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Committee

Chairman

Fred Koury

Fred Koury

President & CEO

Smart Business Network


Fred co-founded Smart Business Network in 1989 with a single publication in Cleveland, Ohio. In the years since, he has built the company into a leading multimedia and content marketing business providing print and digital marketing services to a national client base.


Host Committee

Robert Berdanier

Robert Berdanier

Managing Director

Riveron


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William Blake III

William Blake III

Partner

Beringea


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John Decker

John Decker

Partner

Taft


John has expertise in complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, financings, private equity and venture capital investments, cross-border transactions, general contracts, and securities. He represents a diverse client base ranging from individual entrepreneurs and professional athletes to private equity firms, private foundations, and global businesses. In addition, John serves as outside general counsel to several firm clients in support of their day-to-day and strategic, long-term operations.

Etrit Demaj

Etrit Demaj

Co-Founder & Co-CEO

KODE Labs


 

 

Brian Demkowicz

Brian Demkowicz

Chairman & Founding Partner

Huron Capital Partners LLC


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Derek Dickow

Derek Dickow

Founder

Power Connections


Derek Dickow, a strategic networking advisor and founder of Power Connections, works with CEOs, and top innovators, sharing his expertise through his ‘5 Pillars of Purpose-Driven Networking.’ Through Power Connections, he also organizes high-impact conferences that foster meaningful connections and growth among among business leaders. In addition to his role as a board member of the Small Business Association of Michigan, Dickow is an ambassador for the Children’s Foundation and a member of the National Speakers Association.

Kevin DiDio

Kevin DiDio

Partner

Barnes & Thornburg LLP


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Wafa Dinaro

Wafa Dinaro

Executive Director

New Economy Initiative


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Robert Dutkiewicz

Robert Dutkiewicz

Partner

Wipfli


Rob Dutkiewicz is a partner with over 30 years of experience helping closely held business owners maximize expansion and profitability. Before joining Wipfli, he was the president of Clayton & McKervey for over seven years and brings this leadership expertise and strategic business knowledge to clients. By understanding the unique needs and challenges of business owners, Rob delivers proactive tax and accounting advice to clients.

Rick Ellis

Rick Ellis

Managing Director

Grand Sakwa Capital, LLC


Rick is a Managing Director with Grand Sakwa Capital, LLC and is involved in alternative investments, including private equity, venture capital and public equity investments. Rick spent over 30 years with JPMorgan Chase and JPMorgan Securities, as a Managing Director. Rick led the SE Michigan JPMorgan Commercial Banking operation and focused on commercial banking and investment banking activities.

Laura Engelland

Laura Engelland

Principal

Uphill Partners LLC


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Will Foss

Will Foss

Partner

Harbor Light Advisors


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Dan Gallagher

Dan Gallagher

Client Advocate

Lockton


Dan is a Producer at Lockton, responsible for new business growth and developing long-term client relationships. His expertise is primarily centered on complex large-scale property and casualty solutions for private equity, automotive manufacturing, and real estate clients. Dan is involved in the local and national business community through several non-profits and networking organizations.

Gerry Giudici

Gerry Giudici

President

Barden Brook Capital, LLC


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Rob Godlewski

Rob Godlewski

Area Managing Partner & Chief Growth Officer

Chief Outsiders


A growth-oriented, process driven senior level executive, Rob offers progressive global leadership experience and commercial awareness across all aspects of business operations. With a track record of accomplishments in Corporate Strategy, Business Growth and Organizational Excellence, he creates processes and procedures that drive profitability, improve productivity, focus on continuous improvement, and decrease costs.

Marc Griffin

Marc Griffin

Corporate Relationship Manager

Old National Bank


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Rob Grimaldi

Rob Grimaldi

COO

Viscogliosi Brothers


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Matthew Gurwin

Matthew Gurwin

Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor

Graystone Consulting


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David Hamilton

David Hamilton

CEO and Founder

Kickpoint Ventures


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Rick Hampson

Rick Hampson

President

Old National Bank


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John Henderson

John Henderson

Chairman & CEO

AEL Holdings, LLC


John Henderson is Chairman and CEO of AEL Holdings and Executive Vice President of Walker Supply Chain Management, a global logistics company. The company has over one billion in annual revenues, and controls over 2 million square feet of operations in North America. He is experienced in the process of acquiring, scaling, and selling businesses, and inspiring other leaders toward success; has held senior management and board-level positions in banking, venture capital management, manufacturing, and logistics.

