March 12 - 13, 2026 | Miami

20th Independent Sponsors Summit: Miami

Click the orange buttons below to switch between the concurrent
Independent Sponsors Summit & Value Creation Summit agendas,
as well as the different days for each.

Value Creation

pre event

day 1

day 2

day 1

day 2

DAY 1 AGENDA: March 12th, 2026 | 📍 JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa

DAY 2 AGENDA: March 13th, 2026 | 📍 JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa

6:00 PM - 07:00 PM

NETWORKING: Welcome Happy Hour Drinks Reception & Networking

PRE-EVENT AGENDA: March 11th, 2026 | 📍 JW Marriott Miami Turnberry Resort & Spa

Kick off the Independent Sponsors Summit with an evening of networking. Join fellow attendees for pre-conference welcome drinks from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

8:00 AM

NETWORKING: Registration & Breakfast

Join us from 8:00 AM to collect your badge and enjoy breakfast networking - the perfect way to kick-start your day with fresh connections and conversations.

9:00 AM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Active Deals

Focused on discussing active deals with a funding source, connect with the Independent Sponsors or Capital Providers specializing in investments in the industry sectors and markets you focus on. In advance of the event you will be provided with a full list of attendees, so you can choose to meet with the most relevant contacts and evaluate the potential for future business partnerships.

10:00 AM

NETWORKING: Break

Take a moment to recharge and connect with fellow attendees over fresh coffee and light refreshments.

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM : EXECUTIVE EXCHANGES

Join your peers for a series of lively and interactive discussions on the most pressing topics you are facing today. The small group format will enable you to make meaningful connections and come up with out-of-the-box solutions to shared challenges.

The Seeded Sponsor Model
Insurance Strategies for Independent Sponsors
Future of the IS Model
Winning IS Deals Structures: Rollover Equity, Seller Financing and Earnout Trends

Click black arrow to view sessions & speakers.

ROUNDTABLE 1: Winning IS Deals Structures: Rollover Equity, Seller Financing and Earnout Trends

John Koeppel

Partner and Private Equity / Independent Sponsor Leader

Lippes Mathias

ROUNDTABLE 2: The Seeded Sponsor Model

Mike Miller

Partner

Holland & Knight

Mike Miller is a private equity attorney in Holland & Knight's Charlotte office. Mr. Miller is a co-head of both Holland & Knight's Independent Sponsors and Search Funds teams. He focuses his practice on
representing domestic and international private equity, venture capital and search funds, independent sponsors and companies in evaluating, structuring and negotiating mergers and acquisitions (M&A) and investment transactions, including leveraged buyouts, co-investments, stock and asset acquisitions and
sales, secondary fund interest transfers, growth equity investments, divestitures and recapitalizations. Mr. Miller has substantial experience providing innovative advice to independent sponsors, search funds,
and traditional and self-funded searchers in all aspects of their transactions, including equity structuring and transaction execution. He has authored several articles and lectured on these topics. In addition, Mr. Miller has extensive experience representing and counseling public, private and emerging companies in corporate governance and operational strategic and legal matters. Mr. Miller delivers value-added counsel to his clients by combining his substantive experience with a responsive, client service-focused practice. He offers practical and pragmatic advice that leverages his
market knowledge and creativity to help clients drive transaction execution while effectively managing risk. Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Miller worked in the private equity, technology companies and
corporate practices of law firms in Charlotte and New York City.

ROUNDTABLE 3: How Independent Sponsors Win Economics and Capital Providers Relationship Trends

Chase Stuart

Office Managing Partner, New York

Ice Miller

Chase Stuart is a partner in Ice Miller's Business Group and the Office Managing Partner in New York. He represents a variety of private equity funds, family offices, independent sponsors, privately-held businesses, private credit funds, and mezzanine funds. He provides strategic and legal advice in their investment and general corporate strategies, including on leveraged buyouts and other M&A, financings, minority investments, growth capital transactions, and early and late stage private equity investments. He represents family, founder, and entrepreneur-owned businesses as general corporate counsel and as a sell-side advisor. He has represented a variety of companies in sectors such as aerospace and defense, technology, manufacturing, consumer products, business services, gaming, and health care.

ROUNDTABLE 4: Winning Deals with Speed, Certainty & Structure: Insurance Strategies for Independent Sponsors

Matthew Martin

Vice President, Producer

Virtus Insurance

ROUNDTABLE 5: Value Creation through Strategic Human Capital

Tony Topoleski

Sr. Director - PE PortCo Leadership & CFO Practice Lead

ECA Partners

12:00 PM

NETWORKING: Lunch

Enjoy lunch while connecting with peers, speakers, and industry leaders. It's the perfect opportunity to continue meaningful conversations, build new relationships, and refuel for the afternoon sessions.

Sponsored by

12:10 PM

WORKSHOP: Luncheon Workshop - The Fastest EBITDA Wins Most Deals and Operators Overlook

This session explores the fastest, least-obvious cost levers that can move EBITDA immediately — often without changing headcount or strategy. Using real-world scenarios, we’ll highlight where deals and operators routinely leave money on the table across payroll taxes, workers’ compensation, benefits structure, and state programs. Attendees will leave with a practical framework to quickly identify and act on these opportunities at any stage of ownership — from diligence through ongoing operations.

Key takeaways:

Identify hidden cost leaks that can impact EBITDA immediately
Understand practical fixes across the cost structures and decisions that most directly affect EBITDA
Apply a repeatable framework across diligence, post-close, and ongoing operations

Facilitator

Jenny Souksavath

Co-Founder, COO

Aspen HR

Jenny serves as the COO and is a Co-Founder of Aspen. Prior to joining Aspen, Jenny was Vice President at Ambrose, now known as TriNet Financial Services. Jenny co-led the Bay Area market development for TriNet’s PEO product that specifically focused on the alternative investment industry.

Jenny was previously in KPMG’s asset management group that provided audit, tax, and consulting services for numerous alternative investment firms.

Jenny earned her BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting from San Francisco State University College of Business. She currently serves as Co-Chair for Help For Children’s West Coast Executive Committee, a global foundation, supported by the alternative asset management industry. Jenny also co-founded the Pacific Alternative Investment Group in February of 2016.

1:00 PM

KEYNOTE: How the Most Active Independent Sponsors Are Getting Deals Done in 2026

Independent Sponsors are operating in a tougher environment marked by heightened competition, longer diligence timelines, and more demanding capital and seller dynamics. In this fast-paced keynote, three of the most active Independent Sponsors of 2025 will share what’s working right now, from sourcing proprietary opportunities to structuring creative transactions and closing with certainty. Expect candid insights and actionable takeaways you can put to work immediately.

Moderator

Claudine Cohen

Managing Principal, Value360 Practice

CohnReznick

Claudine oversees an integrated team of transaction, valuation, restructuring, project finance, and dispute resolution professionals serving clients throughout the lifecycles of their businesses. With specific expertise in managing opportunities and roadblocks that can impact a business moving forward, Claudine and her team help clients achieve optimal outcomes in protecting and growing stakeholder value.

Claudine serves as an adviser to public and private companies, both domestically and internationally. Her clients comprise the full gamut of financial sponsors including private equity investors, independent sponsors, family offices, alternative investment funds, lenders, and strategic investors. Her areas of knowledge include strategic advisory, quality of earnings analyses, identifying revenue sources and profitability drivers, examining operating cost structure and sustainability factors, investigating business models including cash flow and financial projections, reviewing quality and realization of assets and liabilities, identifying working capital requirements and negotiating positions, post-close working capital verification, and adjustment mechanisms.

