March 4 - 5, 2025 | Miami
Kick off the Independent Sponsors Summit with an evening of networking at the Ritz Carlton, Miami. Join fellow attendees for pre-conference welcome drinks from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM.
Welcome to the 18th Independent Sponsor Summit! Join us for the official opening and welcome remarks to kick-start the day.
The two day agenda is filled with keynotes, expert-led panels and interactive workshops, that deliver valuable insights and knowledge from industry leaders discussing the latest trends and best practices.
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.
Join James Kohnstamm, Executive Vice President, Economic Development for Miami-Dade, as he uncovers how the region’s dynamic growth is creating prime opportunities for mid-market and lower middle-market M&A activity. This session will spotlight Miami-Dade’s high-growth sectors—such as technology, healthcare, and logistics—and provide actionable insights on how independent sponsors and capital providers can capitalize on the region’s economic momentum.
Executive Vice President, Economic Development
Miami-Dade County
James Kohnstamm is an experienced economic development professional who is passionate about expanding economic opportunities for all . As Executive Vice President for Economic Development, Kohnstamm leads a team that advises local, national and international business leaders on the economic trends and attributes of Miami-Dade County and delivers customized services to support expanding and relocating business that are making job generating investments. As an International Economic Development Council (IEDC) Certified Economic Developer (CEcD), Kohnstamm has directly managed over 200 economic development projects that have generated over 15,000 jobs and $3 billion of investment for Miami-Dade County. Clients include: Amazon, Blackstone, Boeing, Deloitte, Ford, JP Morgan Chase, LATAM Airlines, Microsoft, Ryder System, Spotify, Telemundo, Univision, and UPS. Kohnstamm is an ex-officio board member of the Coral Gables Florida Chamber of Commerce. Prior to joining The Beacon Council, Kohnstamm worked for The University of Miami School of Education and was a high school English and History teacher. A Seattle native, he holds a MA degree in International Administration from The University of Miami and a BA in Anthropology from Connecticut College.
The 100-Day Plan: From Plan to Reality Post-Acquisition
Deep dive into the crucial 100-day plan, often grouped with broader post-closing strategies but deserving its own focus. Panelists will share what they prioritize in their 100-day plans versus what they actually accomplished after closing, and reflect on what they would change in future deals. Learn the key milestones, common challenges, and real-world adjustments needed to maximize value in the critical first phase of a new investment.
Moderator
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.
Partner
Sadis
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.
Discussion Moderator
Office Managing Partner
Ice Miller
Discussion Moderator
Private Capital Consultant
Insperity
Discussion Moderator
Partner
Lippes Mathias
Discussion Moderator
Burt Francis is a Managing Director of Business Development at ECA. He works with clients to fill permanent and project based roles. Burt has wide-ranging experience in engineering, business leadership and management consulting in various industries including aerospace, software, financial services, and manufacturing. This includes notable tenure with Oliver Wyman, The Boeing Company, General Dynamics and Starbase Technologies Inc.
Burt graduated summa cum laude, with a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Discussion Moderator
Partner
Holland & Knight
Kevin Christmas is a private equity attorney in Holland & Knight's Charlotte office, and is a co-head of both Holland & Knight's Search Funds and Independent Sponsors teams. Mr. Christmas has substantial experience representing domestic and international search funds, independent sponsors and private equity funds in connection with capital raising, mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, financing, equity structuring, general corporate advisory work and related matters.
Mr. Christmas has extensive experience advising clients on the full life cycle of business issues, from company formation and capital raising to exit strategies. He serves a portfolio of clients across various industry sectors, including healthcare, life sciences, financial services, distribution, software, retail, education and manufacturing. Mr. Christmas' practice includes representation of private equity funds, search funds, independent sponsors, family offices, entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, and public and private companies.
Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Christmas was a corporate partner at international law firms based in Charlotte and Philadelphia.
Workshop Overview
Co-Founder & CEO
Verivend
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.
As the independent sponsor space evolves new models and strategies are emerging to meet the demands of a competitive market. This session will explore the innovative approaches sponsors are using to differentiate themselves, how the industry is growing, and the new possibilities being created. From alternative deal structures to fresh opportunities for collaboration with capital providers, join us to examine the next evolution in the independent sponsor space and the future of deal-making.
