TECHNOLOGY VALUE CREATION ALLY FOR PE FIRMS
In today’s rapidly evolving business landscape, a company’s performance can be significantly influenced by its ability to manage technology investments. For lower middle market private equity (PE) firms, typically investing in companies valued between $50 million and $300 million, maximizing value creation can be a challenge due to limited internal expertise, resources, and financial constraints. This is where we come in.
Our Story
Founded in 2017, IT Ally has established itself as a market leader in technology advisory services and solutions, becoming a trusted ally to lower middle market PE firms and their portfolio companies. We foster deep partnerships focused on value creation throughout the transaction lifecycle by leveraging our extensive business, industry, and technology expertise.
Our Mission
As your private equity ally, we aim to help you maximize the value from your technology investments and preserve the value created by your portfolio companies. Whether supporting your growth, differentiating you from the competition, or securing your business, we are here to assist every step of the way.
Unleashing the Power of AI for Value Creation
At IT Ally, we offer a suite of AI-powered services designed to help private equity-backed portfolio companies maximize value, improve operational efficiency, and achieve sustainable growth. Our advanced AI solutions provide the insights, expertise, and capabilities needed to navigate the complex business landscape and drive success.
How We Got Here
The Timeline
Leadership Team
“Since our founding in 2017, our mission has been to level the playing field for small and mid-size businesses by being an “ally” on their side, helping them navigate today’s technology challenges. Today, that vision has evolved to provide private equity firms with precise, AI-enabled advisory services that enhance the value of their portfolio companies. We’re not just consultants; we’re your Ally, establishing deep partnerships that share in your firm’s success.”
Michael Fillios
Founder and CEO, IT Ally
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Michael Fillios is a senior global business and technology executive, author, and former Fortune 500 CIO with over 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur, senior finance and technology executive, and management consultant. Under Michael’s leadership, IT Ally has been recognized as one of America’s fastest-growing private companies as a three-time Inc. 5000 award winner.
He is a widely recognized author, thought leader, and trusted advisor, having supported transactions representing more than $1B in enterprise value for leading private equity firms.
Michael has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
His first book, Tech Debt 2.0®: How to Future Proof Your Small Business and Improve Your Tech Bottom Line, was published by the IT Ally Institute in April, 2020. His second book, Tech Equity, How to Future Ready Your Small Business and Outperform Your Competition, was published in April, 2023. His third book, Quality of Tech (QoT™) The Investor’s Guide to Unlocking Enterprise Value in Private Equity, is due out in 2026.
Dave Stouffer
Chief Financial Officer
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Dave Stouffer, CFO, is a proven Fortune 1000 Executive and financial leader with over 25 years of experience establishing, leading, and re-engineering financial functions across a wide range of firms. Dave is widely respected for his leadership and vision in positions including CFO, VP Strategy, and Board Member for businesses in the software, retailing, and services industries, including LensCrafters, Structural Dynamics Research Corporation, Abaqus, and Paycor.
Dave is skilled in all areas of financial and strategic leadership, including strategic planning & analysis, mergers & acquisitions, venture funding, financial planning, treasury, and human resources. Dave has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Marketing from Miami University, Ohio, and an MBA in Finance from the University of Cincinnati.
Lead Advisory Team
John Anderson
Senior IT Advisor
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John Anderson brings over 40 years of experience in technology leadership, cybersecurity, and business transformation. He is a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders and boards, known for aligning IT strategy with business goals to drive growth, resilience, and innovation for private equity-backed organizations.
John has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
Alan Ariel
Senior IT Advisor
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Alan Ariel is a Senior IT Advisor and fractional CIO with strong problem-solving skills grounded in operational and crisis management experience as a former Naval officer. He prioritizes people-centered technology and measures success by how effectively technology serves human needs. Alan partners closely with leadership teams to design practical, resilient technology solutions.
Alan has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
Lucas Asongu
Senior GRC Analyst
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Lucas Asongu brings over a decade of experience in developing, implementing, and improving Governance, Risk, & Compliance (GRC) programs for IT Ally’s private equity clients. In addition to Cyber Risk Management, he has a diverse background in Information Technology, including Cisco Certified Network Professional and recognized project manager with the Project Management Institute.