Claudine was named to Mergers and Acquisitions 2019 list of the most influential women in mid-market M&A, and Crain’s NY 2018 most notable women in consulting.

Keynote

Thomas Ince

Founder and Managing Partner

LP First

Keynote

Charles Scripps

Managing Partner

Black Lake

Chad brings two decades of experience investing in private and public businesses. Prior to founding Black Lake, he was at leading private equity firms HIG Capital and AEA Investors, which manage $37B and $15B, respectively, and began his career as a management consultant with McKinsey & Company. He earned an MBA with Honors from the Wharton School and a BS in Chemical Engineering with Distinction from the University of Wisconsin.

Keynote

Phil Lynch

Managing Director

Amalgam Capital

Phil Lynch is a Managing Director at Amalgam Capital, where he applies deep operational expertise to evaluate deals, support portfolio companies, and drive hands-on value creation across the investment lifecycle. He leads operational assessments focused on manufacturing and service delivery processes and works directly with portfolio company leadership on post-close performance improvement.

Phil is also a Founding Partner and Chief Operating Officer of SLKone, a management consulting firm bridging Strategy, Leadership, and Knowledge. With prior experience as a Director at Berkeley Research Group and FTI Consulting's Performance Improvement practice, Phil brings more than two decades of cross-industry expertise to every engagement.

A self-described generalist and problem-solving "athlete," Phil's specialty areas include Lean and continuous improvement, operations, manufacturing, distribution and logistics, salesforce effectiveness, organizational design, change management, and M&A integration. He has led major transformations across a variety of industries including aerospace, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, and building services.

Phil holds an MBA (cum laude) from the University of Notre Dame and a BSBA in Computer Information Systems and Finance from Northern Arizona University. He is PMP certified and a Lean Practitioner.

1:30 PM : TAILORED SESSIONS

Select one session based on your priorities - multiple tailored sessions are taking place.

Click black arrow to view sessions & speakers.

PANEL: The First Year After Close: What Actually Changes

The first year post-deal can be a whirlwind of change but what really shifts once the ink dries? In this candid fireside, a founder and investor share what they’ve learned about establishing an effective board rhythm, designing a motivating MIP, upgrading talent, and navigating the unexpected highs and lows that follow a close. Expect honest reflections, practical frameworks, and advice they wish they’d had before signing.

Key Takeaways:

How to set a productive board cadence and communication rhythm post-close
What makes a strong, motivating MIP (and common pitfalls to avoid)
When and how to make key people changes in year one
The unexpected wins, misses, and lessons that shape long-term success after a deal

Moderator

Lilli Scalettar

Private Equity Attorney

Winston & Strawn

Lilli’s practice is focused on private equity. She represents investors and investment funds, including private equity sponsors, venture capital funds and their respective portfolio companies, in connection with platform and add-on acquisitions, related acquisition financing, dispositions and other exit strategies, restructurings, joint ventures, growth equity investments and general corporate matters.

Chris Ayala

Managing Director of Investments

Trident

As a Managing Director of Investments at Trident, Christopher Ayala co-leads the firm’s investment team. He shares responsibility for the sourcing, underwriting, and acquisition of portfolio companies, in addition to overseeing their operational performance.

Mr. Ayala brings a wealth of experience from his prior role as Managing Director at Drum Capital Management, LLC, a private equity investor in the lower-middle market. At Drum, he spearheaded the buyout and co-investment strategies. Throughout his career, Mr. Ayala has held numerous leadership positions, including CEO and General Counsel at four private equity-backed companies. His previous roles include Managing Partner of Towanda Capital, CEO of Vertisense, VP, Operations of ALK Technologies, Inc., and VP, General Counsel for Native American Resource Partners LLC. He began his professional journey as a corporate M&A attorney at Schulte Roth & Zabel LLP.

Adam Cole

Founder & Independent Operating Partner

Vanessa Goolsby Advisory

Principal, Private Equity

H.I.G.

ROUNDTABLE 1: Scaling the Independent Sponsor Model – Strategies for Sourcing, Structuring & Closing Deals

Explore current market trends and advanced best practices for sourcing proprietary deals, structuring aligned transactions, and driving deals to a successful close.

Key Takeaways:

Market evolution & capital trends
Scaling your sponsor platform
Advanced deal sourcing strategies
Sophisticated deal structuring
Process and closing best practices

Facilitator

Robert Connolly

Partner

Levenfeld Pearlstein

Robert Connolly is a Partner in LP's Corporate Practice Group. He leads Levenfeld Pearlstein’s Independent Sponsor team, co-leads its Private Equity team, and previously served as the Corporate Practice Group Leader. His practice focuses on M&A, private equity, and corporate transactions in the middle market and lower middle market across multiple industries throughout the United States. He has extensive experience leading a wide spectrum of complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, minority investments, joint ventures, recapitalizations, restructurings, securities offerings, and other business transactions.

ROUNDTABLE: Co-Sponsor Do’s & Dont's

Co-sponsoring deals can expand capacity and access, but misalignment can derail even the most promising transactions. This peer roundtable explores the do’s and don’ts of co-sponsorship, covering decision rights, division of labor, economics, communication cadences, and the common red flags that sink partnerships. Participants will walk away with practical guidance for structuring and managing co-sponsor relationships successfully.

Key Takeaways:

Best practices for assigning decision rights and dividing responsibilities
Aligning economics and incentives between co-sponsors
Establishing effective communication cadences to prevent misunderstandings
Recognizing and mitigating common red flags that threaten partnerships

Robert Daniel

Managing Partner

Platt Richmond

Robert Daniel’s practice is focused on the representation of businesses, investors, and entrepreneurs in connection with corporate transactional matters, including mergers and acquisitions, securities offerings, private equity/venture capital financing, and general contractual matters.

His securities experience includes advising sponsors regarding the capital and governance structure and the conduct of and regulatory compliance for private offerings and crowdfunded offerings for operating businesses and a broad variety of real estate asset classes, such as the acquisition or development of multi-family, light industrial, hospitality, medical office building, mixed-use, retail, and electrical power generation.

Prior to joining Platt Richmond, Robert practiced in Dallas and Houston as part of the corporate sections of two large Texas firms.

Robert served as Platt Richmond’s Managing Partner from 2022 to 2025.

1:30 PM

WORKSHOP: Credibility, Mandate & Deal Sourcing

For emerging independent sponsors, deal flow begins with clarity. This interactive workshop connects mandate definition and deal sourcing into one practical, integrated playbook for sponsors building their track record.

Participants will define their investment identity on a single page, sharpen mandate parameters, and build a credibility packet that captures banker and founder attention. The session then shifts to execution — designing a focused sourcing strategy, crafting a clear investment thesis, and building a sustainable, relationship-driven pipeline.

Attendees will leave with tangible frameworks, practical tools, and a clearer roadmap for turning mandate clarity into consistent, actionable deal flow.

Key Takeaways

Define your investment identity and mandate with clarity and precision
Build a credibility packet that earns banker and founder engagement
Apply bottom-up and top-down sourcing strategies effectively
Craft a compelling investment thesis to guide sourcing and screening
Develop a repeatable, relationship-driven deal pipeline aligned with your mandate"

Ben Brandes

Founder

NewOrigin Investments

I partner with founder-led businesses to achieve transformative growth, drawing on over $2 billion in completed capital transactions across my career. Through NewOrigin Investments, we focus on the health, wellness, and aging sectors — combining equity ownership with active board-level involvement to drive strategic clarity, operational progress, and valuation impact. Beyond investing, I speak and collaborate across the private equity community to uncover overlooked opportunities, align founders’ vision with capital partners, and help companies scale with purpose and measurable results.