Moderator
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.
Mr. Kesoglou is a frequent public speaker on corporate legal matters and has authored several articles published in leading magazines, including Buyouts, Financier Worldwide, and The Deal. He was named AM&AA Conference Chair of the Year and AM&AA Chapter Leader of the Year by the Alliance of Merger & Acquisition Advisors and serves as the New York Chapter President.
Prior to founding Ice Miller's New York office in 2015, Mr. Kesoglou practiced in the private equity groups of Am Law 200 firms in New York. Prior to becoming an attorney, Mr. Kesoglou worked as an investment banker in the Real Estate Finance and Securitization Group of CIBC World Markets in New York.
Managing Partner, Co-Founder
Hullson Partners
Prior to co-founding Hullson Partners, Michael worked at a multi-manager asset management firm with assets under management in excess of $3 billion. His responsibilities included support for registered investment advisor, private funds, and private equity transactions, as well as hedge fund administration and compliance. Michael received his BBA in Marketing and Business Law from the Villanova School of Business. He received his Juris Doctor from the Widener University School of Law with a focus in Corporate Bankruptcy.
Founder and Managing Partner
Full Guard Capital
Josh Welk founded Full Guard Capital and is responsible for developing investment theses, sourcing and evaluating opportunities, and managing the firm’s investment portfolio through strategic and executive support. Prior to founding Full Guard Capital, Josh spent several years as a C-level executive of a rapidly growing telecom and technology services company. Prior to his operating role, Josh spent over a decade in private equity and mergers and acquisitions of privately held and family owned businesses, primarily with Argosy Private Equity. During his career, Josh has been involved in and completed over 25 transactions. Josh holds a BA from Franklin & Marshall College and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
Advisory Lead, Supply Chain Compliance Services Withum
Travis Loomis is a member of Withum’s Supply Chain Compliance Services Team. With over ten years of experience in supply chain and M&A consulting, Travis specializes in operations strategy, process design and improvement, supply chain optimization, merger integration management, and data analytics. His industry expertise spans Consumer Products, Manufacturing, Distribution and Logistics, Retail, Food & Beverage and Healthcare. He works with clients to build and sustain strategic competitive advantages and drive bottom-line benefits informed by candid communication and data-driven insights.
Travis has worked in both factories and corporate offices, learning best-in-class manufacturing principles & distribution methodologies. He has led transformational projects in the Midwest and nationwide to help clients improve operations and drive sustained growth. His expertise includes financial & manufacturing cost modeling, network strategy & design, inventory optimization, profitability improvement, technology selection and implementation, process mapping & optimization, integration planning, and synergy execution.
This Chatham House discussion will explore the growing trend of independent sponsor partnerships and the value they bring. These collaborations can enhance bandwidth, improve deal flow, and combine complementary skillsets for greater value creation. Join an open exchange of insights on how strategic partnerships can drive success for both emerging and established independent sponsors.
Discussion Points:
Managing Partner
Auricle Capital
Neil Schaefer is a Managing Partner of Auricle Capital and serves in both investing and operating roles. Neil has been advising or investing in middle market businesses for nearly his entire professional career, which includes direct involvement in over $2 billion of transaction value. Neil is currently the co-President and director of Banister Medical, as well as a director of Elastic Therapy, LLC, both Auricle-affiliated investments.
For nearly 20 years, Neil has been a professional investor focused on small- and medium-sized businesses. During this time, he has completed transactions in a variety of industries, primarily within the industrial and healthcare sectors. His advisory and investment experience includes transactions with Baxter International (medical products), Schramm (capital equipment), SiVance (specialty chemicals), and Engineered Medical Systems (medical contract manufacturing/precision machining).
Success stories are inspiring, but some of the greatest lessons come from failures. In this Chatham House session, seasoned independent sponsors will share their real-world experiences of deals that went wrong, why they did, and the invaluable lessons they learned along the way. From challenging situations to tough decisions, these insights will provide an honest look at the pitfalls of deal-making and how failures can ultimately shape future success.
Facilitator
Managing Partner
Penstock Equity
Adam is an experienced investor and board member of privately owned companies with 17+ years’ experience in principal investing and lower middle market mergers and acquisitions.
