Identifying high-net-worth individuals in need of financial guidance is central to growth in the wealth management industry.
While advisors and sales teams use many signals to guide outreach, one of the strongest and most time-sensitive is often overlooked: the sale of a private business. A liquidity event instantly transforms business owners into high-net-worth individuals, creating a narrow window where the need for financial planning is at its peak.
We track more than 2,000 private company transactions each month in Dakota Marketplace and map those deals directly to key executives. This allows firms to gain a clear, actionable view into who has recently gone through a buyout and is likely navigating newfound liquidity, all in one place where you can view and act on every transaction.
Book a demo of Dakota Marketplace to source key executives and CEOs!
Top CEOs in Pittsburgh
1. CJ Handron – Diamond Kinetics
Recent Transaction: Growth Equity | 1/14/2026 | $12M
Diamond Kinetics, a Pittsburgh-based sportstech company focused on youth baseball and softball, has raised $12 million in growth financing led by Elysian Park Ventures — the investment platform of the Los Angeles Dodgers' ownership group — bringing total funding to over $30 million. The capital will be used to scale sidelineHD, its AI-powered live-streaming platform acquired in 2024, as the company builds on its position as MLB's Trusted Youth Development Platform.
C.J. Handron's leadership at Diamond Kinetics has been instrumental in revolutionizing youth baseball and softball development through innovative technology solutions. His strategic vision and commitment to player development have positioned the company as a trusted partner for organizations like USA Baseball and the MLB Players Association. Handron's ability to attract significant investment and foster key partnerships underscores his effectiveness as a leader and his dedication to advancing the sports technology industry.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
2. RJ Cilley – Voomi Supply
Recent Transaction: Venture Series A | 3/6/2026 | $10M
Voomi Supply, a B2B eCommerce platform modernizing procurement for the HVAC and industrial trades, has raised a $10 million Series A led by Asymmetric Capital Partners with participation from Highmount Capital. The capital will accelerate development of Voomi's AI-powered platform, which provides access to over one million SKUs, while expanding its supplier network and driving growth into new product categories across HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and industrial markets.
RJ Cilley brings over a decade of experience in digital business management and transformation to his role as CEO of Voomi Supply. His leadership at Saks Fifth Avenue and Hudson's Bay Company demonstrates his ability to drive digital growth and operational efficiency. At Voomi Supply, he is well-positioned to leverage his expertise to modernize the HVAC and industrial supply market, focusing on technology-driven solutions and customer-centric strategies.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
3. Elizabeth J. Poggi – Smithfield Trust Company
Recent Transaction: Strategic Acquisition | 3/5/2026 | Undisclosed
Waverly Advisors, a Wealth Partners Capital Group- and HGGC-backed RIA based in Birmingham, Alabama, has agreed to acquire Smithfield Trust Co., a Pennsylvania state-chartered trust company managing approximately $2.2 billion in discretionary AUM for wealthy individuals and family offices in Pittsburgh. The deal, pending regulatory approval, would make Smithfield a wholly owned subsidiary of Waverly while marking the firm's entry into the Pittsburgh market and expanding its fiduciary, estate, tax, and charitable planning capabilities.
Betsy joined Smithfield Trust Company after nearly ten years of practicing law as a trust and estate attorney, most recently at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, P.C., where she advised on trust and estate administration, business succession, and charitable planning. Prior to law school, she administered trusts at PNC Private Bank. A native of Wheeling, West Virginia, she serves as a trustee for The Linsly School and the W.E. Stone Foundation Inc., and is a past president of the Estate Planning Council of Pittsburgh.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
4. Peter Laport – Arctic Glacier Holdings, Inc.
Recent Transaction: Buyout/Private Equity | 2/18/2026 | Undisclosed
Reddy Ice, the largest manufacturer and distributor of packaged ice in North America, has completed its acquisition of Arctic Glacier from Carlyle in a transaction marking Reddy Ice's 22nd acquisition since SCI Capital Partners acquired the company in 2019. The combination brings together two geographically complementary platforms — with Reddy Ice's 115+ facilities across the U.S. and Mexico and Arctic Glacier's 77 facilities across the U.S. and Canada serving over 70,000 customers — creating a dominant North American packaged ice platform, subject to certain divestitures required by the DOJ.
