business owners thinking about their exit, the choice often seems limited to selling to a competitor or to a private equity firm. But there's a third option, ESOPs, that secures their legacy and rewards the very people who helped build the company. Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld’s Andy Rudolph, Marc Hirschfield and David Dalesandro take a deep dive into Employee Stock Ownership Plans to break down how this unique succession path works — from the powerful tax advantages to the mechanics of financing the deal. They also explore the founder's role after the sale and the keys to building a thriving ownership culture long after a transition. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/38359550

Factors Affecting Public and Private Dealmaking 08/14/2025

Factors Affecting Public and Private Dealmaking Regardless of what uncertainty exists in the market or from where it originates, deals continue to get done. However, doing deals during more turbulent times takes some strategic maneuvering. Riveron’s Alex Shahidi, Transaction Services Leader, Jeff Bernstein, Equity Capital Markets Leader, and Ryan Gamble, Tax Advisory Leader, explore the current deal environment, and the factors affecting public and private dealmaking. They talk tariffs, capital and debt markets, legislative changes affecting tax, IPO, SPACs and other factors that affect the execution of M&A deals in uncertain times. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/37824355

M&A Trends in The GovCon Space 08/14/2025

M&A Trends in The GovCon Space It was supposed to be a great year for M&A in the government contracting sector. New SBA rules were expected to drive GovCon sellers to market as they raced to beat the rules’ implementation. But then the Department of Government Efficiency happened, which sought to cut government budgets, something that threatened to negatively affected many GovCon businesses since, as the name implies, government contracts are key to their value. Helping to identify the trends that are pulling GovCon businesses in two extreme directions, Wright Lewis, a Partner at Dunlap Bennett & Ludwig, stops by the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast to talk about the factors weighing most heavily on M&A in the sector. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/37823625

The State of The M&A Market 2025 06/09/2025

The State of The M&A Market 2025 At this year’s Baltimore Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, an expert panel provided actionable insights to mitigate risks and maximize opportunities for both growth and divestiture in an increasingly complex time of tax policies and tariffs. Paragon Biosciences’ Peter Buzy, Evergreen Advisors Capital’s Stephen Prichett and First National Bank’s David Valentiner and Mac Tisdale headlined the panel, moderated by First National Bank's Mac Tisdale. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/36924050

Preparing To Sell Your Business with James Hipolit of Troutman Pepper Locke 06/04/2025

Preparing To Sell Your Business with James Hipolit of Troutman Pepper Locke Perhaps the worst thing a business owner can do ahead of the sale of their company is not be prepared. Not only could that crater the returns the owner was hoping to get for what is often their life’s work, it could nuke a sale entirely. Fortunately, attorney James Hipolit has advice for those who’ve never sold before. In this podcast, the M&A partner with Troutman Pepper Locke covers the basics, from first steps to pre-diligence to common pitfalls, offering advice to get first-time sellers off to a strong start. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/36849690

Buy-side Insurance Due Diligence with Brian Stovsky and Joe Curtis 05/14/2025

Buy-side Insurance Due Diligence with Brian Stovsky and Joe Curtis One area of complexity in a buy-side M&A transaction is commercial insurance. Given all the potential liabilities, hidden risks, industry-specific needs and coverage gaps, knowing what to look for during due diligence is critical to maximizing post-deal value. On this episode, Brian Stovsky, senior vice president and practice leader for the Oswald Companies and Unison Risk Advisors Mergers & Acquisitions Practice, and Joe Curtis, vice president and director of benefits for Michigan at Oswald Companies, talk about buyer pre-and post-close M&A due diligence considerations of commercial insurance for risk management. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/36563485

Building Zenwork with Founder & CEO Sanjeev Singh 05/06/2025

Building Zenwork with Founder & CEO Sanjeev Singh At the 2025 Dallas Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, Zenwork Founder & CEO Sanjeev Singh shared the entrepreneurial journey that led to a nine-figure private equity minority investment. From launching Zenwork with his wife to scaling the business and bringing on a PE partner, Sanjeev discusses the challenges, pivotal moments and strategies that fueled Zenwork’s growth. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/36458900

Busting ESOP Myths with David Solomon of Levenfeld Pearlstein 05/02/2025

Busting ESOP Myths with David Solomon of Levenfeld Pearlstein There are many myths about ESOPs — that they’re complicated or that once within its structure a company owner loses control, or that banks won’t lend to them. David Solomon, a member at Levenfeld Pearlstein and head of the firm's Employee Stock Ownership Plan practice, is here to bust those myths. In this episode, David sets the record straight on what an ESOP is — and what it isn’t. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/36413355

From Public to Private 04/11/2025

From Public to Private What happens when a publicly traded company transitions to become privately owned? During the midday Fireside Chat at the Boston Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, two CFOs share firsthand insights on the realities of life as a public company, the strategic considerations behind their respective sales to private equity firms, and what the transition process entailed. Cassandra Hudson, CFO of StackAdapt and former CFO of EngageSmart, and John Wagner, former CFO of Brightcove, sat down with Bank of America Managing Director Phil Ianniello to discuss what changed post-transaction and how the shift has impacted operations and financial strategy, and offer key lessons from navigating this major transformation. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/36099015

