The State of the M&A Market

The Center for Free Enterprise is back to in-person events! Our first two events were well-attended, safe, and successful. Our next event will be moderated by CFE Co-founder Ben Calkins of the Calkins Law Firm, Ltd. The panel includes:

• Matthew Hanson
• Al Melchiore
• Nathan Nicoll
• Rudy Sangari

CFE co-founder Ben Calkins is an honors graduate of Harvard College and the University of Michigan Law School. His "new model" law firm, The Calkins Law Firm, Ltd. is a premier boutique law firm that specializes in business law and focuses on business transactions and business disputes. He maintains a perfect 10 “Superb” rating from Avvo.com and was presented the Client Distinction Award by Martindale Hubbell. Ben is the former President of both the Harvard Club of Northeast Ohio and Ohio Venture Association. Mr. Calkins co-founded the North Coast Angel Fund, one of the largest angel funds in America, as well as the Center for Free Enterprise.

Mathew Hanson, Managing Director of Emprise Partners, has been helping middle-market companies achieve their long-range business and financial goals since 1989. Mr. Hanson has a unique combination of operating and transaction experience, including representation on over 40 buy-side transactions.

From 1983 to 1988, Mathew Hanson was a Vice President at Prescott, Ball & Turben, Inc., a regional investment banking and brokerage firm headquartered in Cleveland. He is a CPA, Inactive and worked for Price Waterhouse in Cleveland for four years after graduating from Case Western Reserve University in 1979.

In 1997, Mathew Hanson received the Deal Maker of the Year Award from the Association for Corporate Growth. He is a past President of the Cleveland Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth.

MelCap Responsibilities:

• President and Founder of MelCap Partners since the firm's inception in 2000
• Responsible for managing all aspects of client engagements from proposal through closing, developing business plans, reviewing offering memorandums and financial models, negotiating purchase agreements, and interacting with buyers and investors

Prior Experience:

• Director in the investment banking group at PricewaterhouseCoopers
• Senior Vice President and VP in 2 regional investment banking firms
• Senior Officer in Banc One Capital Corporation and Huntington Bancshares investment banking groups

Education, Licenses & Certifications:

• BSBA in both Finance and Marketing from The Ohio State University
• Registered FINRA Representative: Series 7 -General Securities, Series 24 -General Securities Principal, Series 63 -Uniform Securities Agenl and Series 79 -Limited Representative-Investment Banking
• Certified Merger & Acquisition Advisor through the Alliance for Merger and Acquisition Advisors ("AM&AA")

Professional & Community Involvement:

• Prior or current board member of the following: Autus Capital, Aztec Concrete Accessories, Association for Corporate Growth ("ACG") Cleveland Chapter President 1997-1998, Entourage Freight Solutions, Globalscope International M&A Advisors, Label Print Technologies, Mama Lola's, Ohio Regional Training Center, RICO Equipmen? RS Hanline & Company, Society of Handicap Citizens, the Turnaround Management Association ("TMA"), and Wrestler's In Business Network.
• AM&AA, American Bankruptcy lnstiMe, ACG, and TMA member

Personal:

• Resides in Medina, Ohio with his wife and has four adult children and two grandchildren

Nate is an Account Executive for Intralinks, the leading Virtual Data Room provider. Nate works with both Investment Banks and Corporate clients in the Midwest. Prior to joining Intralinks, Nate served RIAs, hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital funds providing compliance and cybersecurity solutions. Nate is a Cleveland native, proud John Carroll alum, and current Hinckley resident.

Mr. Sangari is the founder and Managing Partner of Pars Capital Partners, LLC. Mr. Sangari has over 20 years experience in LifeSciences space beginning in Medical Devices at Siemens. Prior to founding Pars Capital, he served as a Managing Director at BrokerBank Securities, LLC a FINRA registered Investment Bank focusing on capital formation projects in the Biotech. Mr. Sangari also has extensive experience in shale and heavy crude, underwriting over $500 million in North American shale. Prior to BrokerBank Securities, Mr. Sangari served as an Advisor at Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley.Mr. Sangari is a Previously Registered Investment Advisor and holds FINRA Series 7 and 66 licenses.

• The Calkins Law Firm, Ltd. - Business Attorneys
• Lytkowski & Co. Inc. - Accountants
• Fast Forward Business Advisors
• Creative Gold Media

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