About Us
Helping small and micro-cap companies navigate
complex capital markets since 1984
Stan Berger, Founder and Managing Director
Stan Berger is the Founder and a Managing Director of SM Berger & Company, one of the nation’s oldest and best IR firms. Since 1984, Stan has helped advise over 100 companies in the capital market, developing results-oriented IR programs that improve the investor awareness of his clients in the capital market.
Prior to founding SM Berger & Company, Stan was an investment analyst and partner at McDonald & Company Securities, which is now part of KeyBanc Capital Markets. With a focus on special situations, Stan analyzed undiscovered companies in the capital market that possessed compelling business models and overlooked investment merits. While at McDonald & Company, Stan saw the need for developing a proactive IR and communication strategy to connect underfollowed equity investments with his ever-growing following of professional investors.
Stan’s experience as an analyst was the foundation for creating SM Berger & Company, an analytical and capital markets focused IR firm, which has provided leading services to clients nationwide and across a variety of industries. Stan’s knowledge, investor reputation, honesty, and passion are the keystones to his success, and also supported the transition to a second generation of leadership. Andrew Berger has followed in his father’s footsteps, ensuring SM Berger & Company remains true to its core principles and Stan’s legacy by providing daily value for clients and developing lasting relationships with investors.
Stan is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a B.S. in Business and the University of Michigan with an MBA.
Andrew Berger, Managing Director
Andrew is a Managing Director of SM Berger & Company and is responsible for the firm’s day-to-day operations. As a second-generation IR practitioner, Andrew joined SM Berger & Company as an analyst for capital markets in 2003 and has nearly two decades of experience leading high performing and sophisticated IR and communications programs for clients across a number of industries. Andrew has spent his entire professional career as an active capital market participant and engages daily with global equity, fixed income, and structured finance investors, research analysts, and investment bankers. Throughout his career, Andrew has supported nearly 100 acquisitions and over 25 client financing and capital raises for SM Berger clients, while attending and arranging hundreds of investor meetings each year.
Andrew leverages his deep capital market experience to help provide strategic counsel, IR program management, investor engagement activities, and communication services to SM Berger clients.
Andrew received his undergraduate degree from the University of Oregon and is an active member of NIRI The Association for Investor Relations. He lives in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio with his wife and three sons.
Kathy Berger, Writer and Editor
Kathy Berger is a writer, editor, and researcher for SM Berger & Company. It is her job, along with others in the office, to make sure all written materials created and reviewed by SM Berger are grammatically and factually correct. Kathy assists with the creation and editing of written documents at SM Berger. Additionally, Kathy provides clients with peer company transcripts, press releases and pertinent industry information as well as macro/micro trends.
Kathy joined the office in 2012. She enjoys assisting clients and investors by providing them current and accurate information. Kathy graduated from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio with a B.A. in psychology and has a Masters degree in Medical Library Science from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio.
Stefanie Avery, Firm Administrator and Client Support Services
Stefanie Avery – Firm Administrator and Client Support Services
Stefanie Avery joined SM Berger & Company in 2021 as the Firm’s Administrator, supporting clients, investors and assisting in the company’s day-to-day operations. As a graduate of Mount Union University (formally Mount Union College) in Alliance, Ohio, Stefanie received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Management. With over 16 years of operational experience, she has extensive knowledge in client support and management, accounting, human resources, process improvement and operations.
Prior to SM Berger & Company, Stefanie was an Operations Manager for a privately held IT consulting firm. She has previously held various supporting positions ranging from an Operations Specialist to a Client Account Manager. Stefanie always strives to improve and strengthen internal and external communications, relationships, and processes.
Outside of the office, she enjoys spending time with her family, mentoring the young ladies in her Girl Scout troop, volunteering in the community, hiking, and time spent near the lake. She resides in the Greater Cleveland area with her husband, two daughters, and two dogs.
Josh Blum, Investor Relations Analyst
Josh Blum– Investor Relations Analyst
Josh Blum joined SM Berger & Company in 2022 as an analyst supporting clients by bridging research, analysis, communication strategies and engagement with the capital markets. As a graduate of Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, Josh received a Bachelor’s Degree in Finance with a minor in Economics. He has created and led initiatives that supported the growth of business sales and brand recognition across multiple industries including the restaurant, and relocation and transition industry.
Prior to SM Berger & Company, Josh played a key role in the operations of a 31-store Dunkin’ network, providing support for store managers, across multiple units, in areas of operation efficiencies, labor, costs, and inventory management. He has previously held positions ranging from Business Development to AML/BSA Analyst. Regardless of position, Josh’s detailed and analytical nature has allowed him to be an asset in any role he has held.
In Josh’s spare time, he enjoys golfing, cookouts, and spending time with family. He resides in the Greater Cleveland area with his wife and dog.
Matt Lehman, Advisory Committee
Matt is part of SM Berger & Company’s Advisory Committee, where he helps advise leadership in strategy, marketing and digital efforts.
Matt has more than 20 years of digital leadership experience with leading technology, banks and insurance firms. He has an MBA from Cornell and a BA in Economics and East Asian studies from Colby College.
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