The EPI Chicago Chapter 2023 Owners Forum is a dynamic and insightful gathering designed to empower business owners with the knowledge and strategies they need to navigate the complexities of ownership transitions and maximize the value of their enterprises. Hosted by the esteemed EPI Chicago Board, this forum introduces attendees to the Value Acceleration Methodology, a transformative approach to achieving optimal results in their ownership journey. Through engaging breakout sessions led by industry experts, participants will delve into advanced planning, employee ownership as an exit strategy, the nuances of building internal teams, and life after the exit. Join us for a day of interactive learning, networking, and invaluable insights into the world of ownership transitions.
Agenda:
- Introduction to the Value Acceleration Methodology – EPIC Board
- Breakout Room 1: Advanced Planning – Thomas Handler
- Breakout Room 2: Employee Ownership as an Exit Strategy – Michael Hilker & Matthew Nels
- Breakout Room 3: Building Internal Teams – Operations vs. Sales
- Breakout Room 4: Life After the Exit – Cara Gray & Martin Swarbrick
Learning Objectives:
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Gain a solid grasp of the Value Acceleration Methodology and how it can be applied to optimize business value and ownership transitions.
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Explore advanced planning strategies to proactively address ownership transition challenges and capitalize on opportunities.
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Discover the advantages and intricacies of using employee ownership as a viable exit strategy for your business.
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Gain insights into building and managing internal teams, balancing operations and sales, and preparing for life after the exit to successfully navigate the entire ownership transition journey.
About the Presenters:
Hear from industry experts, Michael D. Hilker, Martin Swarbrick, Thomas Handler, Cara Gray, Matthew Nels, Tony Lenhart, and Bill Stranberg.
Thank you to our Sponsors
Event Details
Who Should Attend?
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CPAs/Accountants
Owners participating in the State of Owner Readiness research continue to indicate that you are the No. 1 "Most Trusted Advisor." You are a natural fit to lead the exit planning team and deepen your relationship (and retention) of next generation owners.
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Attorneys
You have close relationships with clients, and can benefit from being the first advisor to introduce the idea of exit planning.
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Wealth Managers
You’re a skilled relationship person. Being entangled into your clients’ professional lives matters as you build a strategy to manage their wealth upon them harvesting it from their business. Exit planning allows you to build a deeper relationship with your client, expands your COI network, while giving you an early seat at table well before the liquidity event.
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Financial Advisors
One of the critical ‘legs of the stool’ is personal financing planning. An owner must have a strong financial plan & contingency plan post-transition to enable them to thrive in the next act of the lives personally and financially. Exit planning brings this future mindset into the present. Exit is now.
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Valuation Analysts
Valuation is both a billable engagement AND an opportunity to provide owners some perspective on how to accelerate value drivers (and deal with value killers). Use exit planning to make that valuation into a longer term value acceleration engagement.
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Investment Bankers
Only 2 of every 10 businesses that come to market actually sell. Learn how exit planning can bring attractive AND ready business to your purview.
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Estate Planners
Exit planning is a natural fit for estate planners who want to operate more holistically with their owner clients.
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Strategic Consultants
One of the most critical roles in exit planning is building transferable value. Strategic consultants have the ability to expand options and drive rapid business value that affect performance today.
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Insurance Professionals
Exit planning addresses the 5 D's. So do you. Approach the risk conversation differently with exit planning.
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Mergers & Acquisition Advisors
Proper exit planning causes less deals to fall through at the last minute. Connect with CEPAs to build your healthy deal flow network.
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Commercial Lenders
One of the best relationships a business owner makes is with their banker. How can you help your corporate clients think about the future and ensure financial continuity? Answer: exit planning.
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Family Business Advisors
More than 50% of lower middle market business owners would prefer to transition to the next generation. Help them succeed with exit planning strategies.
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Other Professional Advisors
Regardless of your unique specialty, there is seat at the exit planning table for you. Learn more at www.EarnCEPA.com.
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Private Business Owners
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Members of Family Business Boards
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Professional Advisors
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Business Consultants
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Other Business Professionals
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Business Owners
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Business Owners & Their Trusted Advisors
EXIT PLANNING IS GOOD BUSINESS STRATEGY
The Exit Planning Institute, provides Financial Advisors, Accountants, Consultants, and other advisors of business owners with the critical education to differentiate themselves and add value to their existing client relationships through a credential, conference, courses, and content. Download the CEPA brochure for more information.