Letters of Intent with Tony Montanaro of Louis Plung & Co. 04/10/2025

Letters of Intent with Tony Montanaro of Louis Plung & Co. A letter of intent, often referred to as an LOI, is essentially the first formal document in a sale process between a buyer and a seller. It not only establishes the intent of two companies to move forward into a sale process, but it sets some terms for the process that sellers should carefully consider. Tony Montanaro, transaction advisory partner with Louis Plung & Company, talks about LOIs and what sellers need to know about the terms within them before moving forward with a deal. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/36083625

Building the Future in Massachusetts 04/04/2025

Building the Future in Massachusetts Kicking off this year’s Boston Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, we explore innovative strategies, regional growth and the transformative power of public-private collaboration in shaping the future of Massachusetts and the Boston region. In this panel, moderated by Smart Business Chief Content Officer Dustin Klein, Timberline Construction CEO Steven Kelly and Commonwealth of Massachusetts Chief Digital Officer Janak Joshi explore the dynamic landscape of economic development in the state. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/36005195

St. Louis Economic Outlook 03/31/2025

St. Louis Economic Outlook Things seem to be looking up for the St. Louis economy. And with positive national economic trends expected to continue, the city seems poised to build on its momentum. At the 2025 St. Louis Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, Dustin Allison of Greater St. Louis Inc., Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge of St. Louis Lambert International Airport and John Manetta of Bank of America joined Bank of America St. Louis President Marilyn Bush to analyze the economic indicators, infrastructure developments and investment strategies shaping the city’s future. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/35935555

Driving Company Value 03/17/2025

Driving Company Value What really makes a company tick? And more importantly, what makes it worth more? At the 2025 Pittsburgh Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, a group of regional executives and investors dissected the art — and science — of creating serious company value. From scaling strategies that turn small wins into big exits to the nuanced dance of acquisitions and sales, panelists John Lewis and Christopher Brodman of Metz Lewis Brodman Must O’Keefe, Rob Carskadden of 3 Rivers Capital, George Pilafas of Continuim Equity Partners and Patrick Patterson of Level Agency pulled back the curtain on what drives growth in today’s deal-driven market. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/35725990

Self-Funding Insurance To Drive Value 03/06/2025

Self-Funding Insurance To Drive Value Self-funding health insurance through a group medical captive can be a way for businesses of any size to better manage what is often their second greatest expense. And, according to Roundstone Founder and President Mike Schroeder, it may also be a way for business owners to increase the company’s value ahead of a sale. On this episode of the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast, Schroeder talks about the self-funding model as well as its impact on an M&A transaction. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/35559730

The Business of Athletics with University of Michigan's Warde Manuel 02/06/2025

The Business of Athletics with University of Michigan's Warde Manuel Warde Manuel, University of Michigan’s Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics, oversees an athletic department that sponsors 29 varsity teams with more than 950 student-athletes and around 400 staff members. To run it, the former collegiate athlete relies on more than just his 30 years of experience in athletic departments. Warde also leans on his MBA. In this episode of the Smart Business Dealmakers Podcast, sponsored by Old National Bank, the official bank of the Big Ten Conference, Warde talks about hiring top talent, maintaining culture, funding in the age of NIL, and how much running an athletic department is like running a business. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/35179595

Navigating The Skies of Innovation at Volato 01/31/2025

Navigating The Skies of Innovation at Volato Dive into serial entrepreneur Matt Liotta’s experience navigating mergers, acquisitions and public offerings with multiple companies. Liotta, the co-founder of Volato, a fractional jet company he took public through a SPAC, chats with Tom Singh of Merrill Lynch about the strategic decisions behind scaling Volato, as well as the lesson’s he’s learned about structuring deals, adapting business models, and maintaining innovation in a competitive market. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/35097235

Settling Into the New Deal Paradigm 12/13/2024

Settling Into the New Deal Paradigm What will be driving M&A as we head into to 2025? In this roundtable discussion at the Charlotte Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, Murphy Clark of Inspira Financial, Patty Comer of AccruePartners and Greg Fornelli of SRI and Stock Car Steel & Aluminum talk with First National Bank’s David Sedor about the drivers behind valuations, assessing and retaining talent during an acquisition, how interest rates are impacting M&A, and more. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/34437250

The Power of Social Media in Venture Capital 12/13/2024

The Power of Social Media in Venture Capital Social media, believe it or not, can have an effective role in the world of venture capital. At the Houston Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, Carrie Colbert of Curate Capital, Aquila Mendez-Valdez of Haute in Texas and Darek Woodward of ROI Ventures talked with Smart Business’s Dustin Klein about how to craft a captivating online brand that attracts investors, builds a thriving community of future deal flow, and uses influencers to skyrocket the value of your investments. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/34428925

