About Us...
Acquisition Criteria
NEOacq invests in companies with the goal of creating value over the long-term. NEOacq seeks lower middle market businesses where it can add value based on the significant operational experience and contacts of its principal and its advisors. NEOacq is the ideal acquirer for sellers concerned about stability for their existing employees and continuity of operations for their customers. NEOacq is interested in evaluating all opportunities, but primarily seeks companies in the following industries: niche manufacturing, software/SaaS, B2B services, distribution/eCommerce, and materials handling/logistics. Distressed situations will be considered.
Who We Are
PRINCIPALS:
NEOacq is headed up by Dale Mesnick. Mr. Mesnick has over 35 years of experience in executive and financial management, strategic planning and process improvement. Mr. Mesnick currently provides advisory services to startups/early stage companies, small businesses and business owners, and to schools. Mr. Mesnick previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Smart Solutions Inc., an information technology company providing solutions to the public sector, commercial sector, and educational markets worldwide. In this capacity, Mr. Mesnick oversaw complete operations during the company's fastest period of growth and developed and nurtured critical partnerships with high level industry leaders (e.g., Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard, Cisco, IBM, et al). Additionally, he handled multiple acquisitions, spin-offs, and divestitures. Mr. Mesnick also has served as Chief Financial Officer, leading the accounting, finance, risk management, logistics, purchasing, marketing, HR, personnel, benefits, facilities, and administrative teams. Prior to his 20+ years in executive management, he spent five years in consulting and public accounting and three years in industry. Mr. Mesnick is a graduate of Kent State University (BBA in Accounting and Business Management) and the Case Western Reserve University Weatherhead School of Management (MBA).
James Domingo is a 30-year veteran of global business with experience strategically growing companies ranging in size from $1 million to over $1 billion in revenue. Mr. Domingo has particular expertise in business development, global strategy, market entry, channel partner selection and development, regulatory compliance, and technical procurement. Since 2010, Mr. Domingo has been running a successful boutique consulting firm focusing on business development for B2B manufacturing firms. He previously served as President and Representative Director of Swagelok’s operation in Japan. His 20-year corporate career encompassed a variety of roles including mechanical engineer, product manager, technology center manager (Japan), business development manager, and regional manager, Asia/Pacific. Mr. Domingo holds an MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University and a BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Toledo. His language capabilities include Japanese, as well as mandarin Chinese studied at the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Larry Fulton (Fulton Equity) has over 20 years of experience investing and running lower middle market companies focused on the industrial, business services, consumer products, and value-add distribution industries. Prior to founding Fulton Equity, Mr. Fulton was the general manager of Alcoa Sub-Assembly & Logistics, a business unit with 5 facilities throughout the country, where he lead the turnaround of the business unit. He also has held positions as a Sr. Analyst within KeyBank's Structured Finance, a group that focused on highly leveraged M&A deals for middle market clients, as an underwriter with the Small Business Administration, and as a senior financial analyst and controller for Marconi. Mr. Fulton is also founder of LEFCO Industries, and he has lead multiple acquisitions including D.P. Products, International Container Systems, HandiCraft, and Hanlon Composites. In 2008, he successfully performed a Joint Venture with Worthington Industries (NYSE:WOR), and then in 2012, bought-out his JV partner, andultimately selling the entity to Evergreen Coooperatives in 2023. Larry is a graduate of Florida A&M University, the School of Business & Industry, where he earned a B.S. degree in business; and Case Western Reserve University, the Weatherhead School of Management, where he earned an MBA in Entrepreneurship.
Tom Furnas is a senior executive with extensive experience in business performance optimization, business turnaround/restructuring, business transition/exit planning, and M&A transaction advisory. Proven track record in driving financial health, operational efficiency, digital business transformation, and growth for organizations facing complex challenges. Leverages data-driven decisions based on financial/operational & technology analytical insights, and cross-functional leadership to deliver transformative results in diverse industries. Tom has over 30 years of diverse business experience covering a wide variety of industry segments, including business consulting, media and entertainment, information technology, manufacturing, automotive, and aerospace & defense. Mr. Furnas’ broad experience includes working for management consulting and PE advisory firms, a Fortune 100 company, education, non-profits, start-ups, and family-owned businesses. Mr. Furnas has an MBA with a concentration in information systems from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU) Weatherhead School of Management, and is a graduate of CWRU where he earned a bachelor’s degree with a dual major in business management and political science and minor in economics.
