ACG NJ Breakfast Meeting | January 21, 2025

J. Michael Fischer joined DBD Investment Bank as Managing Director in May 2024, bringing extensive expertise in middle-market corporate finance and capital solutions. Throughout his accomplished career in commercial banking, he has structured and participated in several billion dollars' worth of structured loans, deposits, and complex financial instruments. His leadership roles included serving as Vice President at both First Bank and Columbia Bank before joining DBD Investment Bank. 

Widely recognized as a trusted advisor by executives and business owners nationwide, Mr. Fischer maintains an active leadership role in the New Jersey Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG), where he serves as the organization's incoming Vice President and co-chairs the CEO and CFO Executive Dinner Series, and the ACG Corporate Growth Awards. Beyond his professional endeavors, he combines his passion for fitness with business acumen, serving in strategic advisory roles for several fitness-related enterprises.

Michael holds a bachelor’s degree in international business from Fairleigh Dickinson University. He resides in Central New Jersey with his wife and daughter. 

Joe Furey provides strategic leadership and guidance for Michael Graves Architecture and the growing number of related companies. He has over three decades of experience in the AEC and other professional industries leading business operations, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic and financial planning, analysis, and reporting. He joined the firm in 2008 as the CFO focused on the business, growth strategies, and succession planning, and became President in 2018. He has built the continued growth and prosperity of the Michael Graves companies around common purpose, cooperation, and teamwork. Based on his passion for sports (meaning football), he knows how to coach a team to win and have fun at the same time.

Mr. Lubben has extensive experience with financial, corporate, and business matters for a variety of private and public companies involved in middle-market deals, including biotech, pharma, and healthcare companies, banks, governmental authorities, and real estate developers. Mr. Lubben’s practice focuses on transactional work, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, real estate finance, and cross-border transactions. He regularly counsels clients with respect to joint ventures and strategic alliances; the formation and structure of business entities; and the merger, acquisition, and disposition of business interests. He has represented investors, banks and other financial institutions, governmental authorities, and businesses involved in, financings matters, including acquisition financings and corporate restructurings.

Nicholas Montorio is a State Tax Director within the firm's Tax Services Group. With over 15 years of experience, Nicholas has deep experience in a variety of state tax matters, including the state tax implications associated with mergers and acquisitions, identifying and securing state income tax refunds, and representing clients through state tax controversies. He is specifically proficient in providing consulting services with respect to New York and New Jersey corporate income taxation. 
Nicholas primarily serves partnerships and corporations in the manufacturing & distribution, financial services, and technology industries. He leads the firm's New York State & Local Tax team and helps identify tax savings opportunities for the firm's New York client base.
In addition, Nicholas is an avid writer and regularly publishes articles for State Tax Notes and other third-party publishers. His articles delve into the intricacies of New York State and City income tax matters, focusing on the state's corporate income tax reform.
Prior to joining the firm, Nicholas was with a prominent accounting firm where he served as a Managing Director and led the New York State Income Tax team, focusing on corporate transactions and refund opportunities.

Prior to founding DBD Partners, Mr. Zogovic was the CEO of ONEtoONE Corporate Finance USA, an international investment bank headquartered in Europe focused on servicing the lower middle market. Mr. Zogovic launched the US division of ONEtoONE and grew it to become the bank's most profitable branch in under four years. Before joining ONEtoONE, Mr. Zogovic was the President and CEO of GSP Corp., one of the largest sales and marketing organizations in Mexico and Central America. Mr. Zogovic grew this company from a small, local business into an international company with over 10,000 employees. Before Moving to the USA, Mr. Zogovic co-founded and managed a financial services business in Mexico.

Mr. Zogovic is an advisor to several businesses as well as non-profit organizations. He is an active member of the Young Presidents' Organization and a Founding Member of the NY Liberty Chapter, where he served as Treasurer; he is also the former Learning Officer of the Organization's Global Financial Services Network. Mr. Zogovic is the Secretary of the Board for the USA – Mexico Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Zogovic gives back through HBS Community Partners. Mr. Zogovic is an ultra-endurance athlete, completing 5 Ironman races, several triathlons, and ultramarathons. He is also an avid ski mountaineer and big mountain skier. Mr. Zogovic studied at Universidad Iberoamericana and Harvard Business School.