Navigating a Sale: Preparing Yourself and Your Company for the Transaction
Presented By: Bernstein / Porter Hedges LLP
Selling a business, whether to a private equity or a strategic buyer, can offer founders and owners a wide range of opportunities—from taking a minority stake to maintain involvement and drive growth, to a majority stake with plans to walk away entirely. Join us for an exploration into what founders and owners need to know when prepping for a sale, including how to position your company, negotiate terms, and decide whether to stay on for a second bite of the apple or exit completely.
Moderator:
Partner
Porter Hedges LLP
Brian Rose is a Partner in the Corporate Practice Group of Porter Hedges LLP and a member of the Firm’s Management Committee. He has a dynamic and unique practice that includes a mix of mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, and debt financings. Brian also has significant experience representing entrepreneurs and start-up companies in their equity raises and general corporate matters.
Panelists:
Regional Senior Managing Director
Bernstein Private Wealth Management
I spent the early part of my life building a career around my passion for basketball and an innate desire to help others succeed—from coaching a Division 1 college basketball team to launching different businesses. This evolution has led me to where I am today.
With deep roots in coaching, I have embraced the opportunity to help lead our business and a team of talented advisors across the Western United States. As someone who has helped build several businesses, I have a passion for advising those who have taken the risk to build their own. Behind every business owner is a unique and inspiring story that I truly value.
Over my 18-year career at Bernstein, I have played many roles, but none has been more rewarding than helping mentor the talent that drives our business forward and shaping the culture that defines us. I find great fulfillment in finding and developing talent and instilling a collaborative environment focused on achieving a common goal. We carry the belief that innovation belongs in finance, that advice is not a commodity, and that we are structured to do what is always in the best interests of our clients.
COO & VP
Meridian Infrastructure
Mr. Del Olmo is Meridian's co-founder and Chief Operating Officer. In this role, he oversees the design, construction, operation, and management of capital projects that align with the company's vision and strategy.
Javier brings over 25 years of engineering, business development, and commercial experience to Meridian. He has worked with public and private energy industry companies in North America and Latin America, focusing on developing and operating pipelines, terminals, and waterfront infrastructure projects.
Before co-founding Meridian, Javier served as the Vice President (U.S. Gulf Coast Terminals) at Enbridge, where he was involved in the company’s U.S. Gulf Coast Terminal Operations division.
Prior to Enbridge, Javier was the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, as well as a co-founder and board member, at Moda Midstream. Notably, he played a key role in developing and operating the Moda Ingleside Energy Center, the largest U.S. crude oil storage and export terminal by volume, which was later acquired by Enbridge in 2021.
Before his time at Moda, Javier held positions such as Vice President of Engineering, General Manager of Engineering, Business Development Manager, Trading Business Development Manager in Latin America, Managing Director and board member for Oiltanking Mexico (OT Mexico), and Commercial Director for OT Mexico at Oiltanking North America (OTNA).
During his tenure at OTNA, Javier was responsible for managing over $1 billion in capital projects, including pipelines, terminal expansions, and waterfront developments. He also led a high-performance engineering team and spearheaded business development and due diligence efforts for the acquisition of multiple assets. Additionally, he established the company’s trading presence in Latin America’s Pacific region and managed operations for liquid and dry bulk terminals throughout Latin America.
Javier holds a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering from Universidad Simon Bolivar in Caracas, Venezuela.
Managing Director
Jelly Capital
Mark Schmulen is an entrepreneur, investor and advisor focused on Enterprise SaaS solutions and currently serves as Managing Director for Jelly Capital, a private investment vehicle focused on early- stage technology and real estate investments. In addition, Mark is director of the board for Innovative Food Holdings (OTC: IVFH), a specialty food distribution company.
Previously, Mark served as General Manager and Industry Principal for RealPage’s Smart Building business (formerly NASDAQ: RP), which he joined via its 2020 acquisition of Chirp Systems, Inc., a venture-backed smart access solution for multifamily property owners, where he served as CEO and co-founder. Before that, Mark served as General Manager of Social Media Solutions for Constant Contact, Inc. (formerly NASDAQ: CTCT), a provider of digital marketing solutions.
Prior to his role with Constant Contact, he was co-founder and served as CEO of NutshellMail, Inc., a venture-backed social media marketing solution, until its acquisition by Constant Contact in 2010.
Mark began his career as an investment banking analyst with JPMorgan Chase Bank and holds a B.S. from the University of Pennsylvania and a M.S. in Management from Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.