Mike Iannaccone

I had the pleasure of attending the NACD New England Chapter event on September 17 in Boston, “Leading Minds of Governance & Tech” for Board members. A big thank you to Ellen Richstone and the organizers for putting together such an insightful event. The CEO panel featured incredible perspectives from CEOs like Tamara Lundgren from Radius Recycling, Sean Keohane from Cabot Corporation, Greg Smith from Teradyne, and Gary Cohen from iRobot. The discussions were rich and thought-provoking. Corporations must be nimble and think long term but be prepared to react promptly in a high frequency environment. Routine jobs are at risk. People are excited about Ai to replace someone else’s job.  Discussion of "New Collar jobs". As manufacturing jobs try to make a comeback in the US, many of them are going to be New Collar Jobs instead of the traditional blue-collar jobs. US companies will have to be competitive with their cost structure, so the New Collar Jobs will be created in reimagined manufacturing settings.  New-collar jobs will require advanced technical and soft skills for emerging tech fields like AI, cloud computing, and data science, but do not always necessitate a four-year degree. These roles combine the hands-on approach of blue-collar work with the higher earning potential and stability of white-collar jobs, emphasizing practical training, apprenticeships, certifications, and continuous upskilling rather than traditional degrees. The concept of new collar jobs, mentioned by the panel, was coined by former IBM CEO Ginni Rometty, based on the rise of new technologies like AI, cloud computing, and data science, which create jobs demanding different skill sets.  There was another great panel discussion moderated by Ellen Richstone on the Governance Expert Panel consisting of Robyn Bew  Richard J. Bannister, Jr. Elyssa (Emsellem) Kutner and Matt Talcoff  Key takeaways from the panel – is your company ready for new international trade; Boards need to be agile to manage the human capital and technology tradeoff. Boards should be prepared to consider more scenarios (short and longer term) to manage their risks. Many institutional investors are getting quiet about what they expect from companies especially in the context of ESG. The 2026 proxy season will be quite different  Also a great discussion between Rich Lesser from Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and Richard Fields from Russell Reynolds Associates. Boards should be factoring Ai, geopolitics and resilience in their discussions.  The world is evolving from “Just in Time” to “Just in Case” Four steps for resilience: prepare, absorb, adapt and reimagine.  Deborah Rosenthal Larissa Ravetto Jim Dodge Sharon Rossi Bryan McCorry Ozge Kurtoglu  #Governance #TechLeadership #NewCollarJobs #AI #BoardMembers #CorporateAgility #ESG #Resilience #ContinuousLearning https://lnkd.in/eQhYT6vd

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Inside Stipelis: A Framework for Trading the Capital Markets with an Eye on Preservation of Capital. Pulling back the curtain—without giving away the code—is a balancing act. At Stipelis Global Trading LLC, we focus on what we can share: how we think about markets, even when we can’t show you the signals. Our short-term trading program targets the most visible and liquid contracts on U.S. exchanges. From E-mini equity indices to currency futures, to treasuries, energy, and agricultural products... we look for conditions that favor tactical positioning—always within a framework that emphasizes capital preservation and disciplined risk. We’re not here to chase every move. We’ll pass on trades if the structure doesn’t line up. The markets we trade are varied—S&P minis, crude, gold, corn, Euro FX—but what matters is how they behave under stress, during catalyst windows, or when volatility shifts. Holding periods range from minutes to weeks, and yes, we’ll hold spreads overnight when it fits. Our edge isn’t based on speed or secrecy. It’s about preparation, execution, and having the discretion to sit out when necessary. We don’t trade retail forex, forwards, or EFPs, and every market in our portfolio must meet liquidity and volatility criteria. For example, we may stand down in certain commodities—not because there’s no opportunity, but because the asymmetry doesn’t meet our standards. Risk management isn’t a feature of our program—it is the program. We use discretionary overlays to size positions based on market conditions and account size, not on gut feeling. Drawdowns happen. Volatility is part of the game. But we believe a well-structured strategy—executed with consistency—can weather those cycles. Every client grants us discretionary authority, and we view that trust as a long-term commitment. That’s why we ask investors to give the strategy three years—not three months—to play out. We don’t aim for daily fireworks; we aim for long-term capital appreciation through disciplined execution in complex, liquid markets. Want to know more about how we think about FX around central bank surprises or equity vol around earnings clusters? Follow us. We’ll keep sharing what we can—and stay focused on executing what we must. For a more detailed description of our trading program, visit stipelis.com. Stipelis Global Trading LLC is registered with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and is a member of the National Futures Association. Member ID Number 0474441     THE RISK OF LOSS IN TRADING COMMODITY INTERESTS CAN BE SUBSTANTIAL. YOU SHOULD THEREFORE CAREFULLY CONSIDER WHETHER SUCH TRADING IS SUITABLE FOR YOU IN LIGHT OF YOUR FINANCIAL CONDITION.     #stipelis #marketupdate #crudeoil #USDollar #gold #copper #stockmarket

