Tell us where you want to grow.
We’ll help you build the right path forward.


Capstone Strategic helps middle-market companies grow through disciplined mergers, acquisitions, and external growth strategy.

A tranquil dirt path meandering through a lush green forest lined with towering trees.

Growth Starts with Clarity

For more than 30 years, Capstone Strategic has helped middle-market companies pursue growth with greater clarity, discipline, and confidence. Across more than $2 billion in transactions and 40+ industries, we’ve learned that the strongest growth strategies begin by understanding the options… not by chasing the first opportunity that appears.

The Best Companies May Not Be for Sale

The right acquisition can add customers, capabilities, talent, technology, geographic reach, or new sources of growth. But the best-fit company is not always the one already on the market.

We believe every company has an equation. The challenge is understanding what an owner values, identifying where strategic fit exists, and creating the right conversation. That takes research, experience, patience, and a relationship-first approach.

A Proven Path from Strategy to Deal

Our Roadmap to Acquisitions℠ gives leadership teams a disciplined process for moving from growth strategy to transaction.

We help define the objective, identify the right markets and prospects, build owner relationships, evaluate fit, structure the deal, navigate diligence, and prepare for integration.

The goal is not simply to complete an acquisition. It is to help you make the right growth decision, and execute it well.

Growth Gives You Choices

Acquisition is one path to growth. But it is not the only one.

Depending on your goals, the right answer may be organic investment, partnership, market expansion, a new capability, or a transaction. Our role is to help you understand the options, prioritize them, and determine which path best supports where your business needs to go next.

Meet the Capstone Strategic Team

Decades of transaction experience and our proven Roadmap methodology give Capstone Strategic a disciplined approach to M&A and external growth. Acquisition, in particular, is a team sport, and we have guided companies through the process with the strategy, structure, and support needed to move forward with confidence.

Our strategic advisors, analysts, valuation, integration, and divestiture specialists work together to provide a well-rounded M&A advisory experience. By bringing the right expertise to each stage of the process, we help clients reduce avoidable risk, make better decisions, and improve the likelihood of a successful outcome.

David Braun

Founder and CEO

David is a widely acclaimed thought leader in the field of M&A. Author of Successful Acquisitions: A Proven Plan for Strategic Growth and a sought-after speaker, he has brought major innovations to the field of middle market company growth.

David Braun on LinkedIn

David has more than 30 years of experience formulating growth strategies in a wide range of manufacturing and service industries.

David Braun is the founder and CEO of Capstone Strategic, which he established in 1995 to help middle-market companies pursue growth with greater clarity, discipline, and confidence. For more than 30 years, he has advised business leaders on acquisition strategy, external growth, and transaction execution across a wide range of industries.

David is the author of Successful Acquisitions: A Proven Plan for Strategic Growth, which draws on decades of firsthand experience guiding transactions from strategy through closing. The book offers a practical framework for identifying the right opportunities, managing risk, and building a disciplined approach to acquisition-driven growth.

A frequent speaker on M&A and strategic growth, David has presented to more than 40,000 senior business executives and has worked extensively with organizations including Vistage International, the American Management Association, and numerous industry and professional associations. His insights have also been featured by the Financial Times, Fox Business, CBS MoneyWatch, and CNN Money.

David earned his BBA from the College of William & Mary.

John Dearing

Managing Director & Partner

John has played a key role in the success of Capstone since 1996. John leads Capstone’s client engagement teams and operations while advising clients on strategic external growth alternatives (acquisitions, investments, and partnerships).

John Dearing on LinkedIn

John Dearing, CFA, has played a key role at Capstone Strategic since 1996, helping organizations pursue disciplined, proactive external growth. He leads Capstone’s CUSO practice, buy-side team, and operations, advising leadership teams and boards on acquisitions, investments, strategic partnerships, valuation, and growth strategy.

For 25 years, John has worked extensively with credit union and CUSO leaders to evaluate growth opportunities, expand capabilities, and strengthen competitive positioning. His experience includes acquisitions and strategic growth initiatives for organizations including Velera, PureIT CUSO, Achieva Credit Union, Nutmeg State Financial, RenoFi, Great Lakes Credit Union, South Carolina Financial Solutions, and Janusea.

Earlier in his career, John worked with the Export-Import Bank of the United States, where he developed experience in international banking, finance, and credit analysis. His background also includes operational and financial leadership with both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.