Brian Forman

Partner & Chair, Investment Funds and Advisers

Morrison Cohen

Brian Forman’s practice focuses on fund formation and providing regulatory advice to alternative investment managers and investors.

Brian has represented a broad selection of hedge fund and private equity fund managers in the formation of their investment vehicles. His clients have included investment managers utilizing strategies such as long/short equity, credit, commodities and futures, global macro, leveraged buy-out, pharmaceutical royalties, international equity, merger-arb, opportunistic and event-driven. He has assisted with fund formations in the United States, Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Europe, and has worked with investors in such funds from various jurisdictions within the United States, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Brian also has significant experience advising clients with respect to regulatory compliance, negotiations of trading counterparty documentation and other day-to-day matters relating to operations, accounting and investor relations.

In addition to sponsor side representation, Brian has represented investors in private investment funds, reviewing and providing feedback on fund documentation and assisting in negotiations of side letters.

After beginning his career at the law firms of Stroock & Stroock & Lavan LLP and Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP, Brian joined a start-up company called HedgeMark Advisors, LLC in 2012, where he was an integral part of building a managed account platform for hedge fund investors exceeding $20 billion in assets, and the acquisition of HedgeMark by the Bank of New York Mellon in 2014.

Brian joined Morrison Cohen in August 2020.

2:10 PM : TAILORED SESSIONS

Select one session based on your priorities - multiple tailored sessions are taking place.

Click black arrow to view sessions & speakers.

PANEL: Independent Sponsors & Lower Middle Market Private Equity: Who Actually Wins?

Independent sponsors and lower middle PE funds are often competing for the same deals but not with the same advantages. In today’s higher-rate, tighter-exit environment, winning the deal is only half the battle.
Explore who truly wins competitive processes, where returns actually come from when multiple expansion can’t be assumed, and what quietly derails outcomes, from overpaying and fragile capital stacks to credibility gaps in capital formation.

Session Key Takeaways

What actually wins deals today: price, certainty, or credibility
How returns are generated in a disciplined underwriting environment
The structural strengths and weaknesses of the independent model
The biggest risks investors may be underestimating heading into 2026

Moderator

Paul Marino

Managing Principal, Value360 Practice

Sadis

Paul Marino is a partner in the Financial Services and Corporate Groups. Paul focuses his practice in matters concerning financial services, corporate law and corporate finance. Paul provides counsel in the areas of private equity funds and mergers and acquisitions for private equity firms and public and private companies and private equity fund and hedge fund formation.

Paul works on a variety of M&A transactions, including leveraged acquisitions, divestitures of business divisions, going-private transactions, and other strategic acquisitions and dispositions, in the following industries: manufacturing, telecommunications, consumer products, hospitality, healthcare, and technology, among others. His practice also includes joint ventures and general company representation matters.

Paul has represented national and multinational corporations, ranging from telecoms to tech companies, as well as real estate syndication and financial investors and investment advisors. He has also negotiated and structured a number of U.S. domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures.

Jimmy Watson

Managing Director

Clavis Capital Partners

Claudine was named to Mergers and Acquisitions 2019 list of the most influential women in mid-market M&A, and Crain’s NY 2018 most notable women in consulting.

John Burges

Managing Director

Prospect Capital

John Burges is a Managing Director and has worked in the finance industry since 1989. He oversees the firm’s syndicated investments and is responsible for originating, executing and managing debt investments across a variety of industries, including consumer products, business services and resources. John is also responsible for managing many of Prospect’s relationships with private equity sponsors.

Prior to joining Prospect in 2013, he worked in investment banking and securities in London and New York with Deutsche Bank, Merrill Lynch, and Knight Capital, where he was a managing director. In his roles John was responsible for advising and financing public companies across industries. He has public company board and executive experience as president, CEO, and director of a Canadian listed resource company, and as chairman and an officer in a private equity backed energy company. Throughout his career, John brings substantial corporate finance, investment, and management experience.

Roundtable 2: Term-Sheet Surgery: Capital Stacks That Close in 2026

This session goes beyond theory, it’s a hands-on exploration of live-ish term sheets. Participants will dissect seller notes, unitranche and mezzanine structures, NAV adjustments, earn-outs, RWI, and working capital pegs. Leave with a practical one-pager summarizing “what’s market” by context, giving you a real edge in structuring and negotiating deals in 2026.

Key Takeaways:

How to analyze and negotiate term-sheet components across complex capital stacks
Practical benchmarks for seller notes, unitranche/mezzanine, earn-outs, and more
Contextual guidance on NAV adjustments, RWI, and working capital pegs
One-page “what’s market” reference for quick, actionable insights

Facilitator

Scott Warnock

Managing Director

Five Points Family Ventures

Scott spent over 20 years at Raymond James & Associates, Inc., most recently as Senior Vice President in a private client group practice, serving the unique needs of public company executives. Over his tenure at Raymond James, he served in many roles in the Equity Capital Markets and Private Client divisions of the firm. His areas of expertise included equity compensation, insider trading regulations and Rule 10b5-1 plans, concentrated equity solutions, directed share programs, structured notes, share repurchases, and strategies for raising equity capital.

Scott earned his B.B.A. in Finance and Business Economics from the University of Notre Dame. He became a CFA charter holder in 2003.

Facilitator

Dean Hoxholli

Founder & Managing Partner

RDP Advisory

Before founding RDP, Dean Hoxholli led transaction teams at Lafayette Square, investing in private credit opportunities. He was previously an Investment Banker at Capstone Partners, providing M&A advisory services to middle-market companies. At VRC, he conducted valuation analyses for institutional clients, focusing on securities like bank loans, mezzanine debt, and illiquid private securities.

Dean’s entrepreneurial background stems from his family business, which shaped his understanding of the challenges of ownership and honed his advisory skills for businesses and entrepreneurs.

His combination of entrepreneurial and technical expertise allows him to structure and execute complex transactions, offering strategic guidance to businesses.

Extensive experience in private credit, M&A advisory, and valuation analysis for institutional clients.
Deep entrepreneurial background from family business experience, providing unique insights for business owners.
Expertise in structuring complex transactions, and offering strategic financial guidance to businesses and entrepreneurs.

Roundtable 3: Deal-Flow Targeting: Publish Your Mandate Like a Pro

Finding the right deals starts with clarity. This peer-led roundtable helps capital providers codify their investment mandate, from sectors and EBITDA bands to check sizes and preferred structures, so that deal flow matches become faster, cleaner, and more actionable. Participants will walk away with practical frameworks to publish and communicate mandates like a pro.

Key Takeaways:

How to define and codify sectors, EBITDA ranges, check sizes, and deal structures
Practical tips for making your mandate transparent and actionable for intermediaries
Strategies to attract higher-quality deal flow and reduce mismatches
Frameworks for publishing mandates in a professional, repeatable way

Facilitator

Chris Larson

Managing Director, Co-Head of Equity Group

Monroe Capital

2:30 AM

WORKSHOP: IOIs, LOIs & Due Diligence

Designed for emerging independent sponsors, this workshop provides a practical roadmap for navigating IOIs, LOIs, and the due diligence process with discipline and confidence. Participants will learn the key differences between IOIs and LOIs, how to structure each effectively, and how to manage diligence from initial review through confirmatory analysis while controlling costs and mitigating risk.

The session emphasizes building a professional, repeatable process that strengthens credibility with sellers, bankers, and capital partners.

Key Takeaways

Understand when and how to use IOIs vs. LOIs in a transaction process
Structure stronger bid documents that improve certainty and competitiveness
Implement a disciplined due diligence framework (commercial, financial, legal, operational)
Manage third-party advisors and minimize broken deal costs
Build a repeatable process that protects capital and enhances market credibility"

David Acharya

Managing Partner

Acharya Capital Partners

2:50 PM : TAILORED SESSIONS

Select one session based on your priorities - multiple tailored sessions are taking place.

