Generational Group, a leading investment banking firm for privately held businesses, is pleased to announce that it has once again been recognized by The M&A Advisor at the 24rd Annual M&A Advisor Awards – the premier awards event recognizing the finest deals, dealmakers, and M&A-related service providers of the past year.
Generational Group was honored with the following awards:
UTILITIES DEAL OF THE YEAR: Acquisition of DJB Systems, Inc. by Top Notch Distributors – Deal Team of Generational Group Executive Managing Director, M&A, Central Region – Michael Goss, and his team led by Senior Vice President, M&A, Andre Farahmandi successfully closed the deal. Executive Managing Director, Rick Buchoz and Senior M&A Advisor, Mike Moore established the initial relationship with DJB Systems, Inc.
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR: David Robinson, Executive Managing Director & Group Leader, Generational Group.
M&A DEAL OF THE YEAR ($10M TO $25M): Acquisition of SFS Security Fire Systems by Blackford Capital – Deal Team of Generational Group Executive Managing Director, M&A – Michael Goss, and his team led by Vice President, M&A, Jacob Mangalath successfully closed the deal. Senior Managing Director, Joe Van Voorhis and Senior M&A Advisor, Mike Moore established the initial relationship with Security Fire Systems, Inc.
The M&A Advisor was founded in 1998 to offer insights and intelligence on M&A activities and has since been established as the premier global network of M&A, turnaround, and finance professionals. They have the privilege of presenting, recognizing the achievements of, and facilitating connections between the industry’s top performers throughout the world with a comprehensive range of services.
“The M&A Advisor started in 1998 as a modest newsletter with only a few hundred subscribers. Twenty-seven years later, it has evolved into a global platform at the center of the dealmaking community. Today, tens of thousands of professionals engage with us through our summits, awards galas, networking forums, and an ever-growing digital community,” says Roger Aguinaldo. “I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come—and of the role we continue to play in supporting and elevating the M&A industry.”
Generational Chief M&A Officer, Brenen Hofstadter said, “Congratulations to our teams across Generational for earning these respected awards. We are experiencing another outstanding year, and having our peers recognize the dedication and performance of our professionals is truly rewarding.”
Hofstadter added, “We continue to see exceptional activity across the M&A landscape. This year has brought a significant increase in owners seeking guidance on their transition plans, and the volume of high-quality opportunities entering the market has been remarkable. It is a privilege to support these clients and to help guide such meaningful transactions.”
Ryan Binkley, President and CEO of Generational stated, “I am incredibly honored to recognize the exceptional work of our team and to celebrate these meaningful achievements together. Receiving these awards are a testament to the dedication, professionalism, and integrity demonstrated every day by the talented individuals across our organization. While the recognition is gratifying, our unwavering focus continues to be the clients who trust us to guide them through some of their most important decisions.”
Binkley added, “What inspires me most is the spirit of innovation and collaboration our associates bring to every engagement. Their thoughtful approach, strategic insight, and commitment to delivering meaningful results for our clients elevate our firm and drive our continued success. It is their willingness to go above and beyond that truly sets us apart.”
Of special significance to the Generational family, Peter Stone, Senior M&A Advisor and Conference Group Leader, had the honor of presenting this year’s Thomas Farrell Memorial Award. The 2025 recipient is Jacob Voorhees, Founding Member and Managing Director at Navagant. Established in 2017 by The M&A Advisor, the award commemorates the late Thomas “Tom” Farrell, former Executive Vice President of Generational, and celebrates his enduring contributions to the mergers and acquisitions industry.