A frequent speaker, educator, and industry contributor, John regularly shares his perspective on proactive growth, CUSO strategy, acquisitions, and business valuation with credit union leaders and boards. His insights have appeared through NACUSO, CUInsight, CUbroadcast, Credit Union Times, and other industry outlets. Recent NACUSO thought leadership has focused on using CUSOs as disciplined strategic growth vehicles rather than isolated investments.

John holds an MBA from Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and a BS in Business Administration from Bucknell University. He is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

Edelweiss Harrison

Vice President

As Vice President, Edelweiss leads Capstone’s strategic growth and market research projects for clients. Her primary focus is building foundations and relationships.

Edelweiss Harrison on LinkedIn

Edelweiss advises C-suite executives and boards on proactive growth strategies, market opportunities, and external growth initiatives. With more than 20 years of experience, she has worked across more than 30 manufacturing and service industries in the U.S. and internationally, supporting global corporations, privately held businesses, credit unions, and other mission-driven organizations.

Edelweiss first joined Capstone Strategic in 1999 and today leads the firm’s strategic growth and market research work. Her role combines strategy, research, and client advisory, helping leadership teams evaluate where to grow, which opportunities to pursue, and how future market trends may shape those decisions.

Her international experience includes seven years in New Zealand, where she worked with BearingPoint, formerly KPMG Consulting, and completed a Master of International Business at the University of Auckland. She also brings a strong cross-cultural perspective to clients from Europe and Asia investing in the U.S., as well as organizations across the Americas.

Edelweiss is an experienced facilitator and instructor, having led strategic growth workshops for senior leadership teams and boards. She also teaches the American Management Association course Leading Disruptive Change and Innovation and has published research in international management and strategic HR.

She holds a Master of International Business from the University of Auckland and a BS from Georgetown University.

Brian Goodhart

Director, M&A Advisory Services

As Director of Capstone’s M&A Advisory Services, Brian is a proven leader and experienced in conducting middle-market transactions on both the buy and sell sides. He works side-by-side with clients throughout the deal making process.

Brian Goodhart on LinkedIn

Brian Goodhart brings more than two decades of finance, transaction, and business advisory experience to Capstone Strategic. He works with business owners and leadership teams to develop thoughtful growth and transition strategies, strengthen transaction readiness, and navigate the financial and strategic decisions that can help protect and maximize value.

Brian began his career working with venture-backed companies before joining The Vanguard Group, where he led a team of financial analysts supporting technology investments and financial planning. He later worked in private equity across technology, real estate, and energy before moving into private-company mergers and acquisitions.

Prior to joining Capstone, Brian served as Director of Wipfli’s Business Transition Group, leading a multidisciplinary national team that helped private business owners evaluate and execute transition strategies.

Throughout his career, Brian has advised companies on M&A, business transition, and private and venture-backed capital. His experience spans industries including agriculture, construction, healthcare, investment banking, manufacturing, wealth management, and technology.

Brian holds a BS in Finance and an MBA from Penn State University.

Anna Kochkina

Director, Valuation Services

Anna Kochkina is Capstone’s Director of Valuation Services. She oversees all aspects of the M&A valuation services Capstone provides to clients including valuation of business interests, designing financial models, and conducting risk assessments.

Anna Kochkina on LinkedIn

Anna has more than 15 years of experience in M&A advisory, valuation, equity research, and financial analysis. She works with clients to understand the financial drivers behind growth and transaction decisions, with expertise in areas including business valuation, revenue forecasting, cost analysis, and cost of capital.

Her work spans both domestic and international engagements across a broad range of industries, including CUSOs, credit unions, consumer goods, retail, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, software, automotive, aviation, financial services, information technology, real estate, and telecommunications.

Before joining Capstone Strategic, Anna built her valuation and financial analysis expertise through buy-side and sell-side investment banking and equity research roles with firms including ING, UniCredit, and ABN AMRO. She also served as Head of Equity Research at Dashevsky & Partners.

Anna holds an MBA from American University in Washington, DC, with a concentration in Finance, and is a Certified Valuation Analyst (CVA).

Richard Frank

Chief Marketing Officer

Richard brings more than 20 years of brand-building experience to Capstone Strategic, overseeing the team’s marketing, branding, and content offerings.