Peter Laport is a seasoned executive with a proven track record in leading and transforming global consumer goods companies. His strategic vision and operational expertise have driven significant growth and efficiency improvements in every organization he has led. At Arctic Glacier Premium Ice, Laport's leadership has been pivotal in accelerating growth and enhancing commercial strategies, positioning the company as a market leader in the premium ice industry. His leadership style is characterized by a focus on innovation, operational excellence, and empowering teams to execute at the highest level. Laport's extensive experience and strategic acumen make him a valuable asset to Arctic Glacier, driving the company's continued success and long-term growth.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
5. Justin Domachowski – Defy Security
Recent Transaction: Buyout/Private Equity | 4/7/2026 | Undisclosed
Booz Allen Hamilton has completed its acquisition of Defy Security, a Sverica Capital-backed cybersecurity firm serving leading enterprises in financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, and retail, for undisclosed consideration. The deal combines Defy's commercial customer base, sales infrastructure, and vendor ecosystem with Booz Allen's deep cyber expertise and AI-native product suite Vellox, creating an expanded end-to-end cybersecurity platform serving U.S. and international commercial and federal markets.
Justin Domachowski's leadership at Defy Security has been pivotal in the company's rapid growth and success in the cybersecurity industry. His customer-centric approach, strategic sales expertise, and ability to build strong relationships within the CISO community have established Defy Security as a trusted partner for enterprise clients. Under his guidance, the company has expanded its reach, serving nearly a third of Fortune 50 companies and aiming for $1 billion in revenue in the near future. Justin's commitment to understanding and addressing client needs, rather than pushing predetermined solutions, has set Defy Security apart in a competitive market.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
6. Howard Coltin – Simio Software
Recent Transaction: Buyout/Private Equity | 1/27/2026 | Undisclosed
Aegis Software, a Peak Rock Capital-backed provider of manufacturing execution software, has completed its acquisition of Simio, a leading digital twin simulation and advanced planning and scheduling software company, for undisclosed consideration. The combination creates an end-to-end manufacturing operations management platform serving over 2,200 factories globally, uniting Aegis' MES capabilities with Simio's AI-powered digital twin simulation technology that is embedded in the curriculum of more than 500 universities worldwide.
Howard Coltin's extensive experience in management, sales, marketing, operations, and manufacturing has been instrumental in Simio's growth and market presence. His leadership style emphasizes strategic vision, operational excellence, and a commitment to innovation, positioning Simio as a leader in simulation and scheduling software solutions. Under his guidance, Simio has expanded its product offerings and enhanced its global reach, delivering exceptional value to clients worldwide.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
7. Peter Ferris – Forta Corp
Recent Transaction: Acquisition/Merger | 2/17/2026 | Undisclosed
The Heritage Group, an Indianapolis-based fourth-generation family-owned business focused on construction and materials, has acquired FORTA, a Pennsylvania-based leader in synthetic fiber reinforcement for asphalt and concrete, from Riverarch Equity Partners for undisclosed consideration. The deal expands The Heritage Group's construction and materials portfolio with FORTA's high-performance fiber reinforcement solutions, which improve pavement performance and infrastructure durability across a wide range of asphalt and concrete applications.
