​In a development aimed at bolstering its leadership structure, Heartwood Partners announced the appointment of new managing partners in April 2024. Demetrios Dounis, and James Sidwa were promoted to Managing Partner. This strategic enhancement of the leadership is intended to drive the firm's continued commitment to growth and operational excellence within the middle-market investment space.

Demetrios Dounis comes to Heartwood with a notable background in mergers and acquisitions. His extensive experience in facilitating high-stakes negotiations and integrating corporate operations will support Heartwood’s initiatives in identifying and integrating growth opportunities within its portfolio. Dounis' leadership is anticipated to further develop the firm's value creation approach with these opportunities

James Sidwa brings to the table a wealth of experience in financial restructuring and risk management. His previous roles involved significant work in optimizing financial frameworks and enhancing profitability under challenging market conditions. Sidwa's role will focus on strengthening oversight and risk assessment strategies, helping Heartwood maintain its financial health and adherence to risk management best practices.

The addition of Dounis and Sidwa is part of Heartwood Partners' ongoing efforts to enhance its leadership capacity and deepen its strategic capabilities within the private equity sector. Each of the new managing partners brings a perspective and set of skills that complement the firm’s existing leadership, aligning with Heartwood’s unique approach to building value through operational improvements and partnership-driven growth.

​The Amlon Group, a full-service waste management company, announced its acquisition of EcoWater Industries, also known as EcoWerks, of Port Arthur, Texas. The acquisition marks a significant milestone in Amlon's strategic roadmap, positioning the company to cater to a broader array of client needs while cementing its commitment to sustainable waste management practices.

Accomplished with investment support from the private equity firm Heartwood Partners, the acquisition of EcoWerks by Amlon is a strategic move that adds scale and expands processing capabilities. EcoWerks is an industrial waste-to-value processor, specializing in services such as wastewater treatment, industrial equipment cleanout, and oil recovery. It operates a permitted treatment, storage, and disposal facility for non-hazardous materials.

Mark Wayne, chief executive officer of Amlon, expressed enthusiasm about the integration of EcoWerks into the Amlon family and emphasized the newfound potential it brings, including expanded resources to better serve both companies’ customers.

Demetrios Dounis of Heartwood Partners highlighted the strategic significance of the acquisition, noting that it will help fuel Amlon’s mission to provide a broad selection of best-in-class waste-processing services that are sustainable and environmentally friendly.

​Demetrios Dounis, a Partner at Heartwood Partners, recently made an appearance on the Karma School of Business podcast, hosted by BluWave founder and CEO Sean Mooney. The episode provided insights into Dounis' background, his journey into private equity, and his perspectives on value creation and business leadership.

During the podcast episode, Dounis shared his unconventional path to private equity, rooted in a family background that was not focused on finance. His early exposure to the business models of large investment banks sparked his interest in finance, eventually leading him to a career in private equity. He highlighted the importance of organizational culture in assessing investment opportunities and the significance of a strong and collaborative team, underscoring the pivotal role of a company's culture in successful transactions.

Beyond business insights, Mr. Dounis shared a personal experience that shaped his perspective on life and business. He spoke candidly about a difficult personal challenge, emphasizing the value of family, the unpredictability of life, and the importance of conducting oneself with integrity.

Regarding value creation, Mr. Dounis highlighted the unique approach of Heartwood Partners, which does not follow the traditional operating partner model. Instead, the firm focuses on collaborating and partnering with founders and management teams of businesses, prioritizing a tailored and collaborative approach to value creation.

Mr. Dounis' appearance on the podcast provided a comprehensive view of his professional journey, personal values, and the distinctive approach taken by Heartwood Partners in the realm of private equity. The insights shared shed light on the multifaceted considerations involved in assessing investment opportunities, navigating challenges, and fostering long-term value creation. The podcast episode offered a balanced and informative discussion, reflecting Mr. Dounis' professional acumen and providing valuable perspectives for business leaders and individuals interested in the private equity landscape.

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Leveraging three decades of experience in environmental and regulated waste management, Clean Earth launched a new program and website dedicated explicitly to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remediation and management in early January. ReSolve program is focused on efficiently treating PFAS-contaminated materials and helping eliminate environmental and health hazards from those materials.

In a statement, Clean Earth president Jeff Beswick reiterated that PFAS remediation remains one of the world’s most challenging environmental issues. Beswick added that creating a program such as ReSolve, which offers innovative solutions to address the evolving standards of restoring a Clean Earth, is critical.

Rejecting a one-size-fits-all solution to PFAS remediation and management, Clean Earth’s approach is to customize and scale its customers’ PFAS issues, giving them enough legroom to navigate federal and state regulations. ReSolve’s website, Resolvepfas.com serves as a resource and toolbox for clients, where news, solutions, guidance, and updates on PFAS are found. The website will also showcase Clean Earth’s leadership on vital PFAS issues.

​The Certified Financial Analyst (CFA) is one of the highest distinctions for investment management professionals. A CFA charter is awarded to professionals who have completed the CFA Program and have earned the required work experience.

To qualify for the CFA Program, a candidate must have earned a bachelor’s degree from a college or university. They must pass the CFA Program’s three-part exams: Level I, II, and III. Each exam level builds upon the prior level and becomes complex as it progresses. In addition to passing the exams, a candidate must complete all the practical skills modules with each exam level.

