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2021 Annual Networking and Awards Event ACG Columbus is focused on growth for middle market M&A dealmakers and the business community.
In partnership with ACG Columbus
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DEAL OF THE YEAR Public Company
Rocky Brands
The 2021 award winners
ANNUAL EVENT
Recognizing Local Companies THIS FALL, ACG Columbus members gathered for the organization’s annual networking event, sponsored by Copper Run, Fifth Third Bank and Porter Wright, on Oct. 21 at the Hilton Columbus at Easton. But unlike years past, this year’s event shifted away from a formal dinner and keynote speaker to become the 2021 Annual Networking and Awards Event based on member feedback, says Annual Event Chair Dennis Duchene. For the first time, ACG Columbus presented awards to three local companies that are making an impact in the Central Ohio middle market community. The evening also featured hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, as well as ample time for premium networking—one of ACG Columbus’ cornerstones in supporting the business community. Read on to learn more about the organization and its 2021 honorees.
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DEAL OF THE YEAR Private Company
CollisionRight IN THE EARLY months of the pandemic, miles driven in the U.S. decreased 50 percent—not the best time to try to grow a company in the automotive industry. Rich Harrison, CEO of CollisionRight, didn’t get that memo; he founded his automotive repair company last year and managed 17 acquisitions since. “There’s 35,000 collision repair businesses in the U.S., and it’s very fragmented. We saw an opportunity to create a new business and scale it quickly,” Harrison says. “Our philosophy is simple: It’s about repairing cars the right way, even as they become more advanced with new technology.” Headquartered in Columbus, CollisionRight currently has 45 shops in seven states.
IN MARCH 2021, Rocky Brands, Inc. acquired five brands in the footwear division of Honeywell International in a deal CEO and President Jason Brooks calls “transformational.” “We’re a small, publicly traded company in Nelsonville, so to be recognized like this is a great accomplishment. And to accomplish this acquisition and provide more jobs for the region is really wonderful,” Brooks says. “In 2020, the five Honeywell brands we acquired did $205 million in revenue. Before the acquisition, we were about a $275 million company. This really changes our business in a big way. And it could not have happened without support from our employees and vendor partners. Everybody really stepped up.”
INNOVATION AWARD
Lower
FOR MANY, buying or selling a home is a complicated and arduous process, but the folks at Lower are trying to change that. Lower’s revolutionary approach to real estate is what led ACG Columbus to bestow the 2021 Innovation Award on the Columbusbased company. “We’ve got a mission to make home ownership more accessible, and we’re doing that through technology,” says CEO Dan Snyder, who adds that the company’s status as a full-service lender enables it to innovate with wrap-around features like Realtor matching. “We love the work ACG is doing; it really aligns with our core beliefs, so we’re honored to get this award,” Snyder says.
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FROM THE BOARD
Andy Hays I MOVED to Columbus in 2005 when ACG Columbus was just starting, so I decided to get involved. I’ve been on the board for about five years, and I became president about a year and a half ago. I started Copper Run Capital in 2008—we focus on middle market M&A—and we’ve met a lot of clients through ACG. It really helped get the word out about our company. That’s what ACG Columbus does. Our whole mission is to help businesses grow, to create jobs and to make the world a better place to live in, overall. – Andy Hays, President
FROM THE BOARD
Dennis Duchene I BEGAN attending ACG Columbus events and meetings as a guest after a member invited me to attend one of ACG’s luncheon presentations. I thoroughly enjoyed the content and networking value, so I became an official member and then joined the board in 2014. At ACG Columbus, we provide the local business community with a diverse membership of professionals interested in fostering growth within our own Central Ohio businesses. We provide top-notch programming focused on business growth, mergers and acquisitions, business development and related topics. We’re also a great networking platform for professionals involved in business development and growth to meet others in those roles. – Dennis Duchene, Annual Event Chair
FROM THE BOARD
Amy Fleenor I’VE BEEN involved with ACG Columbus for about six years. In 2016 we started a committee called Women in Transactions to connect women in the M&A community and to support their advancement in areas that have traditionally been male-dominated. ACG Columbus is such a great way to get exposed to the whole cast of characters that a company would be working with if they’re doing a merger or acquisition transaction. And the educational programming is excellent—market updates, transition planning, due diligence and other specialty topics. ACG is a great place to meet the folks and get the information that you need to be successful in M&A endeavors. – Amy Fleenor, Director
ABOUT ACG COLUMBUS
GROWING COLUMBUS BUSINESSES As one of 59 chapters of the Association for Corporate Growth, Inc., ACG Columbus has a simple goal: To benefit Central Ohio communities by helping local businesses grow. The organization’s robust programming, which includes networking events, roundtables, annual events and more, is designed to share best practices in business, build relationships that support growth and provide exposure to investment opportunities. In addition to ACG Columbus events, members receive access to the organization’s online member directory, a subscription to its Mergers & Acquisitions Journal and access to capital resources through the group’s proprietary database. Staff: Nichole Glenn, Chapter Executive
LEADERSHIP
President: Andy Hays, Copper Run Capital, Inc. Immediate Past President and Marketing Chair: Don Hughes, Squire Patton Boggs Treasurer/Secretary: Michael Renzelman, Schneider Downs & Co., Inc. Annual Event Chair: Dennis Duchene, Taylor Corporation Diversity Chair: Laura Hult, Benesch Friedlander Coplan & Aronoff LLP Sponsorship Chair: Brent Thomas, Fifth Third Bank Programming Chair: Laura Fox, VSP Membership Chair: Bill Petrus, RSM Directors: Mike Abramo, Plante Moran; Joe Boeckman, BakerHostetler; Joe Borowski, GBQ Consulting; Doug Farren, National Center for the Middle Market; Amy Fleenor, First Commonwealth Bank; Ted Lape, Lazear Capital Partners; Renee Milyiori, J.P. Morgan Private Bank; Nick Ulrich, Tri-W Group; Meryl Weinstein, Highlights for Children, Inc.; Eric Wygle, The Columbus Dispatch Ex Officio: J. Michael McVey, Hylant Group; Curt Loveland, Porter Wright; Bill Remias, Huntington National Bank; Tom Washbush, Washbush Business Law, LLC l
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Thank you to our 2021 Premier Event Sponsors. Learn more about ACG Columbus at www.acg.org/columbus
Thank you to our 2021 Annual Sponsors.
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