Peter V. Ferris brings over four decades of leadership experience to his role as CEO of FORTA Corp. His strategic vision and operational expertise have been instrumental in driving growth and innovation in the companies he has led. Ferris's leadership style is characterized by a focus on team building, operational excellence, and strategic growth, which have consistently resulted in enhanced performance and market positioning. His ability to integrate acquired companies and lead them to success underscores his value to FORTA Corp as it continues to expand its global footprint in the concrete and asphalt reinforcement industry.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
8. Deepak Pathak – Skild AI
Recent Transaction: Venture Series C | 1/14/2026 | $1.4B
Skild AI, a robotics foundation model company, has raised approximately $1.4 billion in funding led by SoftBank Group at a valuation of over $14 billion, with participation from NVentures, Macquarie Capital, Jeff Bezos, and strategic investors including Samsung, LG, Schneider, and Salesforce Ventures. The company's flagship Skild Brain is an omni-bodied robotics foundation model that can control any robot — from humanoids to quadrupeds to mobile manipulators — without prior knowledge of their body form, growing from zero to approximately $30 million in revenue in just a few months in 2025.
Deepak Pathak is a pioneering leader in artificial intelligence and robotics, known for his work in developing adaptable AI models that enable robots to perform complex tasks in diverse environments. As CEO and Co-Founder of Skild AI, he is at the forefront of creating the 'Skild Brain,' a general-purpose robotics foundation model. His leadership is characterized by a strong academic foundation, innovative research, and a commitment to advancing the field of robotics through practical applications.
9. Nick Bartel – Idelic
Recent Transaction: Acquisition/Merger | 4/23/2026 | $40M
Descartes Systems Group has acquired Idelic, a Pittsburgh-based provider of AI-powered driver safety and performance management solutions, for approximately $28 million upfront plus up to $12 million in performance-based earnout. The deal adds Idelic's predictive safety intelligence platform — built on over 40 billion miles of telemetry data and 400,000+ accident records — to Descartes' Global Logistics Network, enabling a more complete fleet performance management solution that integrates driver behavior and safety signals with Descartes' routing and execution capabilities.
Nick Bartel's diverse background, spanning real estate development, financial analysis, and entrepreneurship, has equipped him with a multifaceted skill set that he leverages as CEO and Co-Founder of Idelic. His leadership has been instrumental in Idelic's growth and innovation in the transportation technology sector, focusing on enhancing fleet safety and risk management. Bartel's strategic vision and ability to navigate complex industries underscore his value to Idelic and the broader transportation technology landscape.
10. Brandon Lucia – Efficient Computer
Recent Transaction: Venture Series A | 2/18/2026 | $60M
Efficient Computer, a Pittsburgh-based semiconductor company building energy-efficient general-purpose processors, has raised a $60 million Series A led by Triatomic Capital with participation from Eclipse, Union Square Ventures, Toyota Ventures, and others, bringing total funding to $76 million. The proceeds will accelerate development of its Electron E1 processor — built on a proprietary spatial dataflow architecture designed to deliver hardware-accelerator-like efficiency without sacrificing programmability — targeting AI, signal processing, and controls workloads across edge, infrastructure, and embedded applications.
Brandon Lucia's transition from academia to entrepreneurship has been marked by his dedication to energy-efficient computing. As CEO of Efficient Computer, he has successfully commercialized groundbreaking research, leading to the development of processors that significantly reduce energy consumption. His leadership emphasizes the importance of developer experience and market education, ensuring that innovative technologies are accessible and practical for real-world applications. Lucia's strategic vision positions Efficient Computer at the forefront of the energy-efficient computing industry, with potential applications ranging from IoT devices to aerospace systems.
View the full profile in Dakota Marketplace.
Where Liquidity Events Become Prospecting Signals
Finding prospects may not be the challenge; it’s knowing when to reach them.
Private company transactions are one of the clearest signals of imminent need. They turn operating executives into newly liquid decision-makers almost overnight. Firms that align outreach to these moments gain a real advantage in timing, relevance, and conversion.
Dakota Marketplace delivers that edge.
Our combination of real-time private company transaction data and “likely to transact” signals allows RIAs and advisors to engage in timely, highly relevant outreach to individuals with newly acquired or soon-to-be-acquired wealth.
You’ll see all private company transactions in one place, updated continuously, so your team can prioritize outreach, engage with confidence, and convert at the right moment.
Book a demo of Dakota Marketplace to source key executives and CEOs!