Tim Hildebrand

Tim Hildebrand

Co-CEO

Monument MicroCap Partners


Tim joined Monument in 2019 and opened the Michigan office in 2021. Tim has over 10 years of middle market buyout experience. Prior to Joining Monument, Tim was a Senior Associate at HKW. Previously, Tim was an investment analyst at Northwestern Mutual Capital, the private asset arm of Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Tim earned his B.S. from Marquette University and MBA at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Ken	Johnson

Ken Johnson

Founder / CEO

Spring Arbor Group


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Randy Johnson

Randy Johnson

President & CEO

Pangea Made


Experience in growing enterprise value. Turnarounds through blocking/tackling and lean innovation. I remove barriers to success and thus help others make their careers excel.

Thomas Kessel

Thomas Kessel

Managing Director and Middle Market Team Leader

RainStar Capital Group LLC


Tom Kessel is the head of the Middle Market advisory practice at RainStar Capital Group. Our national practice assists small and medium sized businesses in accessing the senior and mezzanine capital solutions necessary to support their business enterprises.

 

Catherine Kosin

Catherine Kosin

President, Michigan

Oswald Companies


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Lee M. Koury

Lee M. Koury

Managing Partner

Smart Business Network Inc.


Lee is managing partner of Smart Business Network Inc., a national events, media and marketing company founded in 1989, primarily responsible for expanding the company’s Aspire deal-making conference throughout the U.S. He plays a key role in establishing corporate policies and developing long-term strategy and growth plans. Previously, he founded and chaired the Growth Group at national law firm Arter & Hadden LLP (now Tucker, Ellis & West), which focused on working with middle-market and high-growth technology companies. 

Tracy Larsen

Tracy Larsen

Partner, M&A Practice Leader

Honigman


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Alec Lee

Alec Lee

CEO

Endless West


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Philip L'Esperance

Philip L'Esperance

COO

Ascension Group International


With over 25 years of experience in the industrial space, Phil specializes in spearheading operations-focused initiatives that help organizations improve their business. He is responsible for managing relationships and new pursuits with an emphasis on operations performance improvement, planning, and lean process opportunities. Phil has extensive experience in multiple industries including automotive, industrial, food processing, and medical device manufacturing. Phil is the COO of Ascension Group International, a technology-led management consulting and private equity firm.

Belvin Liles

Belvin Liles

Venture Innovation Associate

ID Ventures


Belvin is an investor at ID Ventures responsible for their Venture 313 and FAM programs, as well as other sourcing and diligence efforts. Before IDV Belvin was an early employee at a fintech startup responsible for connecting SMBs with various capital partners. Prior to the startup Belvin was a TMT banker at Citibank providing debt facilities and other bank products. Belvin earned his B.S. in Finance and International Business from Indiana University.

Ethan Linkner

Ethan Linkner

Managing Partner

Muditā Venture Partners LLC


VC by day, builder by night. Co-founding Partner of Muditā Venture Partners. Currently deploying from $125m fund II. Pre-VC, I've built and sold multiple tech businesses. Eternal optimist and allergic to excuses. I also have an unusually high winning percentage at small claims raffles. Umich '06, Go Blue.

Fred Minturn

Fred Minturn

Group Chairman

MSX International


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David Mitchell

David Mitchell

Managing Partner

TRP Capital Partners


Dave Mitchell has spent 22 years at TRP Capital Partners where he serves as Managing Partner. TRP makes investments in growth-oriented businesses in the transportation sector and is currently investing out of its sixth fund. The firm capitalizes on strategic relationships, commercial synergies, and the transportation expertise of its partners to support existing management teams while giving them autonomy to run their businesses. Prior to TRP, Dave spent 11 years in consulting in the areas of distribution, supply chain, manufacturing and technology.

