Meet the winners

As CEO of Spartan Light Metal Products, Tom has seamlessly integrated his commercial and shop floor expertise, advancing new technologies and talent development while preserving the legacy of our founder, Henry Jubel. His vision for Spartan’s future includes robust growth in both top-line and bottom-line performance, driven by innovation and a commitment to excellence.

Guided by Lus Haberberger’s vision, Luzco stands out for its people-centric culture and rapid growth. Under her guidance, revenue skyrocketed by 337% over the last couple of years, earning recognition as one of the top 10 fastest-growing private companies in the area for two consecutive years. On top of that, an impressive 67% of her workforce comes from diverse backgrounds, with 28 different nationalities represented.

From humble beginnings, Archford now serves mostly-family businesses, 1200+ families, and manages more than $1 billion in assets, with Jim Maher leading the way. In business, Jim led revenue growth of 127% in the last five years. In philanthropy, he and wife Jenny developed Archford Angels, a program where employees donate to a nonprofit of their choice, generating over $1 million for 82+ community nonprofits.

David Maher has led a business exit at Maher & Company that puts people before profits. While many CPA firms are being acquired by larger entities, he strategically chose a unique path — an internal transition to five younger shareholders. Maintaining consistency for both employees and clients took precedence over potential financial gains from an external sale despite multiple offers from larger firms.

At the intersection of material science and additive manufacturing, Jacob Nuechterlein has carved out a unique niche with his company, Elementum. Leveraging a generous $100,000 investment, he identified a significant gap in the material science market. Today, he boasts an impressive client list that includes Formula 1 racing teams, NASA, and the Department of Defense.

Alexa Cataldo, alongside her dedicated team, has grown Sample Supports, a developmental disabilities service provider, from 50 individuals in services to 500 over ten years. Under her leadership, they’ve maintained low turnover rates in a high-burnout industry. Alexa’s goal is to expand their work with step-down placements, serving those often deemed too challenging for traditional community settings.

Under Dr. Carl Clark’s leadership since 2000, WellPower has become a beacon of innovation in community mental health. He’s grown the organization from $18 million to $150 million and his team from 200 to over 1,400. On top of that, he’s instrumental in reducing unnecessary arrests in behavioral health or addiction issues, helping address food insecurity and providing a living wage for all staff.

When Randy founded his restoration company over 30 years ago with just $10,000 in a checking account, he never imagined he’d one day sell Professional Restoration in a wildly successful transaction. He found a national restoration firm that aligned with his vision, and Randy’s business was ready to sell. By letting loose and relinquishing control, Randy found a strong leadership team that was an integral part of bringing the transaction to fruition.

Established in 2001, Pranav Dalal’s Office Beacon has grown from a nascent remote staffing company to one of the largest privately held firms. Before “remote staffing” was common, Pranav began offering services from India, then expanded operations to include the Philippines, Mexico, and, most recently, South Africa. Today, his company is on track to grow over 23% in revenue in the next year.

As the leader of a fourth-generation family business founded in 1906, Davey Glantz has successfully blended traditional values with modern innovation. Under his leadership, the company has flourished, now boasting 27 locations coast-to-coast and employing over 300 people, most recently opening two locations this past year. Looking ahead, he wants to continue to invest in his team and new technologies.

When FSSI’s owners looked at succession planning, Jennifer dismissed the option of selling to an outsider.  In 2021, Jennifer spearheaded an ESOP initiative, making all FSSI’s employees owners, sharing in the company’s success and the opportunity to build wealth.  Employees have responded with record-breaking productivity and profitability.  With eyes on the future, Jennifer looks forward to watching her team grow and lead the company.

John Rochford and his team at Synder Langston invested heavily in developing their young leaders, driven by a desire to preserve the company’s legacy and culture, rather than pursuing an external sale or merger. Even John’s exit strategy has been focused on the meticulous preparation of the next generation of leaders to take the company to the next level. This December he will finalize his exit from his $400 million company.

Aaron Sakaria began his journey 15 years ago in Shanghai, China, where he started a home furnishings trading company. Today, Fresh has evolved into a multifaceted enterprise with a global reach and a commitment to revitalizing small-town America. On top of this, since 2019 the company has seen a 257% growth in revenue and EBITDA growth from 1% to 12% under Aaron’s leadership.

