Master Class

At its core, ACG is about connecting people in the middle market and providing access to investment opportunities, new ideas, business strategies and career advancement. The recipients of our first-ever MAX Awards and the chapter members highlighted in this issue show the strength of the ACG network. The people deeply engaged in the ACG community are often ones who go above and beyond their call of duty.

These members are not just networking to bring in deals for themselves, but they try to help others, connect fellow members with M&A or job prospects, communicate best practices in the industry and advance diversity and career development initiatives.

Both The Riverside Company and Houlihan Lokey, two of this year’s MAX Award recipients, are plugged into the ACG Los Angeles chapter, as well as the national community. Jeremy Holland, a managing partner in origination in Los Angeles at Riverside, sits on the Private Equity Roundtable Committee in LA. Local industry execs say he is well connected and respected in the community and is often credited with making introductions, helping other people find deals and jobs and being thoughtful in advancing middle-market dealmaking.

Chris Hebble, a managing director at Houlihan Lokey, has been involved in the ACG Los Angeles chapter for 20 years and says his firm likes having a large presence at DealMAX (formerly called InterGrowth), given the amount of opportunities and meetings the event can generate. Hebble also says getting junior staffers involved in ACG events can be an important career development tool.

Other members of the ACG Los Angeles chapter who are highlighted in our Member Spotlights section have been with the organization since the early 2000s. They say they enjoy bringing industry experts together, planning programming for the Annual Business Conference and spreading the word about ACG’s many benefits.

On the other side of the country, Bob Landis, who has been involved with the ACG New York chapter for many years, was named the recipient of the ACG Legend award. The founding partner of origination at Riverside is often cited as a pioneer of the business development role in private equity and credited with connecting and mentoring many people in the profession. Other members of the ACG New York chapter are also cited as adapting quickly during the pandemic when events went virtual, connecting dealmakers and reeling people into the ACG ecosystem.

From coast to coast and beyond, we hope you’re using all the tools at your disposal within ACG, connecting at DealMAX and at local events. Read on for more details about this year’s award winners and member highlights. //

CHRISTINE NOWACZYK Chair, ACG Board of Directors, and Senior Vice President, Corporate Banking, BOK Financial