Keystone Mergers & Acquisitions Council celebrates anniversary with expansion

Listen to this article

Keystone Mergers & Acquisitions Council (KMAC) is celebrating its 10th anniversary in style. 

The Lancaster-based organization announced its expansion to Philadelphia and Baltimore with new board members Tim Filewicz and Kevin O’Sullivan. 

“Bringing KMAC’s collaborative spirit to Philadelphia and Baltimore is an exciting next step for our organization,” KMAC Founder and President Scott Pinchak said. “We’re thrilled to have Tim and Kevin join the board. Their reputations, experience, and regional perspectives will be invaluable as we continue to grow and connect professionals across the M&A landscape.” 

Founded in 2014, Keystone Mergers & Acquisitions Council facilitates opportunities for “best in class advisors” with a focus on Mergers & Acquisitions – from the accounting, legal/insurance, finance, investment banking or wealth management sectors – to come together and share best practices and make connections. 

M&A professionals in Central Pennsylvania meet three times a year to collaborate, share insights, and enhance their practices, all guided by the goal of meeting one new person and learning one new idea. Expansion to Philadelphia and Baltimore allows KMAC to extend its reach while maintaining its mission of helping M&A professionals to “connect, collaborate, and close”. 

Filewicz, a producer at Lockton, specializes in risk management and transactional insurance for middle-market M&A deals. O’Sullivan, founder and managing partner at KOI Capital, brings investment banking experience with growth-stage and founder-led companies across the Mid-Atlantic. They join a KMAC board that includes Stephen Gierasch, Brian Wassell, Scott Pinchak, and Emeritus Board Member Todd Marsteller. 

Pinchak said the expansion is a sign of the organization’s growth. 

“As founder and president of the Keystone Mergers & Acquisitions Council, I’d say this expansion is a natural next step in the organization’s evolution,” said Pinchak. “What started in 2015 as a Central Pennsylvania-based group has continued to gain momentum, and we’re seeing increasing demand for a more connected, relationship-driven forum for M&A professionals across the Mid-Atlantic. 

“KMAC brings together advisors representing buyers and sellers of businesses ranging from $5 million to $500 million in enterprise value. As our network has grown, it’s become clear that many of the relationships, deals, and conversations already extend well beyond Central Pennsylvania. Expanding into Philadelphia and Baltimore allows us to meet that demand in a more intentional way while staying true to the core of what has made the organization work.” 

 Pinchak called Philadelphia and Baltimore “very deliberate” choices. 

“Both are natural extensions of our existing footprint and represent highly active middle-market ecosystems, with deep pools of privately held companies and experienced deal professionals across investment banking, private equity, legal, accounting, and advisory disciplines,” he said. 

“From my perspective, deal activity today is increasingly regional rather than local. Professionals are operating across markets, and we saw an opportunity to better connect those dots across the broader Mid-Atlantic corridor. At the same time, we’re being careful to preserve what makes KMAC unique. We’ll continue hosting curated, small-group gatherings that prioritize meaningful connections and practical knowledge sharing among experienced practitioners. The goal isn’t to get bigger for the sake of it—it’s to extend the quality of the experience into the right markets.” 

Pinchak said the additions to the board are about continuing to deepen the relevance and quality of the conversations within KMAC. 

“Tim Filewicz, a vice president and producer at Lockton Companies, brings a specialized focus on transaction-related risk and insurance advisory,” he said. “He works closely with private equity firms, lenders, and corporate clients on structuring solutions around representations and warranties insurance, D&O liability, and cyber risk—areas that have become increasingly central to getting deals done today. What I value most is that Tim is in the market every day, advising on real transactions, which adds a highly practical, real-time perspective to our programming and discussions. 

“Kevin O’Sullivan, of KOI Capital, adds an important investor and capital allocation lens to the group. KMAC has historically been advisor-heavy, so Kevin’s experience evaluating opportunities, aligning stakeholders, and supporting growth within portfolio companies brings a different and complementary perspective. He’ll help broaden our conversations around deal structuring and post-close value creation, while also strengthening our ability to connect advisors with capital partners in a more meaningful way.” 

Pinchak said both additions reflect the leadership within KMAC. 

“We want active practitioners who are directly involved in today’s market, so the insights being shared are current, relevant, and actionable,” said Pinchak.