Adam has participated in dozens of transactions as a principal investor or co-investor in the manufacturing, distribution, consumer products, and business services segments. He has significant expertise in sourcing and evaluating acquisition opportunities, facilitating due diligence, raising capital, and negotiating transaction documents.
As an active board member of portfolio companies, he has helped management teams with strategy development as well as growth opportunities both organically and through acquisition.
Born and raised in Michigan, Adam is a graduate of the University of Michigan where he earned BBA, MAcc and MBA degrees. Adam is the founder and Managing Partner of Credo Private Capital, an independent sponsor firm. Before Penstock and Credo, he spent 15 years at Strength Capital Partners, a lower middle market private equity and independent sponsor firm, and prior to that he spent 3 years as a CPA in the audit practice at KPMG. He enjoys world travel and competing in sporting clays tournaments across the United States.
Creative Deal Sourcing: Uncovering Off-Market Opportunities
Everyone talks about “proprietary deal sourcing,” but what does it really mean? This chatham house discussion dives into tactics Independent Sponsors are using to creatively find off-market deals. Be prepared to share insightful stories and actionable strategies that go beyond the traditional approach to sourcing deals.
Discussion Points:
Facilitator
Managing Partner
LP First Capital
In this Chatham House discussion, capital providers will have the opportunity to openly share how they evaluate Independent Sponsors (IS) for successful partnerships. Discussing key criteria such as track record, deal sourcing strategies, alignment of interests, and operational expertise. Discover what makes an IS a valuable partner and explore strategies to build long-term, profitable relationships that align with your investment goals.
Discussion Points:
Senior Principal
Josh Welk founded Full Guard Capital and is responsible for developing investment theses, sourcing and evaluating opportunities, and managing the firm’s investment portfolio through strategic and executive support. Prior to founding Full Guard Capital, Josh spent several years as a C-level executive of a rapidly growing telecom and technology services company. Prior to his operating role, Josh spent over a decade in private equity and mergers and acquisitions of privately held and family owned businesses, primarily with Argosy Private Equity. During his career, Josh has been involved in and completed over 25 transactions. Josh holds a BA from Franklin & Marshall College and an MBA from Columbia Business School.
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.
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Join us to celebrate the rapidly evolving Independent Sponsors space. This ceremony will provide a fantastic opportunity to come together and recognize the remarkable achievements within the industry.
Join us for a dynamic and reflective discussion between Lifetime Achievement Award recipients Bruce Lipian and Richard Baum, exploring their pivotal roles in shaping the independent sponsor model. From the early days to becoming industry innovators and leaders, this conversation will blend humor, history, and insight.
The Origin Story: The journey to gaining industry-wide respect and rebranding the model.
Lessons Learned: Strategies for sustainability and preserving longevity
Collaborative Innovation: The power of partnerships and a strong community in driving shared success.
Future Perspectives: How the independent sponsor model has stayed relevant and adaptable, and its legacy for future leaders.
Moderator
Partner
Platt Richmond
Managing Partner
Consumer Growth Partners
Richard Baum co-founded Consumer Growth Partners (“CGP”) in 2005 and is the Managing Partner. CGP is a hybrid investment and advisory firm with an exclusive focus on companies in the retail (channel agnostic) and non-perishable branded consumer products sectors. Prior to CGP, Richard spent 16 years on Wall Street as a top-rated Equity Research Analyst at Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and Sanford Bernstein & Co. where he followed specialty retail companies.
Previously Richard spent six years in merchandising at Bloomingdale’s and began his career at the Boston Consulting Group. He is currently President of the Retail Marketing Society (www.retailmarketingsociety.org) and serves on the board of 2 private companies. He recently stepped down from the board of Vera Bradley (NYSE: VRA).
Richard lives outside New York City in Westchester County with his wife. He has two adult sons, one a corporate attorney in DC and the other a musical theatre composer, arranger and vocal coach in New York City. Richard is happy to work on projects involving retail and consumer products companies.
Managing Director
StoneCreek Capital
This session will focus on understanding the investment profiles of different capital sources when selecting the right capital partners, including equity capital providers, SBIC funds, family offices, and private equity firms. Discover insights on how to effectively match deals with the appropriate partner, helping sponsors maximize their chances of success. Learn how to navigate the landscape of capital partners and ensure your deals align with their goals and strategies.