Click black arrow to view sessions & speakers.

ROUNDTABLE: Inside the Family Office Playbook

Family offices are increasingly active in IS-backed deals but how do they actually evaluate, govern, and deploy effectively? In this peer-led roundtable, participants will unpack how family offices diligence IS teams, structure governance, and manage capital pacing without bogging down in process. Expect a transparent discussion on real co-investment dynamics and what truly drives founder-aligned outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

How family offices approach diligence on IS teams and deal flow
Governance structures that balance control with agility
Best practices for pacing and managing capital efficiently
Insights into real co-invest mechanics and building founder-friendly alignment

Facilitator

David Fang

Private Equity Investment Officer

Unity Hunt

Mike is the managing partner of CHIEF Capital (Chartwell Investments Entrepreneur & Founder Capital) and has over 30 years of experience in all facets of private equity investing and has participated in the purchase or sale of businesses with transaction values exceeding $4 billion.
In Chief Capital’s most recent vehicle, Mike has closed 5 new platform investments, successfully exited two portfolio companies, closed 20+ portfolio company add-on acquisitions, while also entering into a Joint Venture with a publicly-traded company, representing over $900+ million in total aggregate transaction value.
Mike focuses on deal sourcing, relationship building, strategic planning, recruiting management teams and operating executives, capital raising, and post-closing portfolio company development. As a hybrid family office/independent sponsor, Mike supports the management owners he partners with to accelerate growth and realize their visions for their companies.

Prior to founding the predecessor to CHIEF Capital, Mike worked for Goldman Sachs (mergers & acquisitions department) and was a SVP of a private NYC-based investment firm.
Mike currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors across multiple organizations: World Water Works, Guardian Fleet Services, Rohrer Aesthetics, Contract Datascan Holdings, PPC Holdings, and Pinnacle Processes Inc. and serves as a Director of Richard Childress Racing.
Mike has previously served as a Director of multiple private companies including TTG Imaging Solutions, RQM+, Carey International, Bell Sports, Petro Stopping Centers, and SunPark. Mike graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a B.S.E.

CHIEF Capital provides flexible private equity for entrepreneurs and family-owned businesses. We partner with management owners to help realize their visions and provide long-term capital, resources, and expertise to accelerate growth and provide generational liquidity. With 40+ years of experience, $300MM in equity deployed, 7 platform companies and 20+ recent add-on acquisitions, we focus on niche lower middle market companies that out-compete their peers. We primarily invest in businesses with $10-100MM+ in revenue, $2-20MM in EBITDA and 10%+ EBITDA margins.

ROUNDTABLE: Tax Structuring & 2026 Planning

With major tax changes on the horizon for 2025, independent sponsors need clarity on how shifting rules will impact deal structures, rollover equity, seller proceeds, and LOI terms. This roundtable breaks down the most relevant updates — from sunsetting provisions and IRS scrutiny to BOI compliance and tax-efficient earnouts and offers practical steps to prepare deals and founders for the year ahead.

Key Takeaways:

What 2025 tax sunsets mean for deal timing and valuation
IRS focus areas: fee waivers, flow-throughs, management fees
Structuring rollover equity and earnouts more efficiently
BOI compliance considerations for IS deals
Checklist for planning tax-sensitive deals in 2025

Facilitator

Nichol Chiarella

Partner & Mergers and Acquisitions Tax Practice Leader

Citrin Cooperman

Nichol Chiarella is a partner and Citrin Cooperman's Mergers and Acquisitions Tax Practice Leader, with over two decades of experience in public accounting. She provides high level tax planning and consulting services related to buy-side, sell-side, and restructuring transactions involving private equity firms, closely-held businesses, business owners, and high net worth individuals within the technology, manufacturing and distribution, wholesale, retail, cannabis, healthcare, real estate, staffing, and professional services industries.

Nichol handles transaction tax matters for private equity funds, independent sponsors, limited liability companies (LLCs), domestic partnerships, corporations, and S corporations. She specializes in buy-side and sell-side tax advisory, including tax due diligence, pre-transaction planning, tax structuring, and modeling, and post-transaction compliance support. She also handles mergers, divestitures, and restructuring matters, in addition to helping privately-held business owners transition to related parties.

Nichol also leads the firm’s global diversity, equity, and inclusion mission, branded as CC EDGE (Empowering Diversity and Gender Equality). In this role, she interfaces regularly with all CC EDGE leads in each of our metro geographies in the United States and in India.

Nichol's specialized tax knowledge and network of professional contacts allows her to act as a resource not only for her clients, but for other professionals seeking solutions for their clients and customers.

ROUNDTABLE: How Independent Sponsors Can Utilize Employee Ownership in Their Investment and Acquisition Strategies

In the evolving landscape of private equity and acquisitions, independent sponsors are increasingly exploring innovative structures to enhance deal viability and long-term value creation. During this discussion, industry experts will delve into the synergies between independent sponsors and Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Discover how integrating ESOPs into your investment strategy can unlock unique advantages, from performance enhancements to tax efficiencies, while navigating the complexities of deal structuring in a competitive market.

Session Key Takeaways:

Find out how employee ownership can boost company performance post-acquisition and provide a competitive advantage in the bidding process with sellers.
Understand the tax benefits that make investing alongside an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) an attractive option for independent sponsors.
Learn how independent sponsors-led ESOP transitions can be structured

Facilitator

Sean-Tamba Matthew

Shareholder

Stevens & Lee

Sean-Tamba Matthew is a shareholder of the law firm Stevens & Lee, P.C., is a member of the firm’s ESOP Group, and works with its affiliated business SES ESOP Strategies. He advises private funds, independent sponsors, companies, business owners, boards of directors, and employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) trustees on transactional, corporate governance and formation matters related to the design and implementation of ESOPs and advises clients on general corporate matters and mergers and acquisitions. Sean is a frequent guest speaker on a range of employee ownership topics.

Sean is a Kellogg Fellow at the Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations. He
coordinates the Institute for the Study of Employee Ownership and Profit Sharing’s W.K.
Kellogg Foundation program, which helps minority and female business owners and their
advisors learn about employee ownership transitions.

He is a member of the board of directors of Empowered Ventures, an ESOP-owned holding
company headquartered in Indiana, an advisory board member of Talley Management Group, an
employee-owned company based in New Jersey, and he is the secretary of the Pennsylvania Bar
Association’s Business Law Section.

In addition to his professional work, Sean serves as a member of the Board of Directors of
Independence Mission Schools, a network of 14 independent Catholic schools providing a
transformative education to children of all faiths across Philadelphia, and Nutritional
Development Services of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, an organization dedicated to
alleviating food insecurity in Southeastern Pennsylvania., and the Martin De Porres Foundation, which is a foundation supporting African-American Catholic ministry in the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Additionally, he serves on the investment committee for the Ambassador’s Fund for Catholic Education and the advancement committee of for each of Our Mother of Consolation Parish School and Mercy Career and Technical School.

Facilitator

Daniel Ik-Obazee

Director, Founder

Daniel Ik-Obazee

Daniel Ik-Obazee started his career as an engineer with a focus
on operations improvement and management in multinational companies, where he became known for delivering results and
driving organizational goals under tight timeframes. His efficiency-driven mindset naturally translates into his love for
order and cleanliness. In April 2022, Daniel founded Neatland Holdings, where he
serves as President. Under his leadership, Neatland has successfully completed more than $16M in commercial cleaning transactions and currently manages a portfolio generating over $34M in annual revenue. Daniel’s passion for clean environments was the driving force behind Neatland’s founding. He believes that well-maintained buildings and spaces not only create healthier environments but also elevate the quality of life and productivity of those who occupy them. His vision is to build
a leading platform in facilities services by combining operational excellence with a relentless pursuit of growth. Daniel holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas A&M University, College
Station.