Robi Mitra

Robi Mitra

Managing Director

Sturbridge Capital


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Michael Nolan

Michael Nolan

Development Director

Sales Xceleration


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Rich Pennock

Rich Pennock

President

Technology Resource Group


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Mykolas Rambus

Mykolas Rambus

CEO

Hush


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Lee Rawlings

Lee Rawlings

Managing Director

ID Ventures


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Sean Roberts

Sean Roberts

Managing Partner

HighGrove Companies


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Robert Ross

Robert Ross

President & COO

Helm & Target Marketing Group


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Dominick Schiano

Dominick Schiano

President and Co-Founding Partner

Evergreen Capital Partners LLC


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Dan Shanahan

Dan Shanahan

Director

Mason Wells


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Michael Shebak

Michael Shebak

Head of Enterprise Sales and Marketing

Clearstead Advisors, LLC


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Chris Sheeren

Chris Sheeren

Partner

Longhouse Partners, LLC


Chris has over 20 years of private equity experience, after spending 10+ years in turnaround consulting, public accounting, and sales. Prior to co-founding Longhouse, he was a Partner at Huron Capital, and he has also worked with Conway McKenzie, PricewaterhouseCoopers, and Revlon.

Bob	Surrette

Bob Surrette

President & Shareholder

McAndrews, Held & Malloy


Robert Surrette is a Shareholder and serves as President of McAndrews, Held & Malloy. He focuses his practice on the resolution of intellectual property and technology-related disputes with an emphasis on patent, trademark, trade secret and trade dress litigation. For the last 20 years, Bob has counseled a leading global medical device manufacturer on numerous litigation and transactional matters.

Paul Talbot

Paul Talbot

Business Performance Advisor

Insperity


With over two decades shaping agile workforces, Paul Talbot advises growth stage companies on how to execute their business strategies through and with their people. Paul designs cohesive talent strategies by integrating talent acquistion, talent development, training, employee relations, total compensation, and compliance programs that optimize the employee experience. As an Advisor for Insperity he depends on a world class team of HR specialists to execute on plans that increase the likelihood, speed, and degree of success for his clients.

Pete Thomas

Pete Thomas

Chair

Vistage Michigan


Pete facilitates peer groups of C-level leaders who are committed to professional and personal growth and the success and well-being of each other. At monthly peer group meetings, Vistage members offer agenda-free advice — and challenge each other to take courageous, thoughtful steps. Vistage members become better leaders and make better decisions.

Scott Thomsen

Scott Thomsen

Co-Founder, Chief Executive Officer & Chairman

LuxWall


 

 

Alison Todak

Alison Todak

Director

Plymouth Growth


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Sam Valenti III

Sam Valenti III

Chairman & CEO

Valenti Capital, LLC | World Capital Partners


Sam is chairman of the board of TriMas Corp., a NYSE $1 billion manufacturer of highly engineered precision products for industry. He is also lead director of the board of American Axle Corp., a $7 billion company. He is the former president of Masco Capital Corp., and a 40-year veteran of the company.

Stephane Vedie

Stephane Vedie

CEO

LUXIT Group


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Brittany Westerman

Brittany Westerman

Chief Operating Officer

365 Retail Markets


Brittany Westerman is the Chief Operating Officer for 365 Retail Markets, the market leading provider of unattended retail technology. Through organic growth and acquisitions, 365 has built a technology platform that foodservice operators rely on to power their stores and run their operations. While with 365, Brittany has overseen all transactions including mergers, acquisitions, and private equity recapitalizations.

Monica Wheat

Monica Wheat

Managing Director, Techstars

Executive Director, Venture Catalysts


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Samantha Ziarko

Samantha Ziarko

Managing Partner

Diag Partners


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Daniel Zinser

Daniel Zinser

Senior Vice President

Old National Bank


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Conference Location

100 Townsend St.
Birmingham, MI 48009
Tel: (248) 642-7900