ABOUT THE PRESENTERS
Meet Michael D. Hilker:
Michael Hilker is Senior Vice President of the ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) Solutions Group for the Midwest Region. ESOP Solutions is focused on the origination and execution of ownership succession strategies, with an emphasis on employee ownership as a strategic exit alternative. His team delivers tailored leveraged finance and wealth management solutions to owners of privately-held businesses. He also assists them with understanding ESOP-related issues throughout the lifecycle of an ESOP, including newly established and mature plans.
Additionally, Michael is an active member of The ESOP Association and the National Center for Employee Ownership.
Michael also serves locally as a Senior Relationship Manager for the Chicago West Market in Commercial Banking at Bank of America. In this capacity, his responsibilities include leading a team of specialists focused on understanding each client’s unique needs to deliver strategic financial guidance and solutions. Michael's mission is to help local companies thrive by achieving their business goals, no matter how simple or how complex.
Meet Martin Swarbrick:
Martin Swarbrick is a Business Consultant and Advisor living and working in the Chicago area. His areas of focus as a consultant to private mid-market businesses are Operations, Strategy ,M&A ,Exit Planning and Coaching next generation leaders.
Martin is currently working on engagements in the US and Europe.
Before founding Clear Waters LLC, Martin worked in various senior roles with GE, Verbatim, Motorola and Bison Gear and Engineering. Martin understands the complexities and skills required to successfully operate a business having owned and run mid-sized private companies.
In 2002 as VP of Strategy and Business Excellence for Motorola Solutions, Martin led the organization to earn the Malcolm Baldrige Award for Performance Excellence from the President of the United States.
Martin loves cooking and wine, travel and hiking. He has hiked many trails including the Rota de Vicentina in Portugal and the Camino de Santiago in Spain. When not on the trail, Martin spends time enjoying life with his partner Mary, his Irish family and grandchildren here in the US.
Meet Thomas Handler:
Mr. Handler is an advanced planning attorney focused on the analysis and structuring of sophisticated estate plans and family offices, and handling taxation and business planning issues for business owners, executives, professional athletes, celebrities and family offices. He has extensive experience in the analysis, design and implementation of domestic and international business planning, financial and estate planning, asset protection, family office compliance and advanced tax planning strategies. Mr. Handler is a managing partner in Handler Thayer, LLP, where he chairs the firm’s Advanced Planning & Family Office Practice Group.
His experience includes public accounting and corporate and foundation directorships. He is involved in Chicago Bar Association activities including its Taxation and Trust Law committees, and has authored numerous professional articles. He has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally at wealth industry, professional and family office educational conferences. Mr. Handler created the Asset Protection Profile™ and Stealth Prenup™ in addition to other proprietary strategies for affluent families and family offices.
Tom has won three Lifetime Achievement Awards including the prestigious 2021 PAM award in addition to being named International Wealth Planner of the Year, Private Client Lawyer of the Year, Michael J. Brink Wealth Industry Leadership and Service Award winner, and winner of the Excellence in Estate Planning Award. Private Wealth Magazine called him “one of the most respected tax and estate attorneys in the world.” He is a frequent author, lecturer, and expert commentator.
Mr. Handler has been named to the Wealth Strategies Design Team comprised of fifteen of the top wealth planners in the U.S., the Citywealth Global Leaders List of Top 100 Attorneys in the U.S., Who’s Who in American Law and Who’s Who in America. Illinois Leading Lawyers named Mr. Handler one of the Top Lawyers in the areas of Closely and Privately Held Business Law and Trusts, Will and Estate Planning Law.
He earned a Bachelor of Sciences in Accountancy degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a Juris Doctor degree, Law Review, from DePaul University College of Law in Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Handler is a recognized thought leader in the advanced planning and family office marketplaces, who has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, Chicago Tribune, Worth Magazine, Financial Times, Barron's, Christian Science Monitor, Family Office Review, Las Vegas Review-Journal, Chicago Sun-Times, Structured Products Magazine, ABA Journal, National Law Journal, Crain’s Chicago Business, Derivatives Weekly, Family Wealth Report, Wealth Manager Magazine and other publications. He has appeared as an expert commentator on numerous radio and television programs.
Meet Matthew Nels:
Matthew Nels is a Managing Director with Menke & Associates and responsible for advising business owners and management teams on an ESOP ownership transition. Matt’s responsibilities include assessing viability of ESOP transaction, plan design, determining financing structures and negotiating sale transactions. Matt joined Menke with over 15 years of ESOP experience.
