ACG Detroit | M&A Update Webinar - June 2022

Clayton is a Senior Vice President for PNC Business Credit where he focuses on financing LBO's, dividend recapitalizations, ESOPs, high growth, turn-around's and cyclical businesses seeking flexibility and durability. He has spent nearly 18 years in Banking and finance but has also gained considerable experience serving as Vice Chairman of the Board for Waseyabek Development Company (a tribally owned economic diversification company) and as Managing Director for DWH, LLC a boutique Financial Advisory firm focused on M&A growth and succession strategies as well as turnaround and restructuring strategies. Clayton earned his bachelors of science in Accounting from Western Michigan University’s Haworth College of Business and his MBA from Wayne State University’s Mike Illitch School of Business.

Heather leads Huron’s business development and investment sourcing activities, including outreach to deal professionals such as business brokers, investment banks, attorneys, accountants and consultants.

Heather has over 20 years originating, structuring, and executing debt and equity transactions in the middle market.  Prior to joining Huron Capital, Heather was responsible for all West Coast new business development for SPP Capital Partners, a NY-based investment bank. Heather also served as Vice President and Team Leader of Middle Market Banking at Comerica Bank in San Francisco and has also held roles at CIT Sponsor Finance and Madison Capital Funding LLC where she focused on originating and structuring leverage finance products for private equity clients.

Heather serves as Board Member of the Detroit Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) and is the Founder and immediate past Chair of the ACG Detroit Women’s Forum.  Heather is also co-chair of the 2019 ACG Great Lakes Capital Connection conference.  She previously served on the Executive Committee for the San Francisco Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) as Head of Sponsorship and was a Co-Chair of the ACG 2013 M&A Conference.

Dan Kapala is a Principal in Plante Moran’s Valuation Advisory practice specializing in transaction support services and opinions.  Dan works primarily with middle-market, privately owned businesses focusing on the valuation of closely held equity securities, partnership interests, and intangible assets.  Through his roles as advisor and technical specialist, Dan supports between 50 and 70 M&A transactions a year in a variety of industries, including automotive, manufacturing, distribution, service, technology, construction and food & beverage.  Dan’s clients and colleagues appreciate his pragmatic, practical outlook and ability to simplify complex transaction valuation matters.  Dan also has experience providing financial and strategic diligence. 

Prior to joining Plante Moran, Dan held various positions at MASCO Cabinetry, Long Point Capital, and Matrix Capital Markets Group. Dan graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Economics and supplementary major in Computer Applications.  Dan also played baseball as a right handed pitcher for the University of Notre Dame and in the minor leagues for the New York Yankees after college.   

Over the course of his career, Alex Conti has advised on transactions that combine for over $1 billion in deal value. A leading member of the firm’s Corporate Finance practice, Alex has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, restructuring, and capital sourcing, with a primary focus on buy-side and sell-side transaction advisory services. Alex assisted in the sale of several Tier 1 automotive suppliers to private equity and strategic buyers alike, and placed $3.5 million of growth capital commitment for a Tier 1 automotive supplier in the midst of the auto downturn (Summer 2009).

Alex formerly worked at Ernst & Young Capital Advisors, LLC and O’Keefe & Associates Consulting LLC. He has been recognized for his accomplishments in several publications, including Restructuring Deal of the Year by M&A Advisor Magazine in 2018, and was the M&A Advisor’s 40 under 40 Emerging Leaders Award winner in 2016.