Recognized Mergers and Acquisitions Leaders 2025

As EVP of M&A, Joe leads PRITCHETT's M&A integration practice which has consulted on acquisitions valued in total over $350 billion. He is the architect of PRITCHETT’s M&A integration methodology, an approach that has been used successfully by thousands of acquirers. Joe also conceived of and brought to market the Merger Integration Certification Workshop, the most successful M&A integration training program in the world. Plus, he created MergerIntegration.com which is now the most visited web site on M&A integration. MergerIntegration.com provides step-by step instruction on how to run integration projects and is populated with over 500 deliverables from PRITCHETT consulting engagements. Joe is the author of the books, Street Smart Moves for Selling your Business and What’s Next? He is also a licensed Certified Public Accountant.

Jui is the Managing Partner at Next Point, where she leads the firm’s operations and heads the Mergers & Acquisitions division. Specializing in strategic exits for the industrial, medical, and dental sectors, Jui guides business and medical practice owners through the complex process of planning and executing successful exits. She combines high-level strategy with practical execution to ensure a seamless transition for her clients. Her background includes a unique blend of corporate experience working with Fortune 100 companies in financial planning, joint venture management, and risk mitigation, as well as years of entrepreneurial experience. Jui leverages this expertise to advocate for her clients, ensuring they are informed and confident throughout every phase of the deal. Her experience as an entrepreneur gives her a deep understanding of the challenges her clients face, and she works diligently to represent their best interests, aligning strategies with their unique objectives. Jui’s passion lies in serving as a trusted partner to her clients, helping them make informed decisions and transition from their businesses with confidence. With nearly two decades of experience and hundreds of successful transactions, she is known for developing exit strategies that not only maximize value but also safeguard her clients’ long-term goals. She holds an MBA in Finance and is certified in Mergers & Acquisitions, as well as a Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA).

Senior-level strategy/corporate development/ventures executive in the increasingly concentric media/advertising/tech industrial complex – with 30+ years of pioneering operational experience, investment returns and thought leadership in championing innovation across traditional, digital, and (especially) “emerging” media and marketing firms. Industry vertical areas of expertise: - "Emerging" media and technology: advanced/interactive advertising, media tech platforms, media distribution - especially in TV & video - Digital media operations (online, mobile, digital video, digital audio, digital OOH, social, etc.) - Traditional media operations (TV, radio, out-of-home, print, etc.)- Advertising (media buying, media ad sales, ad/media/digital agency structure/operations) - Consumer media behaviors (consumption, behaviors, trends, preferences, etc.) - Ad/marketing/tech innovation (startups, venture investment, etc.) - Corporate development in media/advertising industries (M&A, corporate ventures, etc.) - Nationally recognized thought leadership in all things "future of TV/media" & "advanced advertising" Functional areas of expertise in above industries/verticals: - Corporate strategy & development, including M&A and ventures - Marketing & PR/corporate communications - Business development - Advertising sales - Media industry analysis & thought leadership

Jay Sunde is an accomplished entrepreneur with deep experience across multiple industries. He began his career in financial analysis, producing complex forecasts and strategic projections for regional and national companies in commercial real estate, residential real estate, and healthcare. Driven by an entrepreneurial mindset, Jay founded a custom homebuilding company in his mid-20s and grew it into a multi-million-dollar business, developing both custom and speculative homes throughout central North Carolina. During the 2008 housing crisis, he successfully pivoted by acquiring two pool and spa retail and service companies. He scaled both operations, overseeing all aspects of the businesses, and later exited through sales in 2012 and 2018. Since 2009, Jay and his wife, Danielle, have partnered to launch, grow, and acquire preschools, daycares, and elementary schools across the Southeast. Along the way, they also acquired the commercial real estate occupied by their schools and built a growing portfolio of residential real estate holdings. Today, their education platform generates more than $5 million in annual revenue, employs over 70 team members, and serves nearly 500 families. Jay is active in numerous entrepreneurial and small business organizations and, for the past eight years, has consistently mentored and advised founders, business buyers and sellers, and individuals seeking greater financial and time freedom through business ownership.

Max Avery, a dynamic business development executive at Digital Ascension Group, drives growth across industries with a sharp focus on market leadership. His deep knowledge of traditional and emerging financial markets, backed by certifications like Capital Markets & Securities Analyst (CMSA)® and FinTech Industry Professional (FTIP)™, informs his strategic approach. Since 2016, he has excelled in raising capital and structuring deals in private equity and real estate. Appointed to the District Export Council by Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in 2018, and a member of the National Small Business Association’s Economic Development Committee, Avery shapes policies for business growth. Guided by a philosophy of excellence, he turns complex challenges into practical solutions, establishing himself as a trusted strategist committed to lasting impact.