3:30 PM

NETWORKING: Break

Take a moment to recharge and connect with fellow attendees over fresh coffee and light refreshments.

3:45 PM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Relationship Building

Oriented to building new connections and expand your network. Focused on developing relationships with a funding sources, connect with the Independent Sponsors or Capital Providers specializing in investments in the industry sectors and markets you focus on. In advance of the event you will be provided with a full list of attendees, so you can choose to meet with the most relevant contacts and evaluate the potential for future business partnerships.

4:45 PM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Deal Execution

Designed to connect you with the right people to accelerate deal execution. These meetings are tailored to deal execution, including getting deals signed, financed, and closed. In advance of the event you will be provided with a full list of attendees, so you can choose to meet with the most relevant contacts and evaluate the potential for future business partnerships.

5:30 PM

AWARDS CEREMONY: The Independent Sponsor Awards 2026

Join us to celebrate the movers and shakers in the Independent Sponsor space!

The Independent Sponsor Awards highlight the innovative work that brings together some of the most unique middle-market deals in the industry.

Visit the awards webpage here.

8:00 AM

NETWORKING: Registration & Breakfast

Join us from 8:00 AM for networking over breakfast - the perfect way to kick-start Day 2 with fresh connections and great conversations.

9:00 AM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Active Deals Only

10:00 AM

NETWORKING: Break

Take a moment to recharge and connect with fellow attendees over fresh coffee and light refreshments.

10:30 AM

PANEL: AI in Action - How Investors Are Streamlining the Deal Cycle

AI is rapidly reshaping how independent sponsors source, diligence, and execute deals — but most firms are only scratching the surface of what’s possible. This practical roundtable explores the real tools and workflows investors are using today to streamline origination, accelerate diligence, and reduce friction in IC prep and portfolio monitoring. Expect candid discussions on what works, what breaks, and how to adopt AI in a way that enhances (rather than replaces) your existing process.

Key Takeaways:

Proven AI use cases across sourcing, diligence, and execution
Tools that meaningfully save time — and where automation falls short
How to integrate AI into CRM, outreach, and pipeline workflows
AI for financial review: document parsing, QoE support, and memo drafting
Guardrails for compliance, data privacy, and founder communication

Facilitator

Harry Ratcliff

Co-Founder and CEO

DealSage

Harry Ratcliff is Co-Founder and CEO of DealSage, the AI-native intelligence platform for investment professionals. With over a decade of M&A and private equity experience at J.P. Morgan, Harry saw first-hand how much time deal teams waste on manual analysis that technology could handle. Together with his co-founder, a senior engineer from Palantir, he built DealSage to be the all-in-one platform that takes firms from first look to final close — faster diligence, cleaner financials, and the capacity to do more with the same team.

Bob Grebenc

Vice President

Align Collaborate

Bob is a Vice President at Align Collaborate. Prior to joining Align Collaborate, Bob was a Vice President on the investment team at Egeria Private Equity where he focused on sourcing, executing, and managing the firm’s investments. He was previously at Audax Private Equity, performing similar investment activities.

Prior to Audax, Bob was a Senior Manager in the Mergers and Acquisitions practice at West Monroe, where he led over 100 engagements for private equity and strategic clients, specializing in pre-close due diligence and post-close integrations.

Bob received a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from The Ohio State University.

11:15 AM : TAILORED SESSIONS

Select one session based on your priorities - multiple tailored sessions are taking place.

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PANEL: Future Strategy & 2026 Outlook

As 2026 approaches, independent sponsors and capital providers need a clear view of the market and actionable strategies. This panel session explores macro and regional trends shaping lower middle market deal flow, highlights emerging growth areas and sectors, and offers a collaborative discussion on evolving deal structures. Attendees will leave with strategic insights to guide planning and positioning for the year ahead.

Key Takeaways:

Macro and regional trends impacting lower middle market deal flow in 2026
Emerging growth areas, sectors, and investment opportunities
Evolving deal structures and approaches for the year ahead
Strategic planning frameworks for independent sponsors and capital providers
Peer insights and collaborative discussion on positioning for success in 2026

Moderator

Tom Kesoglou

Partner

Ice Miller

Thomas Kesoglou is the Chair of the firm’s Private Equity Practice. He is also a member of the firm's Board of Directors. Mr. Kesoglou represents private equity funds, mezzanine funds, SBICs, BDCs, family offices and independent sponsors providing strategic and legal advice in their investment strategies, including leveraged buyouts, mezzanine financings, growth capital transactions, early and late stage private equity investments and secondary transactions. Mr. Kesoglou also advises these investors in connection with the management of their portfolio companies, including acquisitions, dispositions, follow-on debt or equity investments, bridge loans, restructurings, recapitalizations, employment matters, stock plans and other general corporate matters.

Mr. Kesoglou represents privately held companies in connection with the sale of their business to strategic or financial investors. He also represents large U.S. and foreign corporations in connection with their investment and M&A activities in the United States.

In addition to advising his clients, Mr. Kesoglou actively seeks transaction opportunities to refer to financial investors in order to facilitate introductions and transaction opportunities.

Rick Lopez

Managing Director

Blackford Capital

Rick Lopez is a Managing Director of Blackford Capital, having joined the firm in 2025. He has over 25 years of experience in finance, investment banking and private equity investing. Rick primarily oversees the firm’s fundraising and Investor Relations, in addition to assisting with transaction sourcing, investment analysis, portfolio construction and management, deal financing, and internal operations. Rick is based out of our Chicago office.

Ryan Ochs

Founder & Managing Partner

RDP Advisory

Ryan is the Founder & Managing Partner at RDP Advisory, bringing expertise in tailored advisory services. Informed by a background in investment and business operations, they empower founders, owners, operators, and corporate clients with differentiated advice.

Their work history includes serving as Managing Director, Investment Committee Member and Head of Underwriting and Origination at Lafayette Square. During their tenure at Lafayette Square, Ryan focused on impact-driven capital deployment and inclusive economic opportunity initiatives. Prior to this, activities involved roles as Investment Professional at Brightwood Capital and Star Mountain Capital, demonstrating applied knowledge of venture capital and private equity. Earlier in their career, Ryan was an Investment Professional at American Capital, contributing to investments in middle market private equity, leveraged finance, and structured products.

ROUNDTABLE 1: Co-Underwriting with SBICs & Family Offices

Co-underwriting can unlock bigger deals, if everyone knows their lane. This peer-driven roundtable explores how to structure partnerships between SBICs and family offices, covering lead roles, signing authority, intercreditor basics, economic splits, governance, and a synchronized diligence playbook. Participants will gain practical frameworks for smoother collaboration and faster, cleaner closes.

Key Takeaways:

Roles and responsibilities in co-underwritten deals: who leads and who signs
Intercreditor fundamentals and economic split considerations
Governance best practices for multi-party investments
Step-by-step playbook for synchronized diligence and deal execution
Tips for minimizing friction and maximizing alignment between partners

Jonathon Cope

Partner

Patriot Capital

ROUNDTABLE 2: Packaging Deals for IS + Capital: What Actually Gets to IOI/LOI Fast

Speed matters when packaging deals for independent sponsors and capital providers. This peer-driven roundtable brings together attendees to discuss high-performing IS deal packages. Participants will explore revenue quality, pricing power, customer health, and debt capacity, while also discussing what often causes stalls or re-trades.

