Singularly recognizes brilliant and exceptional young dealmakers from the private equity, M&A and restructuring communities for their achievements, dedication, and talents for closing value creating transactions. The “once in a life-time” honors, validates the dealmaker’s success and progressively taking on leadership role for many years to come. The program originates from the popular Top 50 Dealmakers editorial series.

2nd Annual Winners Circle: Features 6 dealmakers from the private equity, VC and lending group, 12 from the financial advisory and 8 lawyers for total of 25 winners, including 6 women.


Gregory Cook
Profession: Investment Banker
Location: Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
Education: Master of Science in Finance, University of Illinois Urbana/Champaign

Greg advises middle-market companies on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), financial opinions, ESOP matters, and related advisory services. He provides project management services, valuations and related transaction analyses in support of capital structuring, ESOP implementation, recapitalizations, and management buyouts.


Brian DeCicco
Profession: Investment Banker
Location: New York, New York
Education: B.A. with Honors in Economics, Fordham University

Brian with more than a decade of experience in M&A, specializes in media and information services transactions. Recent notable transactions include Clarion Events’ divestment of select assets of PennWell Corporation, and the sale of EH Media’s technology brands to Emerald Expositions.


David Dolan
Profession: Investment Banker
Location: Washington, D.C
Education: M.B.A., Fordham University Graduate School for Business Administration

David with 15 years of investment banking and M&A advisory experience, focusing on Enterprise Mobility, Transportation Management System, Logistics, and Supply Chain Management sectors. He recently advised Truckstop.com on its majority investment from ICONIQ Capital and Decisiv investment from Kayne Partners.


Jared Earles
Profession: Investment Banker
Location: Las Colinas, Texas
Education: B.A in Global Economics, University of California – Santa Cruz

Jared provides strategic advice to middle market companies and is responsible for managing the various aspects of due diligence through to deal closing. Jared was recently involved in the M&A Atlas Awards winning deal – the sale of Young’s Communications to Cotton Creek Capital.


Michael Firmage
Profession: Investment Banker
Location: San Francisco, California
Education: M.B.A., Yale School of Management

Mike has completed over 20 sell-side M&A transactions for founder-owned-and-operated technology companies. Recent noteworthy and M&A Atlas Awards winning transaction advised by Mike includes advising DistroKid investment by Silversmith Capital and Spotify.


Shaun Kalnasy
Profession: Investment Banker
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Education: M.B.A., Emory University, Goizueta Business School

Shaun advises entrepreneurs and owner-operators of middle market companies on M&A transactions, debt and equity recapitalizations. Shaun advised on two M&A Atlas Awards winning deals - Strauss Brands sale to Insight Equity (2019) and sale of Purple Innovation (2018).


Jonathan Killion CFA
Profession: Investment Banker, Special Situations
Location: New York, New York
Education: B.S in Business Administration, Georgetown University

Jonathan with nearly 10 years of financial services experience, advises company owners, boards of directors, private equity, lenders, and investors on bankruptcies, workouts, loan restructurings, due diligence, planning, and mergers and acquisitions. Notable engagements include Sleep Innovations, Florida Marine Transporters, RG Steel, etc.


Tim McDonagh
Profession: Restructuring Transactions Advisor
Location: New York, New York
Education: B.A. in economics and mathematics, Yale University

Tim has over 15 years of experience assisting clients across a variety of industries in developing transformation and business plans; cost reduction strategies; driving the process to sell businesses or underperforming assets and secure financing; etc. He has been a part of several Turnaround Atlas Awards winning transactions - Aeropostale, Delphi, Vertis Communications, Eastman Kodak Company.


Alban Meteyer
Profession: Investment Banker, Special Situations
Location: Houston, Texas
Education: Master of Science, Mineral and Energy Economics, Colorado School of Mines

Alban has extensive experience advising distressed and non-distressed public and private middle market companies in Europe and the United States as well as advised clients on raising debt and equity capital. He has advised on several Turnaround Atlas Awards winning transaction including Genco Energy Services sale of assets to Norse Partners, Triple Five Energy Resources.


Vladimir Moshinsky
Profession: Investment Banker, Special Situations
Location: New York, New York
Education: M.B.A., University of Michigan, Ross School of Business

Vlad has advised companies, municipalities, creditors and equity constituents in various industries through Chapter 7, 9 and 11 bankruptcy filings, out-of-court restructurings, special-situations, exchange offers, amendments and other capital structure and M&A alternatives.