Moderator
Partner, Co-Chair, Transactions Department
Winston & Strawn
Serving as co-chair of Winston’s Transactions Department, Brad has extensive experience advising financial sponsors, alternative asset managers, family offices, and private companies in connection with a wide range of strategic transactions and corporate matters. He is an integral member of one of the broadest and most active middle-market private equity groups in the U.S.
Brad represents private investment funds, hedge funds, family offices, lending institutions, and other alternative asset managers on complex business transactions. He counsels clients in structuring, negotiating, documenting, and executing leveraged buyouts, take-private transactions, minority recapitalizations, growth equity investments, distressed and special situations, PIPE transactions, joint ventures, business combinations, and other commercial transactions. Brad also advises on the implementation and execution of exit strategies through divestitures, public offerings, and recapitalizations.
Brad also represents public and private companies and private equity investors in the management of their portfolio companies in connection with a variety of matters, including: mergers and acquisitions; senior secured and subordinated debt offerings and refinancings; mezzanine debt offerings; high-yield note offerings; public equity offerings; workouts; and corporate reorganizations.
In addition, he represents real estate funds in a variety of transactions, including fundraising and formation; acquisitions; financings; and dispositions of office buildings, multi-family, residential, and mixed-use developments.
Brad regularly represents founders, entrepreneurs, and emerging and established entities in growth-oriented capital raises as well as liquidating transactions and recapitalizations.
Chief Investment Officer
JM Family Enterprises
Dhvani Shah, CFA, is group vice president and chief investment officer of JM Family Enterprises, Inc., a privately held diversified company with more than $20 billion in revenue and more than 5,000 associates. Rooted in automotive and united in its strong culture and core values, JM Family is in the business of helping other businesses succeed.
In this role, Shah is responsible for managing and monitoring JM Family’s portfolio and investment activity, managing pension funds, and developing short- and long-term investment policies. Shah currently serves on the Board of Directors for CFA Society Miami, The Robert Toigo Foundation, PREA Foundation and PREA.
Prior to joining JM Family, Shah was chief investment officer for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) in Oakbrook, Illinois for nearly 10 years. In that time, she oversaw a global $49+ billion portfolio and led a team of seventeen investment professionals with respect to the portfolio monitoring and management responsibilities. A seasoned investment professional with more than 25 years of industry experience, Shah also worked with the New York State Teachers’ Retirement System, Bank of America and the Northwestern University Investment Office.
Shah was named in CIO Magazine’s 2019 Power 100 list, which recognizes the 100 most influential chief investment officers. She received her master’s degree in business administration from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business and received her bachelor’s degree in business administration, Magna Cum Laude, from Loyola University. She, along with her husband and two children live in Delray Beach, Florida.
This session will explore practical approaches to securing favorable tax treatment from the outset, optimizing tax structures during the life of an investment, and planning for a tax-efficient exit. Gain actionable insights into minimizing liabilities while maximizing returns, and discover how strategic tax planning can significantly impact your bottom line.
Structuring deals for immediate and long-term tax benefits
Tax-efficient strategies for independent sponsors during acquisitions
Navigating tax complexities during the exit process
Real-world examples of successful tax planning in independent sponsor transactions
Key tax considerations in today’s volatile economic landscape
Moderator
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.
Managing Partner
Exaltare Capital Management
Mr. Simmons is a seasoned private equity professional who has closed over 20 principal transactions exceeding $3B in aggregate transaction value over a 20-plus year private equity career.
Omar also ran ECP Planet Fitness as CEO and Executive Chairman from 2012-2021 increasing ECP from 15 to over 100 units before successfully exiting the business.
Omar currently serves as a board member to ECP-PF (Planet Fitness), EVG (Urban Air), ECM-GF (The Good Feet Store), InXpress Global, and the International Franchise Association.
Prior to co-founding Exaltare, Omar was a Director at Windjammer Capital Investors, a leading middle-market private investment firm with over $2B under management. Prior to Windjammer Capital Investors, he was a co-founder and Managing Director at Reliant Equity Investors, a private equity firm based in Chicago. Omar also worked at leading private equity firms such as Summit Partners and McCown DeLeeuw. He started his career helping Fortune 500 businesses as a management consultant at Marakon Associates.
Omar graduated from Harvard Business School with honors, following his graduation from Princeton University.
