ACG Announces Meritorious Service Award Recipients

April 5, 2016: CHICAGO – The Association for Corporate Growth® (ACG), the global organization focused on driving middle-market growth, announced today the recipients of the prestigious 2016 Meritorious Service Award. The 2016 award recipients will be recognized at InterGrowth® 2016 on May 2-4 at the Hyatt Regency in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Meritorious Service Award is given to ACG members who have provided distinguished volunteer service and leadership.

"This year’s lineup of winners represents the diversity, dedication and drive that make the ACG membership experience a unique and irreplaceable one," said Richard P. Jaffe,-partner with Duane Morris LLP and 2016 ACG chairman of the board. "Shining a light on them at one of the largest gathering of middle-market professionals recognizes them as beacons at both the chapter and global level of ACG." 

Award recipients: 

Nick Araco, Jr., Senior Director, Growth Strategies and Business Development, Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP 

Nick Araco has been a member of ACG since 2001. During his tenure, he has served as president of ACG Philadelphia. He also served on the membership, conference planning and corporate recruitment committees. Nick has 20 years of experience in corporate management, business development, marketing and national sales management. He founded and currently leads the ongoing development of a for-profit professional networking and learning community with over 6,000 CFO members in the U.S. and Canada. 

Blinn Cirella, CFO, Saw Mill Capital 

Blinn Cirella currently serves as co-chair to ACG’s Private Equity Regulatory Task Force, where she provides input on the strategy and development of the task force. Blinn has been a passionate member of the public policy committee since its inception in October 2014, helping establish ACG as the "Voice of the Middle Market" in Washington, D.C. Blinn continues to provide insight and leadership on issues that are important to middle-market private equity firm, including the development of best practices, known as "PERT Principles," on behalf of the middle-market private equity industry. Blinn joined Saw Mill in 2006 as chief financial officer. 

Robert Dutkiewicz, Shareholder of International Accounting Services, Clayton & McKervey, P.C. 

Robert has served as the president of ACG Detroit as well as vice president of programs. During his tenure, he played an active role in developing a strategic plan to grow membership and increase brand awareness. He also played a key role in its public policy initiative−visiting representatives on the Hill and in his district, and forming the chapter’s public policy− and in the NextGen and Women’s Forum committees. Robert leads the inbound international practice at Clayton & McKervey P.C. with a heavy concentration in Europe. 

Christopher Hebble, Managing Director, Houlihan Lokey 

Christopher Hebble has served on the ACG Los Angles Board since 2007 and is the current chair of the ACG Cup Committee–a case study competition utilized by 25 ACG chapters at present. Christopher is intimately involved in the ACG Cup program, including making himself available to answer hundreds of questions from all participants. Christopher joined Houlihan Lokey from Cerberus Capital Management, where he was a managing director responsible for origination, underwriting, portfolio management and investment exits for a broad range of specialty finance transactions. During his time with Houlihan Lokey, he has served as a vice president from 2000-2004. 

Laurance Newman, President, Access Management Services, Ltd. 

Laurance is one of the three founders of the ACG Wisconsin chapter. He installed the founding principles: quality programs, valuable networking and focused membership that the chapter still uses as its framework. He continues to leverage his personal network to populate the ACG Wisconsin membership and board of directors with a mix of high-profile corporate executives and service providers. Laurance is the president of Access Management Services, a Wisconsin-based management consulting firm that works with companies on the development and execution of global business strategies and tactics. Prior to his current position, he spent 33 years with S.C. Johnson Wax. 

Stephen Prostor, Director, Senior Credit Officer and Head Of Sponsor Finance, Citi Private Bank 

As past president of ACG New York, Stephen spearheaded many new initiatives including: ACG New York Women of Leadership, ACG New York Forward for emerging professionals, ACG New York Digital Conference, ACG New York Strategic Development Conference, ACG New York International Committee and ACG New York Educational Cup. He also participated on the ACG Global Board of Directors and was the chairman of the Finance Committee. At present, Stephen is the director and head of the Citi Private Bank Sponsor Finance Team in North America. 

Titus Schurink, CFO, HPE Growth Capital 

Titus is an ACG Global board member as well as a board member of ACG Holland. Titus served on the organizing committee for ACG’s European Capital Tour and was chairman of ACG’s EuroGrowth 2015 conference, where he was integral to its success. Since 2008, Titus Schurink has been the chief financial officer of HPE Growth Capital. His focus is on HPE’s back-office activities, portfolio and fund controlling, compliance and financial reporting. 

"ACG is fortunate to have so many members worldwide volunteer their time and expertise to further the organization’s mission of driving middle-market growth," said Gary A. LaBranche, FASAE, CAE, president and CEO of ACG. "Their leadership and selflessness is not only award-worthy, but inspirational." 

###

About Association for Corporate Growth

Founded in 1954, ACG has 59 chapters across the globe. ACG’s worldwide network comprises 90,000 professionals within the middle market, including 14,500 members who serve as the investors, lenders, owners, executives and advisers to growing middle-market companies. ACG’s mission is to drive middle-market growth. For more information about ACG, please visit www.acg.org.