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Cambridge Wilkinson Investment Bank Closes $100 Million Credit Facility Upsizing for Specialty Finance Platform New York, March 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Cambridge Wilkinson, an investment bank specializing in capital solutions for specialty finance companies, is pleased to announce the successful closing of a $100 million credit facility upsizing for a growing specialty finance platform. The expanded facility will provide the company with additional capital to support its continued growth, expand its lending capabilities, and scale its operations over time as they draw down the facility. This transaction reflects strong momentum for the platform and continued demand for flexible capital solutions within the specialty finance sector. This highly customized solution leverages a strong and institutional caliber origination capability at the lender and complements its existing capital structure.   “We are pleased to support our specialty finance clients as they continue to grow and scale their platforms. This specific upsizing provides the capital needed to expand operations and meet increasing market demand in this specific lending sector. We look forward to seeing the company continue to build on its success and possibly help them with other capital needs that are accretive to the things that they are doing,” said Rob Bolandian, Co-Founder and Global Head of Investment Banking at Cambridge Wilkinson. www.cambridgewilkinson.com About Us: Cambridge Wilkinson is a leading global investment bank with the speed, connections, and the confidence to get transactions done. With a focus on middle-market companies, we arrange debt and equity capital raises from $25 million to $5 billion and advise on mergers and acquisitions. In addition, we also provide flexible and scalable leverage facilities and credit facilities for private equity funds and alternative credit funds which range from $25 million to $2 billion. We bring deep experience working with specialty finance institutions, real estate entities, funds as well as businesses spanning a variety of other industries. We offer unique access to a broad network of capital sources including large family offices, credit funds, banks, non-bank credit groups, insurance companies, private equity, sovereigns, and endowments. Securities offered through Finalis Securities LLC Member FINRA / SIPC. Cambridge Wilkinson LLC and Finalis Securities LLC are separate, unaffiliated entities. Rob Bolandian, Co-Founder & Global Head of Investment Banking RBolandian@cambridgewilkinson.com Howard Chernin, Co-Founder & Chief Operating Officer HChernin@cambridgewilkinson.com

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Stanton Park Capital provided financial advisory services to Expanded Supply Products, a Cold Spring, NY-based supplier of precast concrete products, hydrants, drainage pipes, valves, traffic safety equipment, and other construction materials to contractors.

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Dean Akey, Executive Vice President/Partner from Clone Capital, LLC, discusses a significant transformation in energy demand driven by rapid load growth from AI and data centers, which have distinct power requirements compared to traditional industries. https://lnkd.in/ggnrDFQ2 Apple https://lnkd.in/gwKdx3iQ Spotify https://lnkd.in/gRpPX-GZ In episode 311 of eRENEWABLE and The Green Insider Podcast, Dean highlights the following points: - AI facilities require flexible power solutions due to fluctuating demands, similar to steel mills, while data centers have more stable energy needs. - Innovative strategies, such as utilizing garbage data to sustain high processing levels during low-demand periods, are being explored to manage energy requirements for AI facilities. - Data centers, particularly those for stock trading, necessitate high-speed processing and real-time responses, while AI projects, such as those in pharmaceuticals, involve complex computations without the need for immediate results. - The strategic placement of data centers and AI projects can facilitate energy arbitrage; Bitcoin miners exemplify mobile operations that shift to regions with lower energy costs. - Connecting power projects to the transmission grid is becoming increasingly expensive and may not always be essential, particularly for projects catering to local loads; developers should carefully evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of grid connection. - The energy interconnection process is often lengthy and costly, which can pose challenges for undercapitalized developers. - An “all-of-the-above” approach to energy generation is suggested, integrating traditional gas plants with renewables (wind, solar) and storage to address the rising power demand, especially in light of the AI competition with China. - The industry is witnessing creativity and innovation, including smaller-scale and mobile generation solutions, with collaboration across sectors being vital for energy security and competitiveness. As always thank you to all our listeners, followers, guests, and our sponsor, UTSI International Corporation. A special shout out goes to all our friends at North American Energy Markets Association which Dean is a long time board member.

