Reagan Rodriguez

CEO, Managing Partner – 5th Avenue Acquisitions, LLC

Reagan is one of the country’s leading authorities in the area of Business acquisitions and human potential. He is a dynamic and entertaining speak with an outstanding ability to inspire those around him to take action and strive for success. He stands firmly behind his message that success as a business owner is available to everyone.

Reagan started his advising career by analyzing and researching hundreds of business models. He was intrigued with business start ups and the people that owned them – especially in how they thought, acted and dealt with stressful situations. His mission since then has been to conceptualize the mindset of the very best entrepreneurs and help others attain their forward thinking philosophies.

Reagan is an avid believer that “The live you have you’ve created — with your thinking and emotions.” One of his favorite sayings is: “what’s hard to do in the beginning is easy to live with in the end.” He believes that a person should be most concerned with the habits they create for their life; the habits of thinking, feeling, and acting.

Aaron Plaat

Online Acquisition Coordinator – 5th Avenue Acquisitions, LLC

Aaron is a dynamic team player in the area of business development and IT integration.

Originally from Columbus, OH, Aaron started his career at a young age and has successfully launched multiple companies in the online sector, starting several in several major U.S. Locations, including: New York, NY, Los Angeles, CA, and Dallas, TX.

Aaron is self-proclaimed “serial entrepreneur” and is dedicated to successfully developing and launching innovative business ventures. With a “No Excuses – Just results” attitude, Aaron makes a strong addition to the 5th Avenue Acquisitions team.

Neil Johnson

Managing Partner – Lawrence, Evans & Co.

Banking Chair

As Managing Partner of Lawrence, Evans & Co., LLC, Neil’s responsibilities primarily include deal sourcing and evaluation, transaction structuring, the securing of financing including debt and equity, fundraising and all administrative activities. As President of NS Investment Funds, an alternative asset fund, Neil oversees all investment activity in growth and distressed companies.

Prior to co-founding Lawrence, Evans & Co., LLC, Neil worked at one of the largest asset based lenders in the country but also spent time with a healthcare investment bank as an underwriter. Other relevant experiences included a bond trader managing over $100 million in assets at a regional bassed investment advisor. Neil spent time in Koln Germany with an internet start-up and was involved with a successful sale of an internet consumer marketing company.

Neil is a board member of several of NS Investment Fund’s investments. he is a member of the Association of Corporate Growth, Turnaround Management Association,a nd the American Bankruptcy Institute.

He has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics and Management from Albion College in Albion, MI. Neil received his Masters of Business Administration degree from The Ohio State University Max M. Fisher College of Business.

Karen Marshall

Owner – Vero 3 Consulting

Practice Management Chair

Karen Marshall is the founder of Vero3 Consulting. With nearly 30 years of experience, Karen offers a unique combination of clinical expertise and business management. Her work spans many fields – Hygienist, Administrative and Corporate Manager, Project Manager, Trainer, Collections Agency Partner and Corporate Consultant – providing her with practical insights witha depth and scope uncommon in most consultants. It is this hands-on, applied knowledge that helps her uncover possibilities and provide both clinical and business solutions that truly work.

Karen is a Bent Erickseen Certified HR & Employment Law Consultant, to ensure your business meets State & Federal guidelines. She is also an IPM Certified Trainer for Job Matching, Employee Selection, Team Building, Employee and Personal Development.

Roger Hall, Ph.D.

Business Psychologist – Compass Consultation, Ltd.

Accountability Chair

Roger Hall, Ph.D. is a consulting psychologist licensed in Ohio and Indiana. He provides executive coaching to business owners, senior executives and high potential young leaders. He provides executive assessment services for companies as they choose people to develop. he enjoys training work groups to enhance their performance. He facilitates executive agenda and team building meetings. He works on talent assessment and succession planning. He has worked with leaders from Fortune 20 companies as well as small entrepreneurial firms. he has worked with executives from the areas of Law, Health Care, Publishing, INsurance, Construction, Manufacturing, Retail, Distribution, Universities, Public and Private Schools, Missionary Agencies, and Churches.

He received his Doctorate in Psychology from the Ohio State University in 1991. He completed his pre-doctoral internship at the University of Utah. he then accepted a position to be a Staff Psychologist at Ball State University where he served until 1993. For nearly 5 years, he was the part time staff Psychologist at a large church in Dublin, Ohio. In 1993 he founded Compass Consultation, Ltd. where he works with executives, professionals, and business owners to improve their life and work performance.

He has been an adjunct faculty member at Capital University and a visiting faculty at Wheaton College. He has also been an instructor at Ohio State University, Ball State, and University of Utah where he has consistently been a highly rated teacher. He is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.

Chad Pinnell

Partner – Skilken-Pinnell Real Estate

Real Estate Chair

Chad Pinnell is a partner at Skilken-Pinnell HealthCare Real Estate based in Columbus, Ohio. He has an extensive background in financial/project analysis which he brings to his healthcare clients to help formulate long term strategic goals. Skilkens’s strength in community retail centers coupled with Chad’s understanding of the healthcare markets has created the opportunity to bring medical facilities and retail centers together on one community centric campus. Chas also sits on an academic advisory board at The Ohio State University and has been a key contributor in the development of several healthcare real estate classes through the Executive Education program at the Fisher College of Business.

Jason Codrea, CMFC

LPL Financial Advisor – Codrea Financial Services

Finance Chair

Jason started working as a Financial Advisor after receiving his Finance degree and has a unique practice that is targeted on helping dentists and others in the dental community. Jason’s focus is to put the needs of his client’s first and work with them on their individual financial goals and concerns.

He has been in the business since 2003 and now works as an independent Financial Advisor to be sure his Client’s receive an unbiased recommendation on their path to reach their financial dreams.

Your life changes on a regular basis as does the market and service and regular reviews to stay on track is an important part of Jason’s normal practice with his clients.

Barbara Wayman, APR

Owner – Blue Tree Media

Public Relations Chair

Barbara Wayman is a public relations veteran with a portfolio that includes award-winning campaigns for instantly recognized products like Cracker Jack, Creamettes Pasta, and RealLemon.

She launched BlueTree Media in 2001, and her clients include OhioHealth, Wendy’s INternational, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Riverside Methodist Hospital, and AAA Ohio, among others.

Barbara’s core competency is her unique ability to balance results-driven strategy with creativity and attention to detail.

A Business First 40 Under Forty recipient, she holds a Masters in Journalism and a Bachelors in Communication from Ohio State University. She is an accredited member of the Public Relations Society of America and has donated her marketing expertise to several charitable organizations including the Northside Child Development Center wehre she servered on the board of directors.

Michael Mattes

Partnership Coordinator – Coalition for Christian Outreach

Ethics Chair

Michael has served with the Coalition for Christian Outreach (CCO) since January of 2002.

Presently Michael serves as the Partnership Coordinator for Ohio, helping the CCO develop partnerships with churches, colleges and organizations to help develop young men and women to live out their Christian faith in every area of life.

Michael is passionate about helping develop within people a holistic worldview to answer the tough ethical questions of live. Michael is married to Beth and has a daughter, Lucy; they live in south Bexley, Ohio.