Private-equity-trained fractional CFO & exit-prep firm for founder-led businesses. We convert to accrual, build MFRs and KPI dashboards, run forecasting, and package for diligence to lift EBITDA and multiples across trades, e-commerce, tech, and professional services. 35+ clients Serial Founder in Health Tech, Veterinary Medicine, Plumbing, CPGs, Consulting, SaaS. Scaled from 0-2MM, sold or stabilized.

Patrick Schultz brings a sharp analytical edge to real estate investing, shaped by his experience as a research analyst for Jim Cramer on CNBC’s Mad Money. His deep understanding of financial markets, asset valuation, and investment strategies allows him to identify undervalued properties and optimize yield across his real estate portfolio. Alongside his wife, Hilary Schultz—a licensed real estate agent in Texas and Florida— their small family owned portfolio of businesses operate across every stage of residential real estate. They acquire homes, execute strategic renovations in SFR properties, and selectively retain assets that align with their long-term investment strategy. For Patrick and Hilary, real estate isn’t just about buying and selling—it’s about crafting solutions for homeowners. Whether purchasing homes for cash, revitalizing physically distressed properties, or helping sellers move forward with confidence, they approach every transaction with a problem-solving mindset. Their goal? Delivering outsized returns for investors while creating a delightful real estate experience for Texas home sellers.​

2x Founder and former Investment banker. Spent 4 years in investment banking focusing on M&A for insurance carriers and brokers. Built and scaled an insurtech company called Coverdash and raised $15mn from Venture Capital firms Founded the fastest growing white glove commercial insurance agency focused on insuring growing businesses.

I’m Blake Renda, an entrepreneur, investor, and co-CEO of Veedor Holdings LLC, based in Naples, FL, with a satellite office in Santa Monica, CA. At Veedor Holdings LLC, we not only make strategic investments but also own and operate Dragon Horse Agency, Dragon Horse Publishing, and Moxie Creed. My professional journey began as an intern at NBC Studios while I was studying at the University of Southern California, which led to a full-time position after graduation. I then transitioned into law and finance, which ultimately brought me to Wall Street in 1996. There, I was part of a small team in Palo Alto, CA, managing over $20 billion in technology-sector assets at J. & W. Seligman & Co. In 2000, I was recognized as one of Institutional Investor Magazine’s “Best of the Buy Side.” In 2006, I joined the New Dimensions Growth Team at American Express Asset Management in La Jolla, CA, serving as the T/M/T manager across six growth funds with over $40 billion in assets under management. I was also nominated for Institutional Investor Magazine's "Best of the Buy Side" in 2004. These experiences taught me the importance of rigorously vetting opportunities and leading with foresight—skills I have consistently applied to every entrepreneurial venture. From 2011 to 2015, I played a key role in transforming a boutique skincare startup in Florida into a nationally recognized, multi-award-winning brand, culminating in its eventual public listing after my tenure. Following my exit from that company, I co-founded Veedor Holdings LLC with Julie Koester. Today, we own and operate Dragon Horse Agency, a multi-award-winning bi-coastal agency known for providing comprehensive business strategy and marketing services to global clients. Additionally, we own Dragon Horse Publishing, an award-winning publishing company, and Moxie Creed, a wellness lifestyle e-commerce platform. Beyond accolades and successes, I hold a deep belief in resilience, mentorship, and shared success. I’m a proud father, a former youth volleyball coach, and a passionate advocate of Ubuntu—meaning "I am because we are." Whether scaling startups, navigating global markets, or building culture, I bring the same competitive spirit and collaborative ethos to every endeavor. Success is not just about accolades; it’s about legacy, community, and the courage to keep moving forward. As Winston Churchill said, “Success is not final; failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts.”

Ian is a senior associate within KPMG’s Finance Strategy group with a focus on driving performance improvement, integration, and diligence efforts for both private equity and strategic clients. His experience centers around performing functional capability assessments to advise clients on how to develop and manage Finance strategies. Ian also helps clients across industries achieve financial and operational goals through target organization design and operating model development, cost takeout analyses, and process redesign.

Patrick Schultz brings a sharp analytical edge to real estate investing, shaped by his experience as a research analyst for Jim Cramer on CNBC’s Mad Money. His deep understanding of financial markets, asset valuation, and investment strategies allows him to identify undervalued properties and optimize yield across his real estate portfolio. Alongside his wife, Hilary Schultz—a licensed real estate agent in Texas and Florida— their small family owned portfolio of businesses operate across every stage of residential real estate. They acquire homes, execute strategic renovations in SFR properties, and selectively retain assets that align with their long-term investment strategy. For Patrick and Hilary, real estate isn’t just about buying and selling—it’s about crafting solutions for homeowners. Whether purchasing homes for cash, revitalizing physically distressed properties, or helping sellers move forward with confidence, they approach every transaction with a problem-solving mindset. Their goal? Delivering outsized returns for investors while creating a delightful real estate experience for Texas home sellers.​