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We are excited to announce MACCO Restructuring Group, LLC and Algon Group have formed a strategic alliance! This alliance will leverage the deep expertise of both firms’ professionals and creates a distinctive and powerful resource for distressed businesses and complex matters across industries, particularly in real estate and hospitality. Read more in our release - https://lnkd.in/ezmpDy2x #CorporateRestructuring #Bankruptcy #RealEstate #Hospitality Drew McManigle

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Benchmark International successfully facilitated the transaction of Invocon, Inc. and Cemtrex, Inc., bringing together advanced aerospace instrumentation and scalable growth strategy. #BenchmarkInternational #MergersAndAcquisitions #MandA #Transaction

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CfD3 closed above target. 315.8 MW awarded against 290 MW tendered. That’s 108% of the volume on offer. TDP Partners advised 25% of the awarded capacity, roughly 79 MW. Kudos to the team. Everyone expected a crowded room. Instead, competition landed at 133%, far below the 200% initially anticipated. Many players reportedly stepped back late, squeezed by bank guarantee timing or put off by price expectations. Others just showed up small. A meaningful share of bids reportedly covered only 40–60% of total project capacity, with the rest positioned for PPAs at higher prices, typically EUR 70–76/MWh. In other words, the market treated CfD as a base layer, not the whole building. Furthermore, the weighted average strike price for CfD3 winners is EUR 67.66/MWh, meaning the state pays around EUR 67.66 per MWh under CfD3, 7% below CfD2 and 2.5% above CfD1 on the basis we used. Three players took 89% of the tendered capacity: Naxxar 41%, Zen 25% and OX2 23%. All awarded projects carry 2028 commissioning deadlines. That is where the next two years get decided. At TDP Partners, we’re proud we delivered a tangible share of this round and we’re even more focused on what comes next. Turning awarded capacity into commissioned assets.

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Top 10 Communications and Networking Telecom Capital Raises and Investors in the U.S. - January 1st - 31st, 2026 Several interesting transactions closed in the Communications and Networking Telecom sector last month. If you would like more info on these deals or would like to discuss the capital raising market for your company, please contact me.   Merger/Acquisition 1. 22nd Century Networks, federal telecommunications, networking, and managed services that delivers connectivity solutions across complex government environments, was acquired by 22nd Century Technologies. 2. Frontier Communications Parent, communications and technology provider offering broadband services, was acquired by Verizon Communications for $20.818 billion. Later Stage VC 3. Lightyear (Telecommunications Service Providers), cloud-based telecommunication platform that procures information technology infrastructure and manage service contracts, raised $16 million of Series B-7 venture funding. 4. LiveKit, open-source, real-time communications platform that enables developers to build scalable voice and video applications, raised $100 million of Series C venture funding in a deal led by Index Ventures. 5. BetterWorld Technology, business telecommunication services based in Virginia, United States, raised venture funding from Azafran Capital Partners. Early Stage VC  6. Popcorn (Communication Software), AI-driven conversational commerce platform for businesses to automate sales and customer engagement, raised venture funding from The Perplexity Fund. 7. TitanX, phone intent platform that predicts which prospects will answer cold calls before reps dial, raised $27 million of Series A venture funding from Updata Partners. 8. Noble (Telecommunications Service Providers), wireless network service that encourages reduced phone usage and support financial management, raised $10.40 million of venture funding. Accelerator/Incubator 9. ConciergeBot, AI-based communication automation technology for streamlining interactions between businesses and their customers, joined Madeira Startup Retreat. 10. HULI (Business/Productivity Software), AI-based voice automation systems that supports automated voice interactions across inbound and outbound communication channels, joined StartupBase. #castleplacement #capitalraising #privateequity #venturecapital #investment #CommunicationsandNetworkingTelecom

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