ACG Kentucky announces Todd Earwood as president and names 2026-27 board of directors

FOR RELEASE JUNE 11, 2026

LOUISVILLE - ACG Kentucky, the Kentucky chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth, has elected entrepreneur and AI investor Todd Earwood as president and announced its 2026-27 board of directors. The chapter serves M&A professionals, corporate executives and dealmakers who invest in, own and advise growing companies.

Earwood succeeds Truist Bank Kentucky Market President John Thurman, who will continue to support the chapter in an advisory role as immediate past president. 

An ACG Kentucky member and board director since 2025, Earwood is co-founder and managing director of HalfCourt Ventures, a 

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firm with a multi-stage portfolio of more than 100 AI-driven companies. He has built 18 companies, developed multiple software products and completed a number of successful exits.

During his time on the board, Earwood has helped strengthen chapter programming and community awareness while supporting ACG Kentucky’s mission to spur middle-market growth across the region.

“ACG Kentucky plays an important role in connecting the M&A community,” Earwood said. “I appreciate the hard work of John Thurman, Terry McWilliams and the leaders who came before me in building one of the most vibrant business groups in Louisville. I’m honored to serve and help continue that momentum.”

The chapter also announced its other officers: VP/President-Elect Alex Reed, Chief Commercial Officer of CRG Automation; Treasurer Brad Smith, Regional Market Leader at Cherry Bekaert; and Secretary Matt Berrian, Managing Director at Forvis Mazars. Their two-year terms begin on Sept. 1. 

Directors serving renewable one-year terms are:

• Ken Berryman, Managing Partner, Weller Equity Partners
• Tyler Elliott, Senior Vice President, Truist Bank (new board member, bio below)
• Vernon Foster, Senior Executive Director, Assistant Dean, College of Business, University of Louisville 
• Clif Freeman, Managing Partner, Vaco by Highspring
• Darrin McCauley, Senior Vice President, Old National Bank
• Jeff McKenzie, Partner, Dentons
• Graham Sparks, Vice President, Business Development, MiddleGround Capital 
• Alexander Staffieri, Partner, FBT Gibbons (new board member, bio below)
• John Sweeney, Managing Director, Slane Hill Capital Advisors
• Jack White, CFA, Partner, Todd Asset Management

Finally, the executive committee is comprised of Todd Earwood, Alex Reed, John Sweeney and past presidents Brad Smith, Matt Berrian, Ken Berryman, and Darrin McCauley.

About ACG Kentucky 

ACG Kentucky is one of the worldwide chapters of the Association for Corporate Growth. Founded in 1954, the premier M&A dealmaking organization serves thousands of middle market professionals who invest in, own and advise growing companies.

The Kentucky chapter (www.acg.org/kentucky) provides programs and events energizing professional connections and promoting business growth.  Its annual Deal of the Year Awards highlight high-impact M&A deals, while the yearly Executive Golf Scramble promotes networking and raises funds to benefit a local charity.

Contacts

Terry McWilliams

Chapter Executive, ACG Kentucky | President, Mozaic Investor Relations

Emails: acgkentucky@acg.org | terrym@mozaicir.com

Phone: 502.509.6768

Call or email for access to ACG Kentucky logo and board member  photography.

Todd Earwood | todd@halfcourt.vc

John Thurman | John.thurman@truist.com

Web: www.acg.org/kentucky

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/acg-kentucky/

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ACG Kentucky’s new board members

Tyler Elliott | Truist Bank

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Tyler Elliott serves as Senior Vice President at Truist Bank in Louisville. Over his banking career, Tyler has built a strong track record of advising middle-market companies on strategic financing, capital structure, and growth initiatives. In his role at Truist, he partners with business owners and management teams to deliver tailored lending solutions, navigate complex transactions, and support long-term value creation.

He brings a collaborative mindset and a passion for helping businesses and professionals achieve sustainable growth, and is committed to advancing ACG’s mission of fostering deal-making, professional development, and meaningful connections within the middle-market community. In addition to ACG Kentucky, Tyler serves as a board member for Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kentuckiana.

Tyler earned an MBA from Indiana University Southeast, and holds BS degrees in Finance and Economics from Penn State University.

Alexander G. Staffieri | FBT Gibbons

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Alexander G. “Alex” Staffieri is a partner with FBT Gibbons LLP, whose practice centers on secured and unsecured credit transactions for national, regional, and community banks, as well as strategic investors and debt funds. He regularly advises clients in connection with commercial and industrial financing, asset-based lending, and commercial real estate and construction finance matters. Alex also counsels businesses and local authorities on tax and other incentives for development and expansion within Kentucky and other jurisdictions. He serves as Co-Chair of his firm’s Regional and Community Banks Industry Team.

Alex’s experience spans large-scale development, manufacturing, transportation, and consumer-facing industries, with transactions that support growth, capital deployment, and operational scale.

Alex is widely recognized for corporate, finance, and governance work. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America® across Corporate, Mergers and Acquisitions, Real Estate, Banking and Finance, Corporate Governance, Venture Capital, and Commercial Transactions/UCC (2021–2026). He is active in professional and community organizations, including service on the Board of the Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation and Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana. 

Alex earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Kentucky College of Law, where he was an Articles Editor of the Kentucky Law Journal, and holds both M.S.A. and B.B.A. degrees, magna cum laude, from the University of Notre Dame.