Generational Associates Named Emerging Leaders by The M&A Advisor

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Generational Group, a leading middle-market investment banking firm for privately held businesses, is proud to announce that four of its M&A professionals—Troy Blakely, Alex Mironov, Ivan Portugal, and Joshua Young—have been named 2025 Emerging Leaders by The M&A Advisor. This prestigious recognition honors rising stars who are shaping the future of mergers and acquisitions, restructuring, and corporate finance.

The M&A Advisor, a globally renowned organization known for recognizing and showcasing leading M&A, financing, and turnaround professionals, established this awards program to honor excellence and foster mentorship and professional development among emerging leaders in the corporate finance and dealmaking industries.

Troy Blakely serves as Vice President of Generational Capital Markets. He supports Managing Directors throughout the M&A process, including marketing middle-market businesses, facilitating due diligence, and helping execute successful transactions.

Alex Mironov serves as a Managing Director at Generational Group, based in the Atlanta office and focused on the Southeast U.S. region. He works directly with private middle-market business owners to develop and implement exit strategies. Alex oversees the preparation of marketing materials and manages the marketing and due diligence processes to support successful deal closings. In his leadership role, he also guides a team of M&A advisors on client positioning, financial preparation, and transaction execution.

Ivan Portugal is a Senior Manager of M&A Marketing and Buyer Services at Generational Group. Since 2022, he has leveraged his marketing expertise and Salesforce skills to support deal success. Ivan excels at using digital channels to boost online presence and generate leads, making him a valuable asset in the dynamic M&A space and a trusted leader in marketing strategy and execution.

Joshua Young serves as the Senior Manager of M&A Buyer Coverage at Generational Group, where he has been a key team member for eight years. He focuses on building strategic relationships with active buyers in the Middle Market, including private equity groups, family offices, corporations, and high-net-worth individuals. With over a decade of financial services experience, Joshua is an industry specialist across sectors such as construction, energy, and technology, and has supported the successful closing of more than 500 transactions.

Award winners were selected by an independent judging panel for their innovation, leadership, and community contribution. The recognition culminates at the 2025 Leadership in Dealmaking Summit, held September 15 -16, 2025, in New York City — a gathering of industry leaders, past honorees, and new voices driving meaningful change.

Ryan Binkley, President and CEO of Generational stated, “It’s an amazing accomplishment to have four of our own be recognized by The M&A Advisor. They personify our company’s Core Values and consistently demonstrate leadership that impacts the organization and our clients. I look forward to their continued growth as individuals and professionals.”

“Attracting talented people to the firm and guiding them up through the organization is one of the most rewarding things that our senior dealmakers experience. These gentlemen are technically proficient with exceptional salesmanship. They each have bright futures in M&A and will certainly become top advisors with Generational in the years to come,” said Brenen Hofstadter, Chief M&A Officer at Generational Group.

Founded in 1998, The M&A Advisor is the global leader in connecting, recognizing, and informing professionals in M&A, restructuring, and corporate finance. Now in its 27th year, they provide world-class content, events, and honors programs that empower dealmakers at every stage of their journey.

For a complete list of the 2025 Emerging Leaders Award Winners click here.

About Generational Group

Generational Group, headquartered in Dallas, is a leading, award winning, full-service M&A advisory firm. With over 300 professionals across 16 offices in North America, the company helps business owners unlock the full value of their businesses through a comprehensive suite of advisory services. These services include strategic growth consulting, exit planning education, business valuation, value enhancement strategies, M&A advisory, digital solutions, and wealth management.

Generational Group was honored as the 2024 USA Investment Banking Firm of the Year by the Global M&A Network and named Investment Banking Firm of the Year by The M&A Advisor in both 2024 and 2022. The firm also received recognition as Valuation Firm of the Year and Consulting Firm of the Year in 2022 and 2023, further cementing its reputation as a leader in M&A advisory services.