Robert DiNozzi Receives 2026 ABF Journal Innovator Award for Advancing Article 9 Restructuring

NORTHAMPTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 21, 2026--

Second Wind Consultants is pleased to announce that Robert DiNozzi, Chief Growth Officer and Partner, has been named a recipient of the 2026 ABF Journal Legends and Leaders Innovator Award. This honor recognizes individuals who are redefining the deployment of capital and the preservation of businesses through original thinking and strategic leadership in specialty finance.

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The Innovator category specifically highlights leaders who have developed new frameworks to navigate changing market conditions. DiNozzi is being recognized for his pioneering work in Article 9restructuring —a commercial-law-based approach that allows distressed businesses to resolve debt and preserve enterprise value without the costs and adversarial nature of traditional bankruptcy.

“Innovation in specialty finance is about more than just new technology — it’s about creating better legal and financial frameworks for coordination and business preservation. Too often, viable businesses enter adversarial processes that erode value for everyone involved. Article 9 restructuring demonstrates that when lenders, owners, and stakeholders are aligned around preserving going-concern value, distressed situations no longer have to default into zero-sum outcomes. I’m honored to be recognized by ABF Journal for helping advance practical, market-based restructuring approaches that preserve operating companies, align stakeholders around shared outcomes, and create more efficient paths forward under existing commercial law.”

Redefining Distress Resolution

As Chief Growth Officer, DiNozzi has been instrumental in establishing Article 9 as a repeatable, efficient solution for the lower middle market. His leadership has promoted industry conversation toward out-of-court restructuring options, which emphasize:

A frequent contributor to ABF Journal, ABL Advisor, and the Journal of Corporate Renewal, DiNozzi has become a leading voice for the evolution of the secured finance ecosystem. His work ensures that even in complex distressed situations, business continuity remains the priority.

About Second Wind Consultants

Second Wind Consultants is America’s fastest-growing business consultancy specializing in non-judicial, commercial-law-based debt resolution. By executing coordinated, prepackaged Article 9 restructurings, Second Wind helps lenders, investors, and business owners preserve economic value and protect jobs. The firm is dedicated to reframing distress resolution as a collaborative process that creates renewed opportunity for all parties involved.

To learn more, visit secondwindconsultants.com.

A frequent contributor to ABF Journal, ABL Advisor, and the Journal of Corporate Renewal, DiNozzi has become a leading voice for the evolution of the secured finance ecosystem.

NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin released a critical study of the party's performance in the 2024 campaign on Thursday, bowing to intense internal pressure from frustrated Democratic operatives who had publicly demanded the release of the post-election autopsy.

The 192-page report, which was concluded last December and authored by Democratic consultant Paul Rivera, calls for “a renewed focus on the voters of Middle America and the South, who have come to believe they are not included in the Democratic vision of a stronger and more dynamic America for everyone.”

“Millions of Americans are suffering from poor access to healthcare, manufacturing and job losses, and a failing infrastructure, yet continue to be persuaded to vote against their best interests because they do not see themselves reflected in the America of the Democratic Party,” the report says.

The autopsy points to a reduction in support and training for Democratic state parties, voter registration shifts and “a persistent inability or unwillingness to listen to all voters.”

The report's release comes as Martin confronts a crisis of confidence among party officials who are increasingly concerned about the health of their political machine barely a year into his term.

In a Substack message accompanying the report's release, Martin apologized for his handling of the report's release.

“When I received the report late last year, it wasn’t ready for primetime. Not even close. And because no source material was provided, fixing it would have meant starting over, from the beginning — every conversation, every interview, every data set,” Martin wrote.

“In December, I announced we would shelve this report, and I meant what I said at the time — that I didn’t think dwelling on 2024 or looking backwards so late in the game helped us to win elections. And at the end of the day, winning elections is my job,” he continued. “In short, I didn’t want to create a distraction. Ironically, in doing so, I ended up creating an even bigger distraction. And for that, I sincerely apologize.”

The initial response from frustrated Democratic operatives was not positive.

“Why not say this in 2024, or bring in more people to finish it, instead of turning this into the dumbest media cycle for 7-8 months?” Democratic strategist Steve Schale wrote on social media.

FILE - Democratic National Committee chair Ken Martin speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at DNC headquarters, Jan. 12, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Allison Robbert, File)