Prior to joining Menke, Matthew spent several years with BMO Harris Bank and Fifth Third Bank where he was responsible for marketing, structuring, underwriting and managing leveraged ESOP, private equity and traditional middle market debt transactions across the United States. Matt also spent time in underwriting and portfolio management roles at Fortress Investment Group (Pangaea Asset Management), Bank of America (LaSalle Bank) ESOP Advisory, GE Capital and Heller Financial.
Matthew holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Finance and Marketing from Eastern Illinois University and a Master of Business Administration in Finance from DePaul University. He is a member of the ESOP Association and National Center for Employee Ownership.
Meet Tony Lenhart:
Tony is a seasoned sales professional who has dedicated his career to mastering the art and science of sales. As a Partner at SEG (Sales Empowerment Group), Tony has spent the last decade working with over 100 organizations as a fractional sales leader, helping them build or rebuild their sales teams across various industries, including Professional Services, Marketing Services, Commercial Real Estate, OEM, and SaaS.
With a passion for coaching and training, Tony has directly coached and trained thousands of salespeople, equipping them with the right sales rhythms, attitudes, and knowledge to excel in their roles. His expertise in sales strategies and techniques has helped numerous sales teams achieve remarkable results.
Prior to his role at SEG, Tony spent the early part of his career at ADP (Fortune 500), where he held multiple direct sales roles and leadership positions. During his time at ADP, Tony consulted with nearly 3,000 companies, gaining in-depth insights into the intricacies of small-to-mid-sized organizations and honing his sales acumen.
Tony holds a degree in Selling & Sales Management from Purdue University. Coming from a family with a sales background (his father) and a background in therapy and teaching (his mother), Tony's passion for sales and his natural aptitude for understanding people and their needs were nurtured from an early age. Outside of work, Tony is a devoted husband and father to two children. He is also an avid golfer and water-skier, indulging in his love for outdoor activities. In addition, Tony is a lifelong drummer and regularly performs in
the Chicagoland area, showcasing his artistic talents beyond the sales arena.
Meet Bill Stranberg:
Bill is a 2nd Generation Leader and Partner at Stranberg, and is passionate about helping families in a wide range of industries to recruit great executives. He has successfully led search assignments with multigenerational and founder led businesses across the country, with a primary focus on helping families align on the needs in executive talent and establish a system to effective manage and enable newly hired executives.
Bill’s clients range from agriculture/ food production, to automotive, industrial manufacturing, commercial real estate, and media. Client revenues range from the low millions to over a billion. His functional focus has been in operations, general management, sales & marketing, operations, and finance & accounting. Bill has successfully led numerous multiple-hire engagements and is adept at leading large stakeholder teams through the successful recruitment of multiple mid/senior level functional hires.
The common denominator across all of Bill’s work is family ownership. In each project the vision and dynamics of the family set the foundation for an executive hiring strategy.
Bill also leads SRG’s Assessment process for clients and candidates. This includes recommending and conducting appropriate assessments and providing comprehensive reviews, comparisons, and analysis on the resulting reports. He is a certified administrator and interpreter for Hogan Assessment, which measures normal personality characteristics, career derailment risks, core value drivers, and cognitive style.
Prior to joining SRG, Bill spent six years as an entrepreneur building a sports, language education and tourism business in Chengdu, Sichuan, PRC. Bill’s years in China have given him invaluable insight into cross cultural exchange and international business operations, as well as written and spoken fluency in Mandarin. With his multi-cultural scope, Bill is skilled at recruiting across cultural, linguistic and national boundaries.
Bill is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Whitewater. He lives in the Chicago area with his wife Nicole and their dog Albert. Outside of work, Bill is an active tennis player, wood worker and an avid outdoorsman.
Meet Cara Gray:
Cara Gray is a Certified Professional Retirement Coach who owns her own coaching firm, Good Morning Freedom. She uses her 20+ years of experience supporting C-Suite, Fortune 500 executives to help them and other professionals transition into the next phase of their lives by helping them discover new purpose, identity and a plan for how they will spend their time.
Cara is also the host of the Act Three podcast where she explores inspiring conversations with those thriving in their "third act." Her guests share first-hand experiences as former executives, professionals, and creatives sharing their authentic journeys to living with purpose, passion and vitality. She firmly believes that it's never too late to thoughtfully shape the rest of your life.
