In the money

Robert Birkfeld

Managing partner, The Compass Group Intl.

In his 30-year career, M&A mogul and SISO founding member Birkfeld produced hundreds of international exhibitions and conferences. During his 10 years with the Compass Group, he has provided merger, acquisition and management advisory services to show organizers all over the world, ranging from cross-platform multinationals and single-event organizers to media investors and nonprofit groups. Birkfeld's successful M&A transactions have ranged from $3 million to over $100 million.

Nick Curci

President, Corporate Solutions

This has been a busy year for Curci and his 10-year-old Westport, Conn.-based M&A advisory firm. Corporate Solutions brokered several deals in 2006, including Kelly Simon Productions' sale of three law enforcement and security expos to E.J. Krause & Associates. Curci is currently handling the sale of six dmg world media U.S. consumer home shows. He has 18 years of industry experience, including several as owner, principal and CFO of Full Circle Media, which he sold in 1995.

Wilma Jordan

Founder and CEO, Jordan Edmiston Group Inc.

In addition to being head honcho at JEGI, Jordan is also a founding general partner and CEO of JEGI Capital, and the list of her board seats, titles and awards goes on and on. "Productive" is an understatement in describing her firm this year. As of press time, JEGI had closed 23 deals in 2006. Additionally, Jordan is a director of Guideposts, publisher of the inspirational publication Guideposts magazine and other media products.

Tom Kemp

Managing director, Veronis Suhler Stevenson

Kemp, a former Penton Media chairman and CEO, may be out of the spotlight — but he's not too far from its glare. In his current post at VSS, Kemp keeps busy. The last deal he had a hand in brokering was Red 7 Media's purchase of Agenda USA last month. Kemp started his career at the long-gone Miller Freeman, spending more than 20 years with the firm, including a stint as president and COO.

Richard Mead

Managing director, JEGI

In his seven years with JEGI, Mead's contributions have been invaluable. He has advised many firms on major portfolio restructuring, including Daily Mail & General Trust, Penton Media, Primedia, Reed Elsevier and VNU. He brokered the sale of Duke Communications to Penton Media and the sale of Reed Elsevier's information technology group to the Washington Post. Top this: He has participated in more than 250 M&A transactions since moving to the United States in 1983.

Kathleen Thomas

Managing director, Berkery, Noyes & Co.

Thomas is the go-to person at Berkery, Noyes for anyone interested in doing a tradeshow deal. She has been with the firm since 2003, after spending nine years with Veronis Suhler Stevenson and has been instrumental in dozens of transactions at Berkery, Noyes. This spring, for instance, she brokered Forstmann Little's significant investment in New York-based fashion tradeshow organizer ENK Intl. Thomas has also advised on both the buy and sell sides of some Hanley Wood shows.