Strategic Growth through M&A: Insights for Middle Market Leaders

Jae is a Managing Director in the Corporate Finance Group where he is responsible for leading regional investment banking coverage in Illinois and Wisconsin. Jae has been an investment banker for 20 years, advising family businesses, owner/entrepreneurs, private equity firms and corporates on a range of matters including M&A and capital raising. Prior to joining Fifth Third in 2022, Jae was with the investment banking groups of Mesirow Financial and Robert W. Baird & Co.

Jeffrey Taylor is past President of Crafts Technology, which is part of the Precision Solutions group of the Hyperion Materials & Technology (HMT) company. While HMT is a leader in advanced materials with decades of experience developing and manufacturing tungsten carbide powder, cemented carbide, industrial diamond, and cubic boron nitride, Crafts Technology and the Precision Solutions group specializes in the conversion of the powdered metallurgy products into finished high precision and high-performance engineered tooling and wear solutions.

Jeff’s 40-year professional career includes having worked in a variety of roles, including toolmaker and then manufacturing manager at New England Carbide, sales and sales management at A.W. Chesterton, and then ultimately as President & CEO of Crafts Technology, one of the world’s oldest continuously operated companies of its’ kind in the world. Each of these respective companies all specialize in the design and production of engineered wear solutions, cutting tools, and/or fluid handling & control products where powdered metallurgy, in the form of tungsten carbide, advanced ceramics or diamond matrices, is a core competency.

Jeff’s tenure as CEO at Crafts technology included forming an ESOP to purchase Crafts Technology from private ownership. Following 7 years of exceptional growth, equipment modernization, IP development and staff development, the company was sold to private equity (KKR) owned Hyperion Materials & Technology business. Jeff continues on with Hyperion being part of the leadership team managing and expanding the newly established Precision Solutions business unit as we continue with M&A activity….growing the new business to 300+ employees.

Jeffrey’s education includes an AS in Manufacturing Engineering Technology as well as a Bachelor of Manufacturing Management obtained from the University of Minnesota.

Kathleen Steele is a visionary leader and entrepreneur with over thirty years of corporate strategy, branding, marketing, and technology expertise. As an operating executive, consultant, founder, and board member, she advises executives on innovative growth, brand, and talent management strategies that drive shareholder value while protecting reputational risk and improving customer and employee engagement.

Currently, Kathleen is the CEO of Red Caffeine, a growth consultancy that builds Grow-to-Market™ strategies for mid-market companies in the manufacturing, technology, professional services, and education sectors with combined revenues of over 2.5 Billion. She has advised executives on developing and promoting first-mover technologies, positioning and launching new products and services, changing brand perception to aid business turn-around, and helping organizations with their human capital strategies. She has successfully guided the management of a crafting product from idea to acquisition by the largest strategic player in the space, a technology product launch campaign that led to 80% revenue growth, more than doubling their business, and an award-winning repositioning a strategy that reached a global audience, changed negative market perception, and drove new customer acquisition.

Kathleen is a notable speaker and author on employee experience, growth planning, branding, and marketing. She has delivered keynote presentations and workshops at the Gathering of Games, the Women in Manufacturing Summit, Compference, Inc. 5000 Conference, and hosts a live webcast called Business as “Un”usual. She has been recognized for numerous industry and entrepreneurial awards, including the Inc 5000, Enterprising Woman of the Year, James Tyree Emerging Business Leadership, Entrepreneurial Excellence, and Business Excellence.

Mr. Hicks has been employed by The Heico Companies since March 2000. Heico is a privately held holding company with a portfolio of over 50 middle market industrial companies. At Heico Mr. Hicks has responsibility for origination, analysis, negotiation and execution of acquisition opportunities. Prior to joining Heico, Mr. Hicks worked for Maroon Bells Capital in Lake Forest, IL, providing early-stage investment, financial advisory and management services to various telecommunications start-ups. Mr. Hicks holds a B.A. from Georgetown University and a Masters in Management from Northwestern University. He lives in Chicago, has been happily married for over 30 years and has four children.