Key Takeaways:

How to structure CIM pages, addenda, and data rooms to accelerate IOIs and LOIs
Key metrics and narratives buyers prioritize: revenue quality, pricing power, customer health, debt capacity
Common pitfalls that slow deals or trigger re-trades
Insights from multiple perspectives: bankers, credit partners, equity investors, and QoE leads
Practical guidance for crafting deal packages that get action quickly

Facilitator

Peter Shelton

Partner

Benesch

Peter Shelton focuses his practice on transactional and corporate work, representing investors, private equity funds, independent sponsors, portfolio companies and other closely held businesses in complex business transactions.

He has extensive experience in mergers, acquisitions and divestitures, as well as private debt and equity financings, recapitalizations and joint ventures across a wide range of industries, including transportation and logistics, manufacturing, technology and healthcare.

Peter’s work spans the full spectrum of the business life cycle, from formation and early-stage investments to strategic growth and exit transactions. He routinely advises clients on corporate governance and day-to-day operational matters, including the drafting and negotiation of partnership, shareholder and other commercial agreements.

Clients turn to Peter for his practical, business-minded approach and ability to structure and execute transactions efficiently, whether guiding a founder through a sale to a private equity fund, helping a multinational expand through cross-border acquisitions, or advising on financing strategies to support long-term growth. His experience representing both buyers and sellers, as well as investors and lenders, gives him a well-rounded perspective that helps clients anticipate challenges and achieve their strategic objectives.

Vishy Venugopalan

Managing Partner

Weave Growth Partners

12:00 PM

NETWORKING: Lunch

12:10 PM

WORKSHOP: Deal Execution Infrastructure: The Competitive Advantage Independent Sponsors Underestimate

Independent Sponsors spend years refining how to source proprietary deals, structure creative transactions, and cultivate capital relationships. Yet many of the deals that stall, or close with unnecessary friction, don’t fail because of sourcing or structuring. They falter in execution.

Between LOI and closing, a different game is being played. Capital providers are evaluating certainty. Sellers are evaluating professionalism. Investors are evaluating confidence. And most sponsors are running this phase through spreadsheets, inboxes, and fragmented workflows, assuming it’s “just admin.”

This session reframes execution infrastructure as a strategic advantage, not a back-office task or an afterthought. We’ll explore where deal processes quietly break, why investor experience is shaped before a dollar is returned, and why treating deal administration as distinct from fund administration may be the hidden lever that determines who closes, and who consistently wins.

3 Key Takeaways:

Your Deals Don’t Stall Because of Capital. They Stall Because of Execution.
Investor Experience Begins Before the Close. Not After the First Distribution.
If You Don’t Intentionally Design Deal Admin, It Designs Itself...And It’s Usually Fragile and Broken

Facilitator

Rodney Reisdorf

Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer

Verivend

1:00 PM : TAILORED SESSIONS

Select one session based on your priorities - multiple tailored sessions are taking place.

Click black arrow to view sessions & speakers.

ROUNDTABLE 2: Minority vs Majority: What You’re Really Trading

Minority and majority investments aren’t just about percentage ownership, they’re about control, economics, and alignment. This peer roundtable dives into what you’re truly trading in each structure, covering governance levers, promote calculations, co-invest rights, and the critical “lines not to cross.” Participants will gain practical frameworks to negotiate and structure deals with clarity and confidence.

Key Takeaways:

Understanding governance levers in minority vs majority deals
How promote structures impact economics and alignment
Co-invest rights and how they factor into deal design
Common pitfalls and non-negotiables to avoid deal friction
Practical frameworks for structuring deals that balance control, risk, and upside

Facilitator

Dan Kipp

Co-Founder & CEO

Uncommon Equity

Dan is a seasoned, Chicago-based investment professional with nearly four decades of investing, banking, and financial advisory experience. He has experience across venture capital, growth equity and buyout investments, as well as in financial advisory and corporate finance disciplines, and has boardroom experience ranging from startups to multinational companies. Prior to co-founding Uncommon Equity, Dan co-founded Winona Capital Management and served on its Board and Investment Committee. He previously enjoyed a 17-year investment banking career with Salomon Brothers and Bank of America, serving as Bank of America’s Global Co-Head of the Consumer & Retail investment banking sector. Dan lives in Winnetka, Illinois with his wife, Suzanne, and enjoys time with his three adult children. He is an avid sports fan, long suffering Cleveland Browns and Cubs fan, golfer, jazz and R&B enthusiast, and bass player.

ROUNDTABLE 3: How Independent Sponsors Are Re-thinking Growth, Risk, and Timing

After years of rate shocks and stalled growth plans, independent sponsors are approaching capital allocation with more caution—and more intention. This closed-door roundtable explores how sponsors are reassessing growth, risk, and timing today, what decisions they’re delaying or accelerating, and which choices they believe will matter most at exit. Expect a candid, peer-level discussion grounded in real experiences, not theory.

Key Takeaways:

How recent market shifts have changed growth decisions
Where sponsors are leaning back in—and where they remain cautious
Risks that were underestimated in past deals
Capital allocation choices that most impact exit outcomes

Facilitator

Ricky Bouchard

Senior Vice President, Regional Director

Alliant

Ricky runs the independent sponsor efforts at Alliant Insurance Services – coordinating
due diligence for insurance/risk/employee benefits, reps & warranties and insurance
brokerage.

In 2019, Bouchard Insurance sold to the world’s largest insurance broker and gave
Ricky an earlier liquidity event than imagined. Since then, he has invested in 15 sponsor
led deals and a few funds that deploy into the space – some as a GP, some as a board
seat and some silent.

Today, Ricky’s focus is on helping sponsors create value and avoid missteps that could
affect their outcome.

ROUNDTABLE 1:Creative Sourcing Beyond Banker Blasts

Break out of the usual deal flow. This peer roundtable dives into creative sourcing strategies beyond standard outreach, featuring real-world case studies like operator-first wedges, trade organizations, and retired CEO networks. Participants will share and leave with actionable do’s and don’ts that can be implemented immediately to uncover high-quality, non-obvious opportunities.

Key Takeaways:

Innovative deal-sourcing approaches outside traditional banker channels
Case studies highlighting operator-first strategies, trade orgs, and retired executives
Practical do’s and don’ts that can be applied immediately
Peer-shared tactics to expand origination networks and uncover hidden opportunities

• • Frameworks for turning unconventional leads into actionable deal flow

1:45 PM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Relationship Building

Oriented to building new connections and expanding your network. Focused on developing relationships with a funding sources, connect with the Independent Sponsors or Capital Providers specializing in investments in the industry sectors and markets you focus on. In advance of the event you will be provided with a full list of attendees, so you can choose to meet with the most relevant contacts and evaluate the potential for future business partnerships.

2:45 PM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Deal Execution

3:45 PM

NETWORKING: Drinks Reception

Wrap up the day with a relaxed drinks reception, a great way to unwind and reflect on the day with fellow attendees.

4:45 PM

CLOSE OF EVENT

March 12 - Day 1 Agenda

March 13 - Day 2 Agenda

8:00 AM

NETWORKING: Registration & Networking

Join us from 8AM to pick up your badge and participate in the breakfast networking to kick start your day with new connections!

9:00 AM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Business Building

Engage in focused conversations around active deals where your operational expertise can drive value. Meet directly with Independent Sponsors and Capital Providers who are seeking hands-on operating partners with proven experience in scaling businesses, improving performance, and supporting post-acquisition strategy. Prior to the event, you’ll receive a full list of attendees, enabling you to identify the most relevant dealmakers and connect with those whose portfolio needs align with your sector experience.

