ACG Cleveland Presents Culture: The Maker or Killer of Deals sponsored by Benesch

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Event Details

When:

December 9, 2025 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM EST

Where:

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Overview

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No matter the size of the deal, culture is often the silent dealmaker—or the hidden deal killer. While financials get the attention, culture drives performance, integration, retention, and ultimately, value creation.

Join us for a candid conversation on how culture became a strategic weapon in CBIZ’s successful $2.3 billion acquisition of Marcum—and how those same principles apply to lower and mid-market deals. This transaction makes CBIZ the largest full-service professional services advisor of its kind in the U.S., providing accounting, tax, advisory, benefits, insurance, and technology services, primarily to middle-market businesses.

Featuring:

  • Jerry Grisko, President & CEO, CBIZ
  • Moderator: Micki Byrnes, Chief Communications Officer & Senior Advisor, Adcom

What you’ll learn:

  • Get the inside story on CBIZ’s hallmark acquisition
  • The red flags that signal culture risk—before you sign the deal
  • Lessons from a major transaction that scale down to lower and mid-market deals
  • How to use culture to accelerate integration and unlock value
  • Why ignoring culture is no longer an option—at any deal size
  • The state of talent in Northeast Ohio in general 

Speakers

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Jerry Grisko

Jerry Grisko

CBIZ, Inc.
President & CEO

Jerry P. Grisko Jr. has served as a Director of CBIZ since his appointment in November 2015.  Mr. Grisko was appointed Chief Executive Office in March 2016 and has served as President since February 2000.  He was also Chief Operating Officer from February 2000 until his appointment as Chief Executive Officer.

Mr. Grisko joined CBIZ as Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions in September 1998 and was promoted to Senior Vice President, Mergers & Acquisitions and Legal Affairs in December 1998.  Prior to joining CBIZ, Mr. Grisko was associated with the law firm of Baker & Hostetler LLP, where he practiced from September 1987 until September 1998, serving as a partner from January 1995 to September 1998.  While at Baker & Hostetler, Mr. Grisko concentrated his practice in the area of mergers and acquisitions and general corporate law.

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Micki Byrnes

Micki Byrnes

AdCom
Chief Communications Officer, Senior Advisor

Micki Byrnes currently serves as the Chief Communications Officer and Senior Advisor for Adcom, the premiere integrated marketing agency in Cleveland. 

Formerly, she was the President & General Manager of WKYC Media, overseeing all operations of the broadcast station and its digital platforms. She joined Channel 3 in 1997 as Director of Marketing and was named Vice President, Advertising and Promotion in 2000, and Station Manager in 2014.

Byrnes has held broadcast management positions in Boston, San Francisco, Atlanta and Orlando. She is a past Chair and Director of PROMAX, International, the television industry's premiere marketing association. Byrnes has also served on the marketing advisory boards of CBS Television, ABC Television and Fox Broadcasting and is the past Chairperson of the NBC Affiliate Promotion Committee. 

Micki was a member of the 2005 class of Leadership Cleveland and continues to serve on their Selection Committee. She is a former Board member of the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, Cleveland Food Bank and the Northern Ohio Chapter of the American Red Cross. She helped create the US Marshal of Northern Ohio’s Posse for Community Outreach and was a member of the FBI Citizen’s Academy class of 2012. She currently serves as a Trustee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a board member of the Cuyahoga Community College Foundation, The Cleveland Leadership Center, the 50 Club and Destination Cleveland.

Micki has won numerous regional Emmy, Telly and Addy Awards. She was inducted into the Cleveland Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame in 2013 and was named a YWCA Woman of Achievement and a Crain’s Woman of Note.

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By registering and attending an ACG sponsored event, you hereby grant permission to ACG Cleveland (unless expressly noted otherwise) to potentially use your likeness to promote ACG Cleveland events. Usage may include email campaigns and social media.


Hosted by: ACG
Chapter
Cleveland
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EVENT PRICING:

ACG Member:  $55

YACG Member:  $45

Non-Member:  $75