Brooke Lee is the CEO of Anchor Paper Company, representing the fourth generation of family leadership in a hybrid ESOP business. Under her leadership, 100-year-old Anchor Paper has grown by 31% over the past 10 years despite the declining demand for paper products. She also led the company to secure a significant national account, expanding its reach beyond its traditional Midwest base.

Innovation is at the heart of Dale Andersen’s leadership philosophy, and his company Delkor Systems. Over the past 25 years the team at Delkor has created what is now recognized as the most advanced U.S. manufacturers of packaging machinery.  Leaning on his out-of-the-box POV he’s grown his team from 10 to 350 and increased revenue from $5 million to $150 million annually.

Over a nine-year period, Jim Ginther’s family-owned company achieved a fourfold increase in top-line revenue and a tenfold increase in bottom-line profits — attracting potential buyers. A successful transaction in 2023 allowed other family owners to exit the business, Jim staying on to lead the company into its next growth phase, which he has termed “USC 3.0.”

In the demanding field of employment law, Michelle Johnson leads with integrity and decisiveness. Under her leadership, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough’s labor and employment practice has expanded in size and influence, setting new industry standards for excellence. Michelle is dedicated to going beyond the basics of legal expertise, offering tailored advice for optimal outcomes for her clients.

When Robert transitioned from CTO of a marketing firm to CEO of AMBAC International, a 100-year-old precision manufacturing company, it marked a key career move. His leadership blends a deep connection to the shop floor with a commitment to modernizing while preserving AMBAC’s legacy. As AMBAC grows, Robert plans to shift from operations to a consultative role, continuing to grow innovative companies and developing teams.

Sean Taylor joined Smith + Howard as an intern 31 years ago, and under his leadership, the firm has transformed from a small team of 24 to an influential firm of over 300 employees. One of Sean’s greatest achievements during his tenure is driving strategic growth through acquisitions. Over the past year, he led four acquisitions, significantly expanding professional service capabilities and his client base.

Taking over House of Cheatham from his father-in-law in 1996, Mike transformed the family-owned hair care company from under $7 million to a successful $110 million sale in December 2021. He expanded its product line, notably with Aunt Jackie’s, and demonstrated his commitment through annual bonuses, a $3 million gift to Clark Atlanta University, and anonymous scholarships. Mike now serves on various boards, collaborates with his brothers, and cherishes time with his grandchildren.

Bizzell US is dedicated to designing innovative solutions to build healthy, secure, connected, and sustainable communities both nationally and globally. Under Dr. Bizzell’s leadership, the company boosted revenue by $40 million and improved operational efficiencies by 25%. Additionally, Dr. Bizzell supports global and local communities through accelerators for US small businesses, incubators for women entrepreneurs in Kenya, and initiatives aiding local youth.

Paul VanVeldhuisen has worked his entire 31 year career at Emmes, leading research programs that have positively impacted public health and touched patients’ lives and growing and inspiring employees while rising through the ranks at Emmes.  His technical expertise and leadership skills have been pivotal in guiding growth of Emmes from 40 employees to a global entity with over 1,400 employees today.

A key factor in Rick Reuter’s success at Power Mechanical is culture and a robust mentoring program for employees at all levels. This investment increased dedication and performance, leading to a notable improvement in overall company productivity and morale. “One of the most important things to us is our mentoring program. Not only does it make our business better, it makes our world better,” he shares.

In 2001, Robert Lyons and his sister took over the reins from their parents who’d acquired TIPCO in 1980. The company was a small operation with just 13 employees and two locations. By 2023, the company had expanded significantly, boasting 15 locations across the Mid-Atlantic region, from South Jersey to Richmond and Lynchburg in Virginia, catching the eye of PE firms that eventually acquired the company this past year.

Carl Heller’s leadership approach is slow and steady, rooted in empowering his people. By developing dedicated leadership teams, he has a solid support system to lead the company into the future.  In 2023, he and his 330-person team have achieved 15% growth year-over-year while doubling EBITDA.

Founded in 2015, Mark Miller’s Workover Solutions is a vertically integrated oil and gas service company specializing in subsurface operations. By placing an emphasis on research and development, Mark drives $65 million in revenue. Looking to the future with his team of 165 employees, Mark plans to expand into Saudi Arabia and bring over 30 new patents to the market.

Over the past three decades, David Meyers has spearheaded purchasing advancements in the HVAC controls market, recognizing a critical gap in the market: the difficulty in obtaining control parts easily and efficiently. As a solution, he invested millions in developing in-house technology that allows them to sell controls on the internet without stocking the products. This allows for more competitive pricing, resulting in $79 million in revenue.

