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Lessons from the Sell-Side Trenches

Presented By: BKD, LLP / Huntington Bank

When you’re selling a business, you want to maximize the sales price. And who you sell it to matters. Join a group of c-suite executives, private equity leader, and experts as they discuss how uncertain times have dramatically impacted how to understand the strategic goals of strategic and financial buyers… and what that means for you.

Moderator:

Russell Romanelli
Managing Partner
BKD, LLP

Panelists:

Rob Abbinante
Founder & Retired CEO
Armstrong Aerospace
Gregory Lafin
Managing Director
BKD

Gregory is the head of BKD Capital Advisors’ (BKDCA) Chicago office and has provided merger and acquisition advisory services to small and mid-sized businesses for more than 25 years. Greg joined BKDCA in 2014 when Wolf & Company merged with BKD, LLP. He has extensive experience in providing investment banking services including seller services, acquisition searches, due diligence, financial structuring and modeling, negotiation support and profit improvement advisory support. Gregory serves various industries, including health care, manufacturers and distributors, business services and technology firms. Greg is a NAFC M&A Task Force Member of the American Trucking Association and a Board, Executive Committee member and Past President of MBBI. He is also a FINRA Registered Investment Advisor - Series 66, FINRA Registered Investment Banking Professional - Series 79 and FINRA Registered Office Principal Series 99. He is a licensed Illinois independent business broker and an affiliate member of the Illinois CPA Society. Gregory is a 1989 graduate of DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois, with a B.S. degree in accountancy, and a 1993 graduate of Keller Graduate School of Business, DeVry University, with an M.B.A. degree in finance.

Ben Van Vlerah
Commerical Regional Manager
Huntington Bank

Ben is the Commercial Region Manager leading Middle Market Banking in Illinois for Huntington Bank. For more than two decades, Van Vlerah has been advising executive leadership teams for commercial and non-profit businesses across Illinois. Van Vlerah started his banking career as a credit analyst and relationship manager on the Middle Market Banking team at American National Bank. In 2003 Van Vlerah joined Banco Popular North America to start up their Commercial Banking team. In 2010, Van Vlerah joined FirstMerit Bank who was acquired by Huntington Bank in 2014. At FirstMerit, Van Vlerah was once again tapped to start a Commercial Banking team. Over the next 10 years he developed a team of bankers and is currently Commercial Region Manager. Ben obtained his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Knox College. He actively supports and participates in numerous civic organizations including Facing Forward to End Homelessness, Rosecrance and Junior Achievement. He is an active member and board member of the Chicagoland Chapter of YPO. Van Vlerah and his wife Stephanie reside in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago with their two sons.

Gary Walter
President & CEO
Infutor Data Solutions, LLC

Gary is CEO of Infutor Data Solutions, industry lead in Identity Resolution. Walter has scaled the company from 5-155