These curated 1-2-1 meetings will help you evaluate fit, explore opportunities to partner on value-creation initiatives, and position yourself for future collaborations within active or upcoming transactions.

10:00 AM

NETWORKING: Break

Take a moment to recharge and connect with fellow attendees over fresh coffee and light refreshments.

10:30 AM : EXECUTIVE EXCHANGES

Navigating New Labor and State Rules
Talent & Leadership for PortCos
Leveraging AI to grow portfolio companies

Select one session based on your priorities.

Click black arrow to view sessions & speakers.

ROUNDTABLE 1: The Six Ways AI Agents Are Transforming Every Business

Facilitator

Henry Meller

SVP of Strategy & Founder

Artium

ROUNDTABLE 2: Digital Transformation That Actually Works: AI, Automation, and ROI Across Your Portfolio

Joley Schneider

Senior Manager, Financial Insitutions

Ramp

ROUNDTABLE 3: Pricing - Getting it Right the First Time

Michael Stanisz

Partner

Revenue Management Labs

Roundtable 4: From Cash Traps to Value Lift: The Lead-to-Cash Playbook for Mid-Market Portcos

Facilitator

Bruce Rylance

Managing Partner, Founder, CEO

Exactus Advisors

Bruce has a successful track record of designing, planning and delivering complex transformation programs for Fortune 500, Mid-Market and Private Equity firms focused on Software, Manufacturing, Consumer Products, and Financial Services.

For over 25 years Bruce has built a reputation of partnering with his clients to unlock and deliver value. He does so by integrating new thinking, capabilities and platforms into the teams of his clients. His philosophy for success anchors on his belief that it is not enough to just deliver a program or initiative as designed and expected. Rather, a true client partner must engage, coach, and develop leadership along the journey ensuring they are ready to own and deliver the expected results and long-term value.

Prior to co-founding Exactus Advisors, Bruce acted in leadership roles at Liberty Advisor Group, Rubicon Technology RBCN (co-founder), and Diamond Management & Technology. Bruce lives in Lake Forest, IL with his wife and two children. His passions include spending time with his family, travel, fishing, and racquet sports. Always looking for new challenges, he took up competitive BBQ and achieved several top awards at the Memphis in May World Championship BBQ Competition.

Facilitator

Tom Lebamoff

Managing Partner, Founder, Chairman

Exactus Advisors

Tom Lebamoff is the Chairman, Managing Partner, and Founder of Exactus, bringing over 36 years of leadership in professional services. He spearheads the firm’s strategic direction, growth, and commitment to delivering exceptional client value while fostering the development of Exactus team members. A recognized thought leader, Tom has been featured in numerous industry publications and is a sought-after speaker at leading business and consulting forums.

With a deep expertise in operational excellence, profit optimization, and risk mitigation, Tom partners with organizations to drive cross-functional alignment, execute strategy, and navigate complex M&A transactions. He has extensive experience in enterprise-wide program risk management, C-suite engagement, and board-level communication, ensuring that business transformation initiatives deliver measurable impact.

Throughout his career, Tom has built a reputation for helping organizations maximize efficiency, mitigate risk, and achieve sustainable growth in an increasingly complex business landscape.

Roundtable 5: From Messy Data to Margin: How Purpose-Built AI Agents Surface Profit Levers at Speed

Ron Nachun

Co-founder & CEO

Sapien

12:00 PM

NETWORKING: Lunch

1:00 PM

WORKSHOP: Commercial Transformation

Boosting Growth through Commercial Transformation

This workshop will explore how to overhaul go-to-market models, pricing, sales effectiveness and customer segmentation to unlock meaningful topline value. Attendees will get a fast-moving blueprint of practical moves that portfolio companies can deploy now.

Key Takeaways

Align to Win: Focus sales, marketing, and customer success on your highest-value segments.
Price Smarter: Shift from cost-based to value-based pricing to boost margins.
Supercharge Sales: Target smarter, streamline processes, and track performance.
Act Fast: Walk away with quick wins and scalable growth plays.

Facilitator

Vanessa Goolsby

Founder, GTM & AI Growth Advisor

Vanessa Goolsby Advisory

Ben Hou

Director Platform Solutions

Gong

1:30 PM : TAILORED SESSIONS

Select one session based on your priorities - multiple tailored sessions are taking place.

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DISCUSSION TABLE 1: Pricing and Value Capture

How to shift from cost-plus to value-driven pricing and monetize differentiated offerings.

Facilitator

James Carey

Partner

Next Sparc

James Carey is a Partner at Next Sparc and Head of M&A at the firm. At Next Sparc, James is responsible for origination, analyzing new investment opportunities, execution, due diligence, portfolio optimization, and working with our partner companies on strategic initiatives and growth partnerships.

DISCUSSION TABLE 2: Productivity & GTM Alignment

How to align sales, marketing and customer success to maximise growth lifts.

Facilitator

Hussein Abdelhalim

Sr. Director, Value Creation

Littlejohn & Co

Mr. Abdelhalim joined Littlejohn in 2021 as a Value Creation Director to support Littlejohn portfolio companies on designing and executing against their value creation plans. He has supported IWS, Valcourt, and Hiller across a variety of topics to drive organic and inorganic growth. As a Senior Director, Mr. Abdelhalim is also responsible for onboarding new Value Creation Directors and sharing best practices across the portfolio.

Prior to joining Littlejohn, Mr. Abdelhalim spent four years working at Carrier and Bloom Energy where he held a variety of corporate strategy, operations, and product management roles. He also spent five years working as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company where he advised clients globally on strategy, operations, and M&A topics.

Mr. Abdelhalim holds a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Florida and MIT, respectively, and he also completed minors in Business Administration & Sales Engineering.

2:15 PM

Q&A - What Is an Independent Sponsor? How the Economics Work and How to Become One?

You've spent your career building expertise in an industry, cultivating a network of executives and founders, and knowing exactly what it takes to grow a company. What if that's precisely the profile of a great private equity deal sponsor?

The independent sponsor model is one of the fastest-growing paths in private equity — and operating partners may be uniquely positioned to thrive in it. Unlike traditional PE, the IS model rewards deep industry knowledge, proprietary relationships, and operational credibility over financial engineering. Sound familiar?

Join Grant Kornman, Partner at Align Collaborate, for a candid, interactive session that demystifies the independent sponsor model and makes the case for why your background may be your biggest competitive advantage and how you can become an independent sponsor.

You'll walk away understanding:

What an independent sponsor actually is and how the model differs from traditional PE
How the economics work, including deal-by-deal carry, management fees, and how sponsors get paid
How deals get sourced, structured, and capitalized without a committed fund
Why your industry expertise and relationships are a natural deal-sourcing engine
The practical steps to explore whether the IS path is right for you

Grant Kornman

Partner

Align Collaborate

2:45 PM : TAILORED SESSIONS

Select one session based on your priorities - multiple tailored sessions are taking place.

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DISCUSSION TABLE 1: Leadership & Change Management for Value Creation

How to lead transformations, engage teams, manage resistance and embed new ways of working.

Facilitator

George Alifragis

SVP, Head of Operating Network & Ecosystem

Metropolitan Partners Group

George is responsible for curating, managing, and scaling our Operating Expert network. George began his career at Bell Canada, where he dedicated over 12 years to increasingly responsible management and executive roles. More recently, George served in executive capacities at Sryas as COO and Altima Telecom as Chief Customer and Innovation Officer. Presently, he serves on the Executive Board as Chief Innovation Officer at the Cyber Security Global Alliance and is a member of the Forbes Business Council.