With her guidance as former president of Chard Snyder, the company expanded from one brand to five, integrating each organization and driving 5x revenue; eventually selling for $180 million.  Post-sale, she managed the integration of Chard Snyder into a larger public organization, guiding 350 associates through the cultural and operational changes necessary for a successful transition.

As CEO of Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled (LADD), Susan is guided by the belief that all people have dignity and value. LADD serves 850 people annually, offering housing, employment and community engagement programs. Under her leadership, LADD founded Smart Living Systems, to support adults with developmental disabilities with tech enabled supports and created the region’s largest film festival, dedicated to celebrating untold stories.

With 35 years under his belt at Matandy Steel & Metal Products, CEO Andy Schuster has reached a life-changing summit: converting the company to 100% employee-owned business. By effectively communicating the value of ownership to employees and instilling a sense of responsibility and pride in their contributions, Andy has overseen significant growth in the company’s performance which has created real wealth for the entire team.

When he took over as a second-generation CEO 10 years ago, John Bessler led Bessler Auto Parts through a transformation in organizational culture, which resulted in revenue growth from a low $20 million to $50 million while doubling profit margins within the last five years. John’s success attracted the attention of private equity firms, and in 2023, they made the emotional decision to sell the business.

Tom Little plays a crucial role as the President/CEO of a portfolio of flood protection and services. As weather events increase, his leadership is critical, reaching as far as the UAE and Australia. Last year, he led an 18% increase in sales and a 27% increase in EBITDA while teaming up with a private equity firm, which helped him and his partner to finalize two merger/acquisition deals.

Pivoting from academia to entrepreneurship, Sean Forman hit a home run, creating Sports Reference, a leader in sports data. Today, his business is used in front offices and cited by media giants like ESPN. Moreover, he acquired the sports version of Wordle, Immaculate Grid, growing their total audience to more than 20 million unique users each month and their revenue by 350% over the last three years.

Under Richard Paynton’s leadership as CEO, Dontech has grown fourfold. After the passing of his business partner in 2021, Richard reevaluated his leadership approach and focused on building a robust team structure. Now, Dontech boasts a better-than-on-time delivery rate, has a track record of impeccable quality, and regularly functions as an extension of their strategic customers’ engineering departments, helping to design Dontech’s next generation products.

In her role as CEO of Avenue 360 Health and Wellness, Dr. Flash leads a seven-site health system of 220 employees that provides cradle-to-grave care for marginalized people, regardless of their ability to pay. Last year, she served over 13,000 patients and housed over 500 families — forever changing lives. “I intentionally moved to Texas because it has the highest rate of uninsured in the country,” she shares.

In 2008, Demarco Bell co-founded Spotted Hawk Development, an upstream energy company, using $47M of equity from the healthcare industry.  He raised over $450 million to fund additional development and a management buyout in 2023.  In 2022, the opportunity arose to improve diabetic patient outcomes while increasing cost savings to insurance companies, he co-founded Diabetes Center of Houston and hopes to expand this model nationwide.

Guided by CEO Tom Brackin since 1990, American Omni Trading has grown into a global force and a top-ranking importer of tires in the U.S., selling into over 60 countries since conception. Recently he steered the company to over $400 million in revenues. Despite a 2023 revenue dip, Brackin’s strategic planning during the quiet period poises the company for future success, challenges accepted!

The intersection of technology and people has always been a thread in Jennifer Lee’s journey to becoming the Co-CEO of Intradiem. She leverages predictive models in her platform to address employee burnout. Most recently, she launched four new solutions that increased revenue by 40% and saw a 98% customer retention rate, setting Intradiem on a path to saving customers an annualized $1B by 2027.

As President and CEO of Ascent Aviation Services Corp, David Querio is a steady force through tranquil and turbulent times. From 2019 to 2024, he increased revenue from $40 million to $100 million. A key to this success was securing a major contract with Israel Aircraft Industries and building two large hangars. Looking to the future, Dave is confident that the company will generate at least $190 million in revenue by 2027.

Joe Laux’s journey to become the leader of Silverhawk Private Wealth began when he officially joined in 2010 and quickly advanced, becoming a partner in 2015 and CEO in 2022. Under his leadership, they grew assets from $70 million to $450 million. “I think that a lot of it was … more of an abundance mentality. By having a good team around us, it allows us to do more for more people,” he shares.

