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Meet the WCG Team

Ronald E. Weinberg
Founder & Investing Partner

Mr. Weinberg is the firm’s founder and remains active as both an investing partner and with the management of our portfolio companies, frequently acting as the liaison between the Board and management. He works closely with management to pursue new business opportunities and to set strategic direction and financial goals. Mr. Weinberg formerly co-founded and served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hawk Corporation (AMEX: HWK), a manufacturer of specialized brake materials used in the aerospace, industrial and specialty consumer markets. During his ownership of Hawk, the company grew from one plant with $19 million in sales to 16 facilities worldwide with revenues exceeding $400 million at its height.

Mr. Weinberg has also served as Chairman of New West Eyeworks, a 160 store chain of retail optical stores serving the Western United States. The company was built, taken public and sold at a substantial gain to the original shareholders. He also served as Chairman and CEO of SunMedia Corp., a publisher of 46 suburban weekly newspapers.

Mr. Weinberg is a well-known leader in the Cleveland business and civic community. Mr. Weinberg currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Cleveland Clinic and chairs its Research and Education Committee. Recently he and his wife Terri made a substantial gift to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, dedicated to further its research capabilities. Additionally, Mr. Weinberg is the past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Cleveland State University and is a former member of the Board of Directors of the Washington based U.S. Chamber of Commerce. He served as an appointee of Governor Bob Taft to the 2007 Northeast Ohio Universities Collaboration and Innovation Study. He is a past Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Visiting Nurse Association, and he also served on the Advisory Board of Empower America, a Washington based advocacy organization founded by Jack Kemp.

Mr. Weinberg grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and Mr. Weinberg with his wife, Terri, have homes in Naples, Cleveland and Nantucket. He received a B.A. in Science from Harvard College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

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Ronald E. (Chip) Weinberg, Jr.
Managing Partner

Mr. Weinberg is responsible for the firm’s operations and is actively involved in working with the management of portfolio companies, frequently acting as the liaison between the Board and management. He works closely with management to pursue new business opportunities and to set strategic direction and financial goals.

Prior to joining WCG, Mr. Weinberg was President of New Channel Direct, a full service mailing and marketing company based in Brunswick, Ohio. Mr. Weinberg has also served as Managing Director of Global Acquisitions and Business Development for Hawk Corporation (AMEX: HWK), a manufacturer of specialized components used in the aerospace, industrial and specialty consumer markets. At Hawk, Mr. Weinberg was responsible for the successful completion of six acquisitions, substantially adding to the company’s sales and profitability. Mr. Weinberg was also responsible for building Hawk’s first manufacturing facility in China. Prior to joining Hawk, Mr. Weinberg was an Assistant Attorney General for the state of Ohio under the term of Attorney General Lee Fisher.

Mr. Weinberg graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Philosophy and received his Juris Doctorate from Southern Methodist University School of Law. At Southern Methodist University, Mr. Weinberg served as the Associate Senior Editor of the International Law Journal.

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John E. Herman
Managing Partner

Mr. Herman is responsible for acquisition sourcing, processing, and financing, due diligence, investor relations, and portfolio company management. Additionally, Mr. Herman manages the Weinberg Capital Group real estate investments.

In addition to his partnership with WCG, Mr. Herman is currently Managing Partner of Herman Equity Partners LLC, a private investment group. HEP invests or co-invests in businesses in a variety of industries and real estate. HEP and Mr. Herman have a long association with WCG and is an investor in all WCG portfolio companies and real estate.

A serial entrepreneur since childhood and active investor, Mr. Herman’s direct investments have included businesses engaged in the following industries: promotional products, direct marketing, e-commerce, publishing, distribution, manufacturing, and real estate. Prior to forming HEP, Mr. Herman was President/CEO of Incentive Merchandising Corp. (“IMC”). During his tenure, IMC was ranked in the top 1% of promotional products businesses nationwide. The company was ultimately acquired by the industry leader, HALO Branded Solutions (formerly, NYSE: HMK).

Mr. Herman has a long history of civic involvement in the Cleveland community, including as a Past member of the Board of Directors of The Jewish Community Federation, Jewish Family Service Association, Montefiore Home, and leadership positions with Case Western Reserve University, University School, and currently as a member of the Board of Directors of Piano Cleveland and Rose Centers For Aging Well. Mr. Herman received a B.S. in Communication from the University of Miami.

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Nicholas J. Leiby
Partner

Nick joined Weinberg Capital Group in 2018 and became a partner in 2021. He is actively involved in all phases of the investment cycle, regularly working with investment bankers, lenders, third-party advisors, and management teams.

Prior to joining Weinberg Capital, Nick was a Vice President at Resilience Capital Partners, a special situation oriented lower middle-market private equity firm focused on investing in manufacturing, distribution and business service companies, and an Associate with Kirtland Capital Partners. Earlier in his career, Nick was a member of the Consumer & Retail Investment Banking group at KeyBanc Capital Markets and an auditor with Deloitte, where he earned his CPA.

Nick holds a B.B.A. in Accounting & Business Pre-Law from Ohio University and an M.B.A. from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

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Pam Judge
Financial & Executive Administrator

Ms. Judge is responsible for the executive support for WCG and financial and general administration for the Weinberg Family Office. She manages the personal and financial needs of the founder, acts as liaison between accountants and wealth managers for financial reporting, and handles the execution of investment activity.

Prior to joining WCG, Ms. Judge was an Executive Assistant to C-Suite Executives in the Cleveland area including Safeguard Properties, MAI Capital Management, BC Investment Partners, Victory Capital Management and McDonald & Company Investments.

Ms. Judge is the Co-Founder of the non-profit Connor B. Judge Foundation inspired by her son’s diagnosis with NMO, a rare, neurological auto-immune disease. She is a patient advocate and works closely with several Cleveland hospitals and the National Organization of Rare Disorders (NORD).

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Mandie Stolzenfeld
Financial & Executive Administrator

Mrs. Stolzenfeld is responsible for the financial operations, general administration and investor communications for WCG.

Prior to joining WCG, Mrs. Stolzenfeld spent 15 years at Great Lakes Integrated (GLI), a Multi-Channel Marketing Solutions business in the Cleveland area. While at GLI, Mrs. Stolzenfeld held various accounting, administrative and HR roles ultimately leading to Controller. Additionally, Mrs. Stolzenfeld held positions in Healthcare, Marketing and Real Estate industries and was Comptroller of a telecommunications company.

Mrs. Stolzenfeld graduated from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Accounting. She has served as a Board Member for a private elementary school and assists with financial and administrative needs at St. Thomas Lutheran Church.

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