DISCUSSION TABLE 2: Ensuring Alignment with first-time PE-backed management teams

Facilitator

Kit Lisle

Founder

The Owners and The Operators

3:30 PM

NETWORKING: Break

Take a moment to recharge and connect with fellow attendees over fresh coffee and light refreshments.

3:45 PM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Relationship Building

Designed to help you build meaningful connections and expand your network, these 1-2-1 meetings provide direct access to key players in the value creation ecosystem. Connect with funding sources, Independent Sponsors, Capital Providers, and Operating Partners who specialize in investments and operational improvement in your target sectors and markets.

Prior to the event, you will receive a full list of attendees, allowing you to select the most relevant contacts and explore opportunities for strategic collaboration, co-investments, and future business partnerships.

4:45 PM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Deal Execution

These 1-2-1 meetings are designed to connect you with the right people to accelerate deal execution. Engage with funding sources, Independent Sponsors, Capital Providers, and Operating Partners who can help move transactions forward, from deal structuring and financing to signing and closing.

Ahead of the event, you will receive a full list of attendees, allowing you to select the most relevant contacts and explore opportunities for strategic collaboration, co-investments, and future business partnerships.

5:30 PM

AWARDS: The Independent Sponsor Awards Ceremony 2026

Join us to celebrate the movers and shakers in the Independent Sponsor space!

The Independent Sponsor Awards highlight the innovative work that brings together some of the most unique middle-market deals in the industry.

Visit the awards webpage here.

9:00 AM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Business Building

10:00 AM

NETWORKING: Break

Take a moment to recharge and connect with fellow attendees over fresh coffee and light refreshments.

10:30 AM

WORKSHOP: Finance Transformation

Financial Foundations for Value Creation
Focused on refining the finance function to drive value: improved forecasting, KPI design, working capital optimisation, cost transparency and decision-support. Participants will leave with a concise checklist of high-impact financial levers.

Key Takeaways:

Forecast with Confidence: Build accurate, actionable projections that guide decisions.
Measure What Matters: Use KPIs that truly drive business performance.
Unlock Cash: Optimize working capital to free resources for growth.
See Clearly, Decide Faster: Improve cost transparency and decision-support for smarter moves.

Facilitator

Tim Van Mieghem

Operating Partner

The Peakstone Group

Tim Van Mieghem is an Operating Partner at The Peakstone Group, where he is responsible for deal evaluation and execution. Tim is also a Partner of The ProAction Group, an operational consulting firm which he co-founded in 1995.

Tim has 20 years of experience helping middle market companies improve operations. Tim has particular experience in manufacturing, sourcing, logistics, inventory management, and related operational areas. Tim is also the author of Implementing Supplier Partnerships and numerous articles on sourcing and logistics.

Prior to forming The ProAction Group, Tim worked in operational consulting at Arthur Andersen and a boutique supply chain consulting firm.

11:00 AM

TAILORED SESSIONS

Select one session based on your priorities - multiple tailored sessions are taking place.

Click black arrow to view sessions & speakers.

DISCUSSION TABLE 1: Designing KPIs That Drive Business Results

Moving beyond vanity metrics to meaningful performance indicators and accountability.

Facilitator

Ross Fuller

Operating Partner

Align Capital Partners

Ross Fuller is an Operating Partner for ACP. He works with the investment team and portfolio company management on growth initiatives and operational priorities. His areas of expertise include hiring key staff, mentoring C-Suite members, strategic planning, organic growth, operations, and add-on acquisitions / integrations.

Prior to working with ACP, Ross was an Operating Executive at three other private equity firms. Ross has almost 30 years of experience in multiple industries – primarily technology, services, and manufacturing – and has served in multiple C-Level positions in private equity-backed companies. Ross had broad experience, from large multi-nationals to small founder own businesses, high revenue growth to turnarounds.

Ross takes great pride in building companies and management teams, through authentic leadership, fostering a culture that embraces both high performance and the whole human to deliver exceptional revenue and EBITDA growth.

DISCUSSION TABLE 2: Cash Flow & Working Capital Agility

Tactics to improve visibility, free up cash, and build resilience into the business model.

Facilitator

David Munczinski

Senior Vice President

Access Holdings

David joined Access Holdings in 2024 and is a Senior Vice President on the Investment Team. As a member of the Investment Team, David supports the firm’s thesis development, origination, execution, and portfolio management activities. David is responsible for developing growth marketing capabilities and driving initiatives within consumer service portfolio companies and at Access.
David brings more than 15 years of investing and operating experience to Access. Most recently, he was a Partner at Firelight Capital Partners, a consumer-focused private equity firm in New York City, where he led deal execution and built a value creation strategy around digital acceleration. He previously founded, scaled and sold Brickwork, an omnichannel enablement SaaS company, and began his career in marketing and strategy for global consumer brands.

David received his MBA from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and AB from Harvard University.

11:30 AM

WORKSHOP: Technology Transformation

Tech Enablement as a Value Creation Engine

This session focuses on leveraging technology (automation, data, systems) to scale the business, streamline operations, reduce cost and enable growth. The goal: practical tech-stack review, quick wins and scalable platform thinking.

Key Takeaways

Automate to Accelerate: Use automation to streamline operations and cut costs.
Leverage Data: Turn insights into smarter, faster business decisions.
Scale with Systems: Build a tech stack that grows with your business.
Quick Wins, Big Impact: Identify immediate opportunities while planning for long-term platform growth.

Facilitator

Alex Ulbrich

Alex Ulbrich, VP of Technology

Virtual Technologies Group

Alex Ulbrich serves as Vice President of Technology at Virtual Technologies Group, bringing more than 25 years of experience leading enterprise IT innovation across industries including government, energy, finance, telecommunications, and retail. A seasoned technologist and strategist, Alex specializes in AI-driven solutions, systems integration, service management, and enterprise platform architecture.

Throughout his career, he has led technical teams, developed scalable infrastructure strategies, and delivered mission-critical implementations for complex environments. Known for translating technical complexity into practical business value, Alex helps organizations modernize operations, strengthen security posture, and unlock performance through intelligent technology.

His leadership spans solution development, implementation methodology, and go-to-market technical strategy - bridging the gap between innovation and real-world execution.

12:00 PM

NETWORKING: Lunch

1:00 PM : TAILORED SESSIONS

Select one session based on your priorities - multiple tailored sessions are taking place.

Click black arrow to view sessions & speakers.

DISCUSSION TABLE 1: Automation & Workflow Optimisation

Where to start, what to automate, how to assess ROI and drive adoption.

Facilitator

Mariano Jurich

Project and Product Manager

Making Sense LLC

Mariano Jurich is a technology and product leader with over 15 years of experience, who helps companies turn new technologies, especially AI, into real business results. He works closely with investors and management teams to make sure ideas discussed during a deal actually work once the business is operating day to day.
He has led projects across industries including healthcare, legal, edTech, and AgTech. His approach is practical and iterative: test quickly, learn early, and improve continuously to reduce risk and move faster.
Mariano believes the biggest challenge in adopting new technology isn’t the technology itself, it’s people. His work focuses on helping teams understand, trust, and use new tools effectively, based on the belief that value comes from solving the right problems at the right time, not just adding more software.

DISCUSSION TABLE 2: Technology Infrastructure & Scalable Systems

Ensuring the architecture, legacy clean-up, data pipelines and platforms support future growth.

1:45 PM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Relationship Building

2:45 PM

1-2-1 MEETINGS: Deal Execution

3:45 PM

NETWORKING: Drinks Reception

Wrap up the day with a relaxed drinks reception, a great way to unwind and reflect on the day with fellow attendees.

4:45 PM