The company was started as a way to get through college, however it quickly grew beyond that. By doubling down on what they did well, what they loved, and what made them money, they exceeded all growth goals and took the company to market. Now, Adam serves as a strategic advisor to Highground Restoration Group and has started his next venture, Uncommon Companies.

After taking over the leadership of Davis Door Service from his father in 2021, Jensen Davis uses his family legacy to carry the company over the threshold to accelerated growth. Over the past three years, Davis Door’s revenue surged over 55%.  With a clear view of the company’s values, Jensen and his team have their sights set on expanding Davis Door’s manufacturing business.

26 years ago, George Ward started at Aldrich + Associates as an intern. Now, as president, he has built a strong leadership team and corporate culture centered around employee development and retention. Since 2019 Aldrich has averaged 10% year-over-year revenue growth, boasts nearly 90% employee retention, and is set to exceed $100 million in revenue for the first time in the company’s history.

Following his father’s sudden passing, Bill sought industry experience before returning to his family’s company alongside his siblings to buy out other family members amicably. With the lessons learned over the past 30 years, he most recently led the team in developing a five year plan to increase volume by 60% while optimizing product mix.

From her nonprofit work to cure cystic fibrosis to leading Ganneston Construction as CEO, Stacey Morrison relies on a strategic approach to achieving her goals. She partnered with the State of Maine to develop a two-year apprenticeship program. By narrowing down her business’s focus, she doubled revenue, increased sales by 54%, and boosted profits by 265% in just one year.

During his tenure as fourth-generation president, Brian Casey has tripled revenue — how? His strategy hinges on being consistently excellent in the community. In the future, Brian plans to continue delivering client value and steadily expand into neighboring states. He shares, “We’re not chasing a revenue goal, we’re chasing great clients.” Yet, his strategy sure is working.

With her drive, deliberate decision-making and creativity, Molly Kellogg is future-proofing the 175-year-old family company she leads. In the past 18th months, Molly completed 3 acquisitions and executed an integration plan to deliver above budget ROI. Since taking over as CEO, she has steered a 40% increase in revenue, doubled operating profit and been a Top Place to Work in CT for 8 years running.

Like many business leaders, Bill Douglas wanted to plan for Eco Systems’ future and also his own. The goal was an uneventful exit. That all came to a turning point in 2022 when Bill was diagnosed with aggressive pancreatic cancer. Undeterred, with the backing of his board and executives, he was still able to usher through the sale of business for 2.5x revenue- when the industry standard is 1.

When Kathy Rudkin’s daughter Emma wanted to find a way to help other deaf and hard-of-hearing children and teens, they co-founded Aid the Silent, a nonprofit dedicated to providing resources to help families navigate hearing loss. Last year ATS provided 932 services such as hearing aids, ASL lessons, speech therapy, classroom equipment and materials for deaf educators, and an accessible camp experience for deaf youth.

During her career in higher education, Elissa Sangster sought to answer the following question: Why aren’t more women getting their MBAs? Enter Forte Foundation. Her mission as CEO is to give women access to business education, professional development and a community of other successful women. Today, Forte helps pave the way for over 600,000 women on all six (possible) continents.

As a former chiropractor turned entrepreneur, Steven Shuel founded and expanded Oak Haven Massage, which is now the No. 1 massage therapy center across four locations in Texas. Each therapist on his team undergoes rigorous training, investing up to 300 hours a year to ensure the best service and provide career development for his people, resulting in winning Best Place to Work in 2023.

After growing Chesmar Homes to over $750 million, Ken Trainer took the chance to be acquired in July of 2022. With this golden opportunity, Chesmar leveraged the chance to gain more capital and be able to build more homes. Later, when Japan-based Sekisui House bought the company, he stayed on as COO to continue his growth trajectory.

In business, and in golf, you get out of it what you put into it. And as president of Daniels Head Insurance Agency, Trent Redfern orchestrated a strategic overhaul of his company by optimizing onboarding processes, renegotiating contracts and modernizing operations. After navigating a 20% team turnover, Trent cut onboarding time in half and new profit 10 times over.

A great leader knows that relinquishing control helps your team to drive stellar results. When Michael Zschoche incurred near-fatal injuries in an accident, he had to let go of control and trust that his team would lead by example — just as he did. Today, with his team’s support, the leader boasts six companies on the path to breaking $25 million in revenue and has increased profits by 350%.

