2025 ACG Boston: M&A Outlook Forum

Kevin Shea, CFA is a Director at BNY Wealth, focusing on the Technology and Communication Services investment sectors. Mr. Shea has two decades of experience investing in small, mid, and large cap companies, particularly those in the Technology, Media, and Communication sectors. He has deep knowledge in growth, core, and value strategies. Prior to BNY, he held research positions at Voya Investment Management, Chartwell Investment Partners, and Empire Capital. Mr. Shea received his B.S. in Finance from the Pennsylvania State University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a member of the CFA Society New York.

Mark Manning serves as a legal and business adviser in a broad set of areas, including mergers and acquisitions (“M&A”), growth capital, and intellectual property (“IP”). Mark regularly facilitates M&A deals across a wide variety of industry sectors on behalf of both buyers and sellers, which provides him with a deep understanding of what drives both sides of a deal and allows him to create practical solutions to issues that get deals done. Similarly, he negotiates growth capital financings on behalf of both emerging business and capital sources. Additionally, he helps clients commercialize their intellectual property, develop inbound and outbound licensing arrangements, and craft appropriate ownership and usage rights for jointly developed IP. Mark starts each client engagement by learning about the business, its history and industry, the key players, and those individuals’ objectives. He believes you cannot advise, assist, or take action for a client without understanding all of the internal and external dynamics at play. Doing the work to gain that understanding allows him to bring the best of his experience and perspectives to each situation as parties work together toward the desired result. Mark serves on the Board of Trustees of his undergraduate alma mater, Clarkson University, and is Vice Chair of its Academic Mission Committee and a member of its Financial Affairs Committee. Mark also serves on the Strategic Planning Committee for Ursuline Academy, a college preparatory school. Previously, Mark has been as a board member of Dedham Community House, a leading Boston metro area nonprofit, where he served as president and chairman for nine years.

Andrew joined MCRC in 2016 as a Vice President and was promoted to Managing Director in 2024. Prior to joining MCRC, Andrew worked at Silicon Valley Bank specializing in lending to early and growth stage technology companies. At MCRC, he focuses on investment opportunities in the software and technology industries. Andrew previously worked in the Investment Strategies Group and National Sales for Natixis Global Asset Management after starting his career at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Andrew received his B.A. in Economics from Tufts University, where he was a member of the varsity hockey and lacrosse teams.

Christina is a Partner at Fort Point Capital, a private equity firm focused on investing in promising, business services companies in the lower middle market. Since joining Fort Point in 2011, she has been responsible for sourcing, evaluating and executing investments, as well as driving value creation initiatives for her portfolio companies in the tech-enabled business services, software and transportation/logistics industries. Christina currently serves as the Chair of the Board for AMS Fulfillment, VAYK Life, Ice House America and Barrington Media Group and was the former Chair of Strata Information Group, WolfePak Software and Van Pool Transportation. Prior to joining Fort Point, Christina was a principal at Swift River Investments in Boston and an associate at FdG Associates. She started her career at JPMorgan, focusing on mergers and acquisitions as well as debt and equity capital raises. Christina has a B.A. in Economics from Dartmouth College. She is an avid Boston and fantasy sports enthusiast and enjoys traveling, seafood towers and New Hampshire lakes.

Rich is an impact-focused advisor, passionate about helping clients achieve step-change and sustainable improvements in performance. Rich has successfully led over 300 engagements fo 100+ clients and is a trusted partner by Senior Management, Boards, and Private Equity sponsors in time-sensitive, complex, and critical situations. Prior to founding Creo Advisors in 2019, Rich has spent over 25 years in senior client leadership roles with AlixPartners, Booz Allen & Hamilton, The Parthenon Group, and BRG. Additionally, he led a private equity-owned, middle-market manufacturing business in a full turnaround and helped position the company for future growth. Rich has received recognition for superior client service, including the prestigious AlixPartners Achievements in Excellence, four AlixPartners Achievements in Excellence team awards, and the Booz Allen & Hamilton Professional Excellence Award. He has been quoted in leading business press such as The Wall Street Journal, Strategy & Business, and Bloomberg and served as a featured speaker at forums such as the National Retail Federation, The Capital Roundtable, and various M&A-related and industry events. Rich earned his MBA, with Honors, from the University of Chicago and a BS from the United States Naval Academy.