Anna Kochkina on LinkedIn

Richard Frank is a senior marketing and brand leader with more than 20 years of experience building, rebuilding, and scaling brands across B2B, financial services, media, and professional services. He has led high-impact brand and growth initiatives for organizations including T. Rowe Price, AccuWeather, and the Baltimore Orioles, driving measurable results such as record revenue growth, global brand expansion, and one of the most successful rebrands in Major League Baseball history. He is also an adjunct professor at Penn State University and Towson University, reflecting his belief in the transformative power of education and his commitment to developing the next generation of leaders.

A Blue Ribbon Advisory Board

Capstone’s Advisory Board enriches our service to clients with the wisdom and experience of company leaders from multiple industries. The Board includes three CEOs, a principal of an internationally renowned executive placement firm, and a partner of a major M&A law firm.

James P. Dunn

Jim is a managing partner and founding member of D-Partners, a boutique consulting firm focused on transforming tough business situations into profitable business ventures in the high tech, financial, BPO and customer care industries.

Jim has spent over 30 years in the information and telecommunications industries in executive roles. Previously Jim was the CEO of Center Partners. He also served as the CEO of TelStar Hosted Services and led the acquisition of Telstar in 2009. Jim has operated as executive management for publicly and privately held companies like GE ITS, SITEL, Stream International, Access Graphics, Oppenheimer Funds, and Kemper. In addition, Jim serves (or has served) on various boards including Remote Power, and CLBL.

Jim holds a BSBA and MBA from the University of Denver.

In Memoriam: Dennis Mussell

Capstone’s longtime friend and advisory board member Dennis Mussell passed away in May of 2024 in Del Mar, California. He was the retired President and CEO of the companies, Chicken of the Sea International and Van Camp Seafood Company. His enduring friendship, invaluable leadership, and wise counsel have left an indelible mark on us all at Capstone. We send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends

Chris Cantarella

Chris is a Senior Partner of Korn/Ferry International and a member of the firm’s Private Equity, Technology and Aerospace/Defense practices. Chris’ specialty is working with companies poised for very significant growth or experiencing a buyout.

Matt has worked with domestic and international clients and publicly held and private companies. His experience includes working in a wide variety of service and manufacturing industries such as: healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, chemicals, food and beverage.

In addition to his client work, Matt has also taught senior-level executives about mergers and acquisitions, through workshops, presentations and webinars. He facilitated workshops on “Developing an Acquisition Strategy” and “Understanding Strategic Acquisitions,” for executives of a publicly held manufacturer, “M&A Educational Workshop,” for a consulting firm “Due Diligence Workshop,” and presented Capstone’s webinar on “How to Pick Top-Notch Companies.”

Matt also assisted Capstone CEO David Braun with his book on the M&A process: Successful Acquisitions: A Proven Plan for Strategic Growth.

Prior to joining Capstone, Matt worked in campaign politics as both a campaign manager and political consultant.

Matt received his MBA from the George Mason University, his MA from Georgetown University and his BA from the College of William and Mary.

Janet Kendall White

Janet is founder and President of Berkshire Group, Inc., an Ohio based national consulting firm providing a range of organization development services, including strategic planning, process and profit improvement, training and development and executive coaching and facilitation.

Janet’s expertise is in coaching leaders and working with groups of people to identify their desired business outcome and mobilizing energy to receive desired results. She is often called on to help facilitate complex problems with diverse groups of people and then to implement the project plan that is devised.

Janet holds an MBA from Hofstra University and has completed post-graduate work at the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland and National Training Labs. She is a Certified Professional Consultant (CPC) and is certified in a number of leadership and assessment instruments. Janet speaks nationally on leadership, entrepreneurship, process improvement and organization change.

James “Jamie” Hutchinson

Jamie, a partner in Goodwin Procter’s Business Law Department and a member of the Private Equity Group, practices in the areas of corporate, securities and private equity transactional law, primarily on behalf of private investment funds and their portfolio companies.

Jamie’s practice has involved a full range of corporate and commercial transactions, including leveraged buy-outs, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and mezzanine financing transactions, private and public equity and debt offerings, senior secured loans, joint ventures and general corporate matters for public and private companies and private equity investment groups. In recent years, his practice has included assisting clients on behalf of private equity groups in the formation and acquisition of companies in various consolidating industries. In connection with this practice, Jamie is engaged in all aspects of leveraged buyouts, including equity formation documents, mergers and acquisitions and secured financing transactions.

He earned his JD from Georgetown University Law Center in 1993 and his BA from the University of Pennsylvania in 1988.