This Chatham House Discussion will explore best practices for executing deals in a competitive environment, from getting deals signed and financed to post-close strategies for driving organic growth with limited resources. Hear advice on overcoming challenges throughout the deal lifecycle, including, execution and integration, in a confidential setting.
Discussion Points:
Facilitator
Partner
Pine Street
A founder of Pine Street, Tim is involved with all activities at Pine Street, including deal sourcing, deal structuring, portfolio management, and administration. Tim currently serves as a board member on Pine Street portfolio companies Express Medical Transporters, Filterworks USA, NPL HomeCare, DeIorio Foods, ChemArt, and is a board observer on Pine Street portfolio company Alexis Russell. He has also been active as a board member of several other for-profit and not-for-profit entities. Tim's career has included a variety of roles, including as Chief Operating Officer and board member of Colonial Data Technologies, a $75 million revenue publicly traded provider of telecommunications equipment; Chief Financial Officer of First Albany Companies Inc., a $250 million revenue publicly traded investment banking and brokerage firm; and more than 10 years as a senior investment banker providing advisory and capital raising services to small and middle market companies in various industries. Tim began his career as a corporate and securities attorney at Cahill Gordon & Reindel in New York City. He is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and Albany Law School.
Moderator
Partner
Benesch
Bill specializes in mergers and acquisitions, general corporate and commercial transactions, private equity, and debt and equity finance.
Bill has been involved with the founding and growth of new ventures, has taken companies public, and has acquired, sold, financed and combined many others along the way. Bill’s transactions have also included cross border elements. His diverse industry experience includes advertising and digital media, wealth management and financial services, technology consulting, business services, cannabis industry, direct marketing, manufacturing, distribution, food, health care services, medical devices, retail and transportation.
Bill is a seasoned deal attorney, who for over thirty years has helped many clients successfully complete a variety of public and private transactions and successfully navigate a variety of business and legal challenges.
Bill regularly provides responsive, thoughtful and effective legal and business advice to the leaders of the Business enterprises in a wide range of sizes and industries, often acting as the client’s principal legal counsel.
This Chatham House discussion explores the trends, challenges, and opportunities for capital providers navigating the Independent Sponsor landscape. discussing the good, the bad, and the ugly aspects of investing in this space. Attendees can expect valuable insights to enhance their approach to independent sponsor investments.
Discussion Points:
Facilitator
New State Capital Partners
John joined New State Capital Partners in 2013. Prior to joining, John spent over 14 years in investment banking. Most recently, John was an Executive Director in the Financial Sponsors & Leveraged Finance Group at UBS Investment Bank, where he was responsible for originating and executing leveraged buyouts, recapitalizations and refinancings as well as co-covering middle market private equity firms. Prior to UBS, John was at Credit Suisse First Boston (previously Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette) in the Private Placements Group, where he helped raise over $2 billion for growth companies in a variety of industries. John began his career at Deutsche Bank in the Commercial Real Estate Finance Group.
John graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics.
Success stories are inspiring, but some of the greatest lessons come from failures. In this Chatham House session, seasoned independent sponsors will share their real-world experiences of deals that went wrong, why they did, and the invaluable lessons they learned along the way. From challenging situations to tough decisions, these insights will provide an honest look at the pitfalls of deal-making and how failures can ultimately shape future success.
Principal
Tamarix Equity Partners
Jay is a Principal at Tamarix Equity Partners, a middle-market fund based in NYC, where he leads deal execution, investment strategy, and portfolio management. Over ten years’ experience in private equity, growth capital, investment banking and as a consumer startup founder. Prior investment firms include Centre Partners, a middle-market private equity firm in NYC, Palisades Growth Capital, a growth-equity firm in Los Angeles, and Macquarie Capital, an investment bank. Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College with a major in International Politics and Economics.
As traditional financing options become more competitive, independent sponsors and capital providers are increasingly turning to alternative sources of debt to fund their deals. In this Chatham House discussion, we will explore non-traditional lending solutions—ranging from private credit and mezzanine financing to direct lenders and family offices. Discuss how these alternative debt options can provide greater flexibility, customized solutions, and unlock new opportunities to navigate complex transactions.
Chief Executive Officer
Aspen HR
Oriented to building new connections and expand your network 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.
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