Tony Bezilla
Senior IT Advisor
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Tony Bezilla has over 25 years of experience, including over eight years supporting private equity-backed lower middle market companies. He has led dozens of portfolio initiatives spanning IT due diligence, ERP selection and recovery, ERP and WMS implementations, operating model transformation, data and reporting modernization, and cybersecurity risk reduction. Tony brings an operator mindset and a disciplined, execution-focused approach to value creation.
Tony has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
Robert Broomandan
Senior IT Advisor
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Robert Broomandan has more than 20 years of experience building and scaling high-performance SaaS platforms across multiple industries. A Wharton-trained executive, he has led two SaaS startups as CTO and brings deep expertise in technology strategy, product development, and engineering operations. Robert specializes in driving enterprise value creation for private equity-backed and growth-stage companies.
Robert has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
Mary Burr
Senior IT Advisor
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Mary Burr is a private equity-focused technology executive specializing in IT strategy, cybersecurity, and technology diligence for lower middle market portfolio companies. She brings more than 30 years of IT experience and has led hundreds of IT and cybersecurity diligence engagements for private equity firms. Mary is known for her pragmatic approach to risk assessment, scalability, and value creation.
Mary has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
Tim Cooley
Senior IT Advisor
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Tim Cooley has over 30 years of experience leading global IT and business operations for technically demanding information-intensive and life science companies. He is focused on business solutions and value creation for organizations that are looking to transform how they use technology, data, and informatics, or just looking to get more out of their IT Investments. He has a track record of rapid assessment of teams and organizations during stress periods and their mobilization, focusing on immediate tasks while building a foundation to address strategic gaps.
Kay Dickason
Healthcare Industry Expert
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Kay Dickason is an accomplished C-level executive and consultant with more than 30 years of experience serving at some of the nation’s top healthcare organizations. She is an expert at leading the selection and deployment of effective and scalable solutions for healthcare organizations with a focus on leveraging technology to optimize care delivery, improve quality, and maximize business results. She is experienced in helping organizations implement data management, governance, and archiving strategies to ensure trusted and accessible data for quality decision-making.
Elliott Friedman
Senior IT Advisor
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Elliott T. Friedman has more than 20 years of experience as an IT leader, including Director of IT and CTO roles. He partners with private equity sponsors and portfolio companies across the deal lifecycle, bringing a disciplined, outcomes-driven approach to diligence, value creation planning, and risk reduction.
Elliott has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
Eduardo Gruber
Senior IT Advisor
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Eduardo Gruber has over 30 years of experience guiding global manufacturing organizations through IT/OT integration, MES modernization, and data-driven transformation. Trusted advisor to executive leadership and private equity stakeholders with a proven track record of translating complex technology strategy into scalable solutions that improve operational performance, reduce risk, and enhance enterprise value. He brings deep expertise in Industry 4.0, analytics, and legacy system modernization. Works with private equity–backed manufacturing businesses.
Matt Hartzman
Senior IT Advisor
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Matt Hartzman has over 30 years of IT leadership and consulting experience supporting small to midsize businesses, including private equity-backed and family-owned businesses. Matt continues partnering with executive leaders and boards to identify technology risks and lead improvements to mitigate the risks and plan and execute due diligence transactions, and value creation plans. He is a passionate supporter and active contributor to the Quality of Tech (QoT™) thought leadership.
Lincoln Heacock
Senior IT Advisor
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Lincoln Heacock brings more than 30 years of experience as a CIO, CISO, and CTO. He has guided organizations through complex technology transformations and is known for aligning cybersecurity and technology strategy with long-term business objectives to drive measurable growth.
Lincoln has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
Marc Johnson
Senior IT Advisor
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Marc Johnson has more than 30 years of experience as a CIO, CISO, and CTO, serving as a trusted advisor to boards, executive teams, and private equity firms. He is highly focused on outcomes and frequently serves as a fractional IT leader, driving value creation and value preservation initiatives.
Marc has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
Mark LaVasseur
Senior IT Advisor
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Mark LaVasseur has more than 20 years of executive IT leadership experience leading enterprise turnarounds, M&A integrations, and large-scale digital transformations. He specializes in ERP, supply chain systems, cloud modernization, and cybersecurity, supporting value creation and risk reduction initiatives.