A candidate must also acquire 4,000 hours of professional work and complete a higher education over at least three sequential years. The dates of work acquiring work experience and higher education must not overlap. Professional work requires advanced knowledge and education, the application of specialized business skills, and a higher level of judgment.

​A niche market refers to a specific sector within a broader market where consumers share similar traits and interests, prompting them to buy a particular product or service. Identifying a niche market can be a crucial step in launching a new business enterprise, and there are several proven ways to thrive in a niche-focused business.

One effective approach for businesses to succeed in a niche market is to establish themselves as authorities in the product or service. Clients are more likely to be attracted to and loyal to a brand that exudes authority and expertise. Businesses can do this by providing extra value in their products and building a lifestyle around their products to highlight the specific benefits they offer.

Another key strategy for success in a niche market is carefully identifying the target audience. A deep understanding of the audience enables businesses to develop effective strategies for attracting and retaining customer support and interest. Companies can accomplish this by creating customer profiles based on their existing customer base, gaining insights into the specific members of their target audience who are interested in their products and services.

​Based in Norwalk, Connecticut, Demetrios Dounis is an investment management professional with over a decade of experience overseeing various private equity investments. A partner with Clean Earth for more than a decade, Demetrios Dounis is also a partner at Heartwood Partners, where he has been part of numerous investments, including a waste services and recycling business.

Heartwood Partners invested in a waste services and recycling business, a bakery food recycling enterprise that transformed bakery waste, such as bad cereals or muffins, into animal feed for pigs. The private equity firm expressed interest in the company’s recycling division. After the investment, Heartwood Partners evaluated more recycling and environmental services companies after numerous types of waste need to be recycled and reused.

Heartwood Partners has recently visited over 100 recycling and waste processors, including medical waste, aerosol cans, batteries, light bulbs, soil, biosolids, and drill cuttings. The company’s interest is to expand its investment in companies that recycle materials in-house and use recycled products to meet the needs of their customers.

Waste recycling businesses generate opportunities across other sectors, such as agriculture, packaging, and the consumer and service industries. Heartwood Partners has successfully partnered with numerous environmental service firms due to its extensive experience in the recycling industries, low-leverage strategy, and strong collaboration with family and founder-owned businesses.

​A graduate of Rutgers University with a BS in accounting, Demetrios Dounis has developed significant expertise in corporate finance and private equity. Demetrios Dounis is a Partner at Heartwood Partners in Connecticut.

Heartwood Partners announced a growth investment in The Amlon Group on December 10, 2021. This partnership involves the founders and management team, who will continue to lead The Amlon Group toward growth. Based in Plano, Texas, The Amlon Group specializes in environmental-friendly recycling and treating and managing industrial and hazardous waste. Its solutions align with sustainable practices, offering companies alternatives to traditional waste management among increasing regulations and landfill challenges.

According to Mr. Demetrios, "The Company's stellar environmental and safety track record has enabled the Company to build a premier reputation in the specialty waste industry." Heartwood Partners collaborates with family-owned and management-owned businesses. Heartwood establishes strong capital foundations for investment firms. Heartwood Partners offers expertise in strategy, human capital, operations, and marketing to support growth further.

​A private equity investor with over 15 years of experience, Demetrios Dounis has served as a Partner for prominent private equity firms in New York and Connecticut. Demetrios Dounis’ areas of expertise extend to mergers and acquisitions for environmental services, packaging, chemicals among others.

After mergers, companies often face uncertainty. Post-merger integration (PMI) is the crucial process of pursuing an operational mission and growth plan after merging two or more companies. The main goal is to make sure the merger delivers the expected benefits. Top business executives initiate PMI plans. The team responsible for premerger due diligence may be one of their best resources.

The premerger due diligence team comprises professionals who meticulously examine every aspect of the companies before the merger. They know all the intricate details, strengths, and potential problems. By involving them in the post-merger integration, executives avoid starting from scratch in the PMI journey. This way, their knowledge carries over, helping bridge gaps and prevent oversights. This continuity is especially valuable during the often chaotic transition period after the merger.

At Heartwood we leverage our value creation specialist team to aid in the post merger work. The value creation team is provided to portfolio companies at no cost.

​An accounting graduate from Rutgers University, Demetrios Dounis holds an MBA in entrepreneurship, finance, and strategic management from Chicago Booth. As a Partner at Heartwood Partners in Norwalk, Connecticut, Demetrios Dounis' expertise lies in analyzing investment prospects. He has also been instrumental in All American Label & Packaging’s acquisition of Western Shield Label and lotus labels s

Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) consolidate different businesses into one entity. In а merger, two firms combine to form a new company. In an acquisition, one entity acquires another and assimilates it into its operations. M&A transactions are crucial for companies to leverage economies of scale, enabling greater productivity and efficiency. They also give firms a competitive advantage and mitigate risk by diversifying revenue streams.

The merger between All American Label & Packaging (AALP) and Western Shield Label Company exemplifies the strategic advantages businesses can gain from this approach. Both AALP and Western Shield specialize in producing labels and packaging, with Western Shield focusing on the cosmetics, health, and beauty sectors. This merger allows AALP/Western Shield to establish a stronger presence in Southern California while enhancing their visibility in key market segments.

Bringing together the expertise and cultures of these two companies can also improve customer service. Furthermore, their shared values and standards make them a highly compatible partnership, allowing for greater operational efficiencies to support their expansion endeavors.