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Mr. Della Ratta has over 20 years of investment banking experience and ten years of commercial banking experience. Prior to founding Western Reserve Partners, Mr. Della Ratta managed the Investment Banking Division of McDonald Investments Inc. During his 12 year tenure as Senior Managing Director and Manager of Investment Banking, Mr. Della Ratta increased the headcount of bankers from 18 to 236 and grew the revenue over ten-fold. He also positioned the firm to consistently rank among the top 15 M&A advisors nationally and in the top 5 for M&A transactions below $250 million. At McDonald he was responsible for the firm’s relationship with its corporate clients and for the firm’s activities in initial and secondary public offerings, private placements, venture capital, and mergers and acquisitions. Subsequent to the sale of McDonald to Key Corp. Mr. Della Ratta remained Manager of Investment Banking and was a member of KeyCorp’s Executive Council, the Equity Underwriting, Debt Underwriting and M&A Commitment Committees.
Prior to joining McDonald Investments Inc. in 1987, Mr. Della Ratta was employed at Bank One, Indianapolis, N.A. for ten years, most recently in the capacity of a Division Manager in the Corporate Group. His previous experiences at Bank One, Indianapolis include: Manager, International Banking Department, Board Member and an Executive Director of American Fletcher Bank Suisse, S.A.; General Manager of the European Branch, Luxembourg; and Area Manager for Europe. Mr. Della Ratta was a member of numerous management committees at Bank One, Indianapolis.
Mr. Della Ratta’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University (Dean’s List), a Master of Business Administration from Thunderbird School of Global Management (Highest Honors) and a graduate degree in Banking from the Stonier Graduate School at Rutgers University. Mr. Della Ratta serves on the Board of Directors of Olympic Steel Inc., MAI Wealth Advisors LLC and NDI Medical. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for several private companies. Mr. Della Ratta has been actively involved in various charities and not-for-profit organizations and currently serves on the Board of University Hospitals of Cleveland, where he serves as the Vice Chairman of the Investment Committee. He also serves as President of the City Club of Cleveland and on the Board and Executive Committee of Business Volunteers Unlimited and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Board of Directors. He is also a member of the 50 Club of Cleveland and was appointed by Governor Ted Strickland to the position of Chairman of the Ohio Venture Capital Authority. His past public service includes serving on the Executive Committee of the Annual Fund of Duke University, the Board of the Duke Alumni Association, the Board of the Cleveland Center for Contemporary Art, Past Chair for the United Cerebral Palsy Telethon, Past Chair of INROADS of Northeast Ohio, Past President of the Achievement Centers for Children and Past Treasurer of the Capital Improvements Board of the City of Indianapolis. | 