Patrick Schultz brings a sharp analytical edge to real estate investing, shaped by his experience as a research analyst for Jim Cramer on CNBC’s Mad Money. His deep understanding of financial markets, asset valuation, and investment strategies allows him to identify undervalued properties and optimize yield across his real estate portfolio. Alongside his wife, Hilary Schultz—a licensed real estate agent in Texas and Florida— their small family owned portfolio of businesses operate across every stage of residential real estate. They acquire homes, execute strategic renovations in SFR properties, and selectively retain assets that align with their long-term investment strategy. For Patrick and Hilary, real estate isn’t just about buying and selling—it’s about crafting solutions for homeowners. Whether purchasing homes for cash, revitalizing physically distressed properties, or helping sellers move forward with confidence, they approach every transaction with a problem-solving mindset. Their goal? Delivering outsized returns for investors while creating a delightful real estate experience for Texas home sellers.​

I’m a designer-turned-business leader who founded and scaled a digital agency from scratch in 2009. Over 15 years, I built a highly successful, people-focused web and mobile app development firm, growing it from nothing to $4M a year on 20%+ margins, culminating in a seven-figure exit, multiple industry awards, and a long list of grateful employees and clients. After that successful exit, I now help founders of creative firms do the same – build and grow profitable, sustainable businesses, and lead less stressful, more fulfilling lives. More info can be found at: jeffarchibald.ca

Principal Advisor | Clarity for Founders & Execs at Growth Inflection Points | Global Teams • Strategic Leverage • High-Stakes Decisions I work with founders and executive teams when growth, complexity, or straight-up pressure has outpaced clarity. That's the moment when effort alone stops cutting it—the real bottleneck is decision quality, alignment, and execution that doesn't erode what made the company special. As a Principal Advisor, I step in to help leaders: Cut to the decision that actually matters — stripping away the noise so you see the leverage point clearly. Align structure, talent, incentives, and systems around it — including global teams when it amplifies strategy (not when it's just a cost play). Build execution that scales — without torching culture, margins, or momentum. My background: I've built and led global teams across India and the Philippines, designing outsourcing setups that serve long-term strategy instead of becoming operational drag. I've watched "cost savings" quietly kill velocity when leadership lost sight of priorities—lessons I bring to every engagement. Outsourcing isn't the goal. Strategic leverage is. The leaders (and media folks) I connect with aren't after generic advice or another vendor. They want unflinching judgment, ruthless alignment, and disciplined execution under real pressure—delivered with candor and zero fluff. If your story involves scaling pains, high-stakes decisions, global team dynamics, or turning complexity into momentum, I'm your source. Happy to provide quotes, insights, or go deeper on: - Decision-making at inflection points - Aligning incentives and structure for sustainable growth - Making global/outsourced teams a strategic asset (not a liability) - Preserving culture and margins while scaling fast Reach out anytime—let's get your piece stronger.

Jeff Baehr has closed 200+ transactions across private equity, venture, debt, and public markets over 25+ years. He has held roles at Carlyle Group, Deutsche Bank Advisors, and the World Bank Group, and has built and run three firms including Empiric Asset Management (quant hedge fund) and RueOne (independent sponsor). He founded Praxis Rock Advisors, a capital intelligence platform that runs institutional fundraising and deal origination programs for private markets funds using proprietary AI and autonomous agent infrastructure. Jeff speaks to topics including private equity fundraising, deal origination, AI in capital markets, institutional LP relations, and the infrastructure behind modern fund operations.

Ismael is Executive Chairman of FE International, a leading M&A advisory firm in the technology sector with over $46Bn in completed acquisitions. Wrixen’s previous background was in large-cap M&A investment banking, where he executed several high-profile public deals, namely in the technology sector.

Terrance drives growth and transformation at the intersection of startups, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. He partners with family offices, corporate innovation groups, and athletes to build ventures, source investments, and scale initiatives that deliver long-term impact while maximizing strategic and legacy value.

Alberto Gonzalez is a real estate strategist, investor, and founder of Investahaus, where he structures acquisitions, creative financing solutions, and exit strategies for property owners and investors. His work sits at the intersection of real estate, capital strategy, and emerging technology. With a background in marketing and construction, Alberto brings both market psychology and asset-level discipline to his analysis. He has participated in real estate tokenization initiatives and is formally educated in blockchain applications for property ownership, giving him a forward-looking perspective on how digital infrastructure is reshaping real asset investment. As a licensed real estate professional and active investor in Florida, he provides insight on distressed inventory trends, creative finance, business exits, regulatory shifts in wholesaling, and the evolution of real estate into programmable assets. Alberto is available to the media for commentary on housing market dynamics, alternative financing structures, tokenization of real estate, and the future of property investment.