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Meet the Meridian team
A team of operators with decades of experience growing blue collar service organizations to thousands of technicians
Frankie Costa
Founder & CEO
A Pittsburgh native, Frankie comes from three generations of small business founders in both blue-collar trades and white-collar services.
Frankie previously led two HVAC/R platforms now exceeding $1B in revenue, most recently founding and scaling Helios Service Partners into a national leader with 1,000 team members across 40+ states.
Frankie is committed to helping restore the skilled trades to their rightful place at the heart of American prosperity.
Frankie previously led two HVAC/R platforms now exceeding $1B in revenue, most recently founding and scaling Helios Service Partners into a national leader with 1,000 team members across 40+ states.
Frankie is committed to helping restore the skilled trades to their rightful place at the heart of American prosperity.
Walker Dales
Co-founder & CFO
A Savannah, GA native, Walker comes from a family of both small business founders and blue collar workers in the manufacturing and marine trades.
Walker previously led shared services as CFO of two rapidly scaling, acquisitive manufacturers, including a founder-led business that grew 7x under his leadership.
Walker is building a culture at Meridian that restores upward mobility and pride to the blue-collar trades — the kind his grandparents’ generation knew.
Walker previously led shared services as CFO of two rapidly scaling, acquisitive manufacturers, including a founder-led business that grew 7x under his leadership.
Walker is building a culture at Meridian that restores upward mobility and pride to the blue-collar trades — the kind his grandparents’ generation knew.
Julia Cannon
Talent Acquisition Lead
A talent leader with over two decades of experience in talent acquisition, Julia has spent the last ten years focused on the skilled trades.
Julia has helped build and scale recruiting efforts across diesel repair, plumbing, and HVAC. She was integral to Helios Service Partners as it grew to nearly 1,000 technicians nationwide.
Julia is passionate about connecting great tradespeople with the companies that will offer them a career for life.
Julia has helped build and scale recruiting efforts across diesel repair, plumbing, and HVAC. She was integral to Helios Service Partners as it grew to nearly 1,000 technicians nationwide.
Julia is passionate about connecting great tradespeople with the companies that will offer them a career for life.
Samuel Saldarriaga
Chief of Staff
Originally from Ohio, Sam comes from an immigrant family that moved to the United States in pursuit of the American Dream – the belief that hard work and perseverance can create opportunity across generations.
Sam has previously spent his time partnering with founder-led, mission-critical service businesses to help them scale thoughtfully and for the long term. He brings an operator’s mindset to building platforms alongside aligned founders.
Sam is deeply committed to strengthening the American Dream by building enduring businesses that invest in skilled labor, create opportunity for communities, and power the real economy.
Sam has previously spent his time partnering with founder-led, mission-critical service businesses to help them scale thoughtfully and for the long term. He brings an operator’s mindset to building platforms alongside aligned founders.
Sam is deeply committed to strengthening the American Dream by building enduring businesses that invest in skilled labor, create opportunity for communities, and power the real economy.
AJ Brown
Board Member
AJ is the founder of Apex Service Partners, the largest residential HVAC and plumbing service business in North America.
Under his leadership, Apex has partnered with more than 600 companies and today employs over 15,000 full-time team members, built on a proven playbook for scaling talent, operations, and growth in the trades.
AJ believes in empowering founders and leaders with the tools and partnership they need to build businesses that outlast them.
Under his leadership, Apex has partnered with more than 600 companies and today employs over 15,000 full-time team members, built on a proven playbook for scaling talent, operations, and growth in the trades.
AJ believes in empowering founders and leaders with the tools and partnership they need to build businesses that outlast them.
Fran DeLallo
Board Member
Fran is the owner of DeLallo Foods, one of the largest importers, distributors, and producers of specialty foods in America.
With operations spanning three continents and 500 employees, Fran moves thousands of truckloads of produce each year through a network of logistics partners supported by Delallo's private fleet of 40 tractors and 80 reefers and trailers.
Fran believes in building durable, family-rooted businesses that create lasting American jobs, particularly in the working-class communities that built this country.
With operations spanning three continents and 500 employees, Fran moves thousands of truckloads of produce each year through a network of logistics partners supported by Delallo's private fleet of 40 tractors and 80 reefers and trailers.
Fran believes in building durable, family-rooted businesses that create lasting American jobs, particularly in the working-class communities that built this country.
CONTACT
Let’s talk about what's next
We’d be honored to learn more about what you’ve built and explore how we can be the ideal partner for your brand's next chapter.
“I’d previously been under LOI with a private equity firm and walked away when itbecame clear we were just a number. Meridian felt different right away.
They moved as quickly and thoughtfully as we did and took a sincere interest in our family here at TNA.
They’ve grown businesses just like ours by building behind the teams that startedthem. We made the right choice.”