Mark has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
Andrea Minnillo
Senior Business Analyst
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Andrea Minnillo is responsible for delivering value creation services to our clients. She has nearly 20 years of experience in leading and coaching business analysts and project managers. She has led multiple projects anywhere from small enhancements to large multi-year business and process transformation efforts. She also has a strong operations background, holding various leadership positions in the banking, automotive, IT, and logistics industries.
Helmut Oehring
Senior IT Advisor
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Helmut Oehring is an accomplished global executive primarily in manufacturing, healthcare, and global supply chain management companies. He has extensive experience supporting LEAN manufacturing with ERP deployments, pursuing global markets with advanced CRM solutions, automating shop floors with AI & Industrial IoT innovations, and delivering cutting-edge Business Intelligence solutions. Helmut has helped manage IT transitions through over 40 M&A transactions.
Tom Painter
Senior IT Advisor
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Tom Painter has over 30 years of IT leadership experience supporting private equity sponsors and portfolio companies. He is highly regarded as a collaborative partner who remains calm under pressure and focused on outcomes when paths are unclear. Tom frequently serves as a fractional IT leader and trusted advisor to boards, executive teams, and investment partners, driving value creation and value preservation initiatives.
Tom has completed the Private Equity IT Leader (PE-ITL) program and holds a Quality of Tech (QoT™) certification on behalf of the IT Ally Institute.
Daniel Peters
Senior Technology Advisor
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Daniel Peters has over 30 years of experience supporting private equity firms and their portfolio companies through IT value creation, risk reduction, and operational scalability. Trusted advisor to PE sponsors and executive teams with a proven track record of aligning technology strategy with investment objectives across diligence, post-close stabilization, and growth phases. Deep expertise in cybersecurity, cloud infrastructure, compliance, and enterprise IT modernization.
Chris Schmidt
Senior Cybersecurity Advisor
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Chris Schmidt is responsible for delivering our cybersecurity governance, risk, and compliance services and providing overall fractional Information Security Officer services. In addition, Chris leads cybersecurity due diligence on behalf of our private equity clients. He has a broad IT and cybersecurity background and a proven track record of managing risk and maximizing value for our clients.
Jason Steiner
Senior Cybersecurity Advisor
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Jason Steiner is responsible for delivering our cybersecurity governance, risk, and compliance services and providing overall fractional Information Security Officer services to private equity clients. He is an accomplished, highly skilled advisory professional with broad experience in healthcare and industry as a management consultant in information security, data privacy management, and regulatory compliance.
Mike Varney
Senior Technology Advisor
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Mike Varney is an experienced IT and Finance executive with over 20 years in the commercial banking and credit union markets. As a transformative leader, Mike has held CIO and technology leadership positions in institutions from small to large, including being a ground-floor executive for a de-novo institution that grew to be one of the most stable commercial banks in the country.
Haydon Wharton
Senior IT Advisor
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Haydon Wharton has over 25 years of experience with a proven track record of driving secure, compliant, and sustainable technology modernization and transformation. Haydon, an IAPP-certified AI Governance Professional, is dedicated to ensuring that governance and controls of IT investments are enablers for business and innovation.
Market Presence
As a firm that services clients nationwide, we understand the importance of local presence in the markets we serve. These markets represent key cities that we have committed to place a market leader and point of contact to cultivate relationships with local PE clients, partners and to actively participate in networking communities such as the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG).
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin/San Antonio, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Boston, MA
- Charlotte, NC
- Chicago, IL
- Cincinnati, OH
- Clarksville, TN
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas/Fort Worth, TX
- Delray Beach, FL
- Denver, CO
- Detroit, MI
- Germantown, WI
- Grand Rapids, MI
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Irvine, CA
- Kansas City, KS
- Los Angeles, CA
- McLean, VA
- Miami, FL
- New York, NY
- Newtown, CT
- Omaha, NE
- Orlando, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Richmond, VA
- Salt Lake City, UT
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle, WA
- St. Louis, MO
- Stratford, CT
- Tampa, FL
- Wayzata, MN
Our Private Equity Clients