How NIL Is Reshaping The Business Of College Sports 12/06/2024

How NIL Is Reshaping The Business Of College Sports Name Image and Likeness rules have changed the game in college athletics. With more money needed to attract and retain the country’s top talent, private equity and other firms are looking to bridge the financial gap and capitalize on the evolving landscape. At the 2024 Minneapolis Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, panelists Blake Baratz of IFA, Katie Harms of Space Options, Cale Johnston of Roy Inc. and Gabriel Szerda of AB CarVal discuss the business future of college sports with moderator Steve Kozachok of Taft, offering insights into the trends and complexities driving this dynamic market. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/34315215

Fueling Biotech Innovation 11/22/2024

Fueling Biotech Innovation Colorado is emerging as a national hub for biotech, life sciences, and healthtech. At the 2024 Denver Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, panelists Elyse Blazevich of Colorado BioScience Association and Colorado BioScience Institute, Kimberly Muller of CU Innovations and CU Healthcare Innovation Fund, Afshin Safavi of Colorado Health & Tech Centers, and Blake Unterreiner of Agilent Technologies explored the flow of capital into the state, the success of innovative businesses, and the groundbreaking technologies spun out of universities. Moderated by Dustin Klein of Smart Business, they showcase the forces propelling Colorado to the forefront of the industry and what’s expected in the coming years. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/34106746

Sports, Business and M&A 11/14/2024

Sports, Business and M&A At the 2024 Chicago Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, midday keynote speakers Andrew Berlin of Shield.AI, Berlin Packaging, Chicago Cubs and South Bend Cubs, along with Rob Sine of Blueprint Sports, talked with Smart Business Network's Dustin Klein about how strategic opportunities in asset diversification and the current economic climate are reshaping the landscape for athletes, institutions and franchises. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/33934822

Non-Competes in M&A: Now What? 11/08/2024

Non-Competes in M&A: Now What? A recent Federal Trade Commission rule aimed to prohibit employers from attempting to enter into non-competes with all workers. Though that rule might never take effect, state-level trends governing the use of non-competes leave plenty for businesses and dealmakers to navigate. Royer Cooper Cohen Braunfeld partners Matt Brinker and Alex Nassar break down the trends and offer advice on how M&A professionals can prepare and structure deals in the current environment. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/33853587

zTrip’s Growth By Acquisition 10/24/2024

zTrip’s Growth By Acquisition With a presence in 36 cities and 20 states, zTrip has become the largest taxi fleet operator in the U.S. largely through acquisition-driven growth. With a remarkably refined deal strategy and new insights from a passed-over SPAC opportunity, the company is now competing with the country’s most recognizable ridesharing companies. Founder and CEO Bill George talks about the genesis of the business, its acquisition process and the secret sauce that’s helping the company continue on its extraordinary trajectory. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/33604297

The Current Deal Paradigm 10/24/2024

The Current Deal Paradigm While we’re still arguably in a period rife with challenges, there seems to be a more positive sentiment forming — not enough that everyone in the M&A environment is happy, but maybe enough to signal that the deal market is ready to turn the page. At the inaugural D.C. Capital Region Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, Debbie Ricci of Guidehouse, Don Bassell formerly of ARKO, Alex Shahidi of Riveron and Chris O’Geen of Wells Fargo, on a panel moderated by Riveron’s Robert Berdanier, explore today’s market conditions and what it all means for executives looking to get deals done. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/33603997

Dealing With Uncertainty 10/18/2024

Dealing With Uncertainty In some ways, when looking out into the deal environment, it seems as if uncertainty will be the only certainty. With the instability a constant challenge, both buyers and sellers are trying to determine how best to prepare for the unexpected, which is all that can be expected. Brady Ware Advisory Group Practice Leader Jon DeMoss and Shareholder Eric Carter offer their take on the current market and how dealmakers can capitalize on opportunities despite the obstacles. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/33512617

Capital, Growth & Opportunity in Columbus 10/17/2024

Capital, Growth & Opportunity in Columbus Why would anyone do business in Columbus? Well, if you ask the panel of experts who kicked off this year’s Columbus Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, there’s a lot of reasons. Industry leaders Dr. Linda Lehmkuhl of MedVet, Aaron Weir of CollisionRight, Kim Zavislak of KPMG, Katie Bishop of J.P. Morgan Private Bank and moderator Leslie Johnson of Ice Miller discuss the opportunities they see in Central Ohio and how they are attacking the challenges of expanding in a city on the rise. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/33501712

Dealmakers Roundtable: State of M&A Fall 2024 10/10/2024

Dealmakers Roundtable: State of M&A Fall 2024 The past few years have been dynamic for M&A. Rising interest rates, inflation and a host of other issues have brought uncertainty across numerous sectors. But still, deals are getting done. Kicking off the 2024 Philadelphia Smart Business Dealmakers Conference, Bank of America’s Jim Dever and Fritz Franz, Archetype Solutions' Chetan Bagga, PeopleShare’s Ryan Clark and SeventySix Capital’s Chad Stender share their experiences operating in this market and discuss what it takes to get M&A deals done in today’s environment. /episode/index/show/smartbusinessdealmakers/id/33409222

Smart Business Dealmakers: The Middle-Market M&A Podcast

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