In 1996, Ellen Wood pioneered fractional CFO services as she started vcfo to support small and midsize businesses helping them make strategic financial decisions to achieve optimal results. Today the company has expanded its geographic footprint and product offerings to include CHRO and Capital Market professionals. The mission is the same; helping client companies become stronger in ever expanding ways.

Guided by Melissa’s direction, the Waukesha and Jefferson County Habitat for Humanity implemented several innovative programs focused on helping community members live safer and more secure lives. The Home Preservation program and Domenica Park subdivision represent a departure from the traditional models seen in other regions. She also transformed a donation retail store from a loss-making venture to a profitable mission-supporting enterprise.

After purchasing the Cenflex in 2019 with his wife, Brett Tritten took the opportunity to reassess, refresh, and reflect. “Here’s how we’re going to come out on the other side better,” he shared with his team. By fostering a workplace where employees feel engaged and aligned with the company’s vision, he drove over $13 million in sales this past year.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and using funds from a small engineering firm, Tim Schmidt was able to grow Delta Defense from his kitchen table to a $300 million enterprise. Today, it’s evolved into a company specializing in marketing, training, and customer care services, making Tim an integral part of educating and training over 800,000 gun owners nationwide.

Jim Pientka considered multiple selling methods for his construction and design firm – from ESOP to a general partnership, but ultimately decided that what was best for his company was a small group of very aligned leaders. When he was looking for qualities in future owners, he shared that it’s essential to be humble enough to understand that you need to give equal weight to all parts of the business.

For about a decade, Cannon Instrument Company was a stable but flat growth business. Stepping into his role as CEO, Darin Gleason, knew Cannon could be more, but it would take investment. By investing in people, processes, tools, and strategy, he created a foundation for growth. Upon that foundation sit three initiatives fueling company growth: Commercial Excellence, Product Management, Partnerships & Acquisitions.

Suburban Testing Labs is one of the last privately-held, independent environmental testing laboratories in the nation. Since 2017, Rich has initiated a powerful growth trajectory, tripling headcount and growing revenue from $4 million to $12 million. In his industry, he was ahead of the curve gaining testing capabilities for the harmful emerging contaminant, PFAS, years ahead of what is now a standard part of environmental testing.

Between a recession, family health issues and the normal ebbs and flows of business, CEO John Gilliand has navigated through the toughest parts of his career. As a “self-storage guru,” he masterfully led Investment Real Estate to brokering $1.2 billion in sales and acquiring over 70 properties in eight states throughout the Northeast and mid-Atlantic worth over $766 million.

In the world of oil and gas, Cody Sutton drills down a champion business strategy, ambitiously expanding Guide Energy Solutions. “Challenges sometimes give us our best opportunities,” he shares. With sights set on South Texas and Louisiana, he hopes to expand his two-location operation, grow his team from 30 to 50 and drive revenues upwards of $150 million.

Just 15 years ago, Level Legal was a just startup – aiming to provide clients with world-class service. Flash forward to today, with a handful of original employees and over 500 team members, the company delights hundreds of clients while maintaining an average NPS of 74. As former mayor of Tyler, TX, Joey pulls from his experience to make Level Legal delightful.

As a third-generation CEO, Nathan Potter helped grow revenue from $130M to $400M in his last 10 years by strategically prioritizing customers and team members. While enjoying this success, Nathan realized the right buyer would be able to scale DW faster than he could, so he changed roles and sold the company. Now, he supports the acquirer with M&As — applying what he learned in his selling journey.

Serial entrepreneur Brett Goodson transformed a startup into a $15M brand, drawing inspiration from natural interfaces or riparian zones. Brett studies the opportunities that appear where disciplines meet. These are evaluated in depth using a method marketing approach to understand solutions to customer problems.

Pete Tortorelli drives scientific progress by impacting lives daily. Specializing in sample preparation devices, Omni’s innovations span applications such as newborn drug screening to a groundbreaking 95% accurate saliva-based COVID-19 test. Under Pete’s leadership, sales have doubled in the last five years. Now part of Revvity, Omni remains dedicated to addressing scientific discovery and health needs.

CT Darnell Construction, led by President Travis Darnell, defies the construction industry’s negative stereotype. Travis prioritizes trust, fostering long-term relationships. To circumvent the unpredictable nature of the business, he diversified into fast growing cloud-based data center construction, and boosted profitability by exiting under performing market segments.