Joe Simari has over 19 years of experience growing revenue in commercial businesses as a senior sales executive. He started his career at Swagelok and moved into sales roles at Dell and several other global technology leaders. Mr. Simari has particular expertise in setting sales strategies and leveraging his relationships with key industry players to expand products and services into new markets. His early career encompassed advisory services to privately held businesses and executive leadership teams on legal, tax, and operational matters. Today, he advises organizations on technology strategies that drive growth and operational improvements inside their business. Mr. Simari holds a law degree from Western Michigan University (J.D.), and a bachelor’s degree from Xavier University (B.A.). He is an active member of Promise Partners and the Manufacturing Works Leadership Institute.
ADVISORS:
NEOacq has four advisors with combined business ownership and executive management experience of over 200 years in manufacturing, logistics, engineering, and information technology. NEOacq also benefits from the experience and expertise of advisors from the realms of academia, investments, and insurance.
Scot Lowry, President & CEO, PromiseONE
Prior to PromiseONE, Mr. Lowry held leadership positions with complex service organizations in real-estate development, construction management, finance, sports and recreation facilities and health care information technology. Mr. Lowry studied Finance and Entrepreneurship with degrees from the University of Florida (BS) and the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University (MBA). Mr. Lowry is on the boards of Promise Partners Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Accelerator, BVU’s Center for Non-Profit Excellence, Engage!Cleveland Young Professional Catalyst and The Congregation of St. Joseph’s River’s Edge Center for Reflection and Action. Mr. Lowry is passionate about creating scalable, purpose–rich cultures that encourage people and organizations to reach for their full potential, capture their dreams and make positive contributions in the world. Mr. Lowry became the Richard L. Osborne Professor of Entreprneurship at Weatherhead in 2023 where he leads Weatherhead's Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition program.
Patrick Morris, President, Colonnade Distribution Limited
Mr. Morris has extensive management and mergers and acquisition experience with Colonnade, as an executive with NCS Healthcare, as owner of an internet startup, and as a partner specializing in mergers and acquisitions with Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP. Mr. Morris is a past Managing Director of the Promise Partners organization. Mr. Morris is a graduate of Trinity College (BA) and CWRU School of Law (JD).
Robert Schneider, Chairman, ARS Ventures
Prior to ARS Ventures, Mr. Schneider was Chairman and CEO of Patio Enclosures for forty years. He has over fifty years of business and teaching experience. Mr. Schneider has taught Accounting and Marketing at John Carroll University and The Ohio State University. He has an extensive background in manufacturing, retailing, advertising, sales management, remodeling, and real estate development. Mr. Schneider has sat on several Not for Profit boards. He is the 2013 recipient of the Cleveland Foundation's Goff Philanthropic Leadership Award. Mr. Schneider is a 1994 recipient the Inc. Magazine Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Mr. Schneider has a Bachelors' degree from Miami University and an MBA from the Stern School at New York University.
Larry Sears, Founder, Hexagram, Inc.
Mr. Sears founded Hexagram, Inc. (now ACLARA Technologies LLC), one of the leading providers of wireless systems for automatically reading utility meters. Mr. Sears holds or co-holds over twenty patents relating to a variety of industrial, commercial, and communications products. He is an adjunct professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Case Western Reserve University, where he is involved in the promotion and support of entrepreneurship and innovation. Mr. Sears received a BS in Electrical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology and is a Senior Member of the IEEE.
History
NEOacq emerged from the Promise Partners organization (www.promisepartners.biz). Promise Partners was founded by Professor Richard L. Osborne in 1990 to bring together a select group of entrepreneurial graduates from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU).
Candidates for Promise Partners are nominated and selected for membership based on their passion, potential and “promise” to become business owners. Members meet regularly to cultivate the special characteristics and experiences that facilitate an entrepreneurial mindset and brand of leadership necessary to successfully locate, buy and run a business. Special emphasis is placed on developing the professional and financial resources needed to “launch a search.”
Since the group's inception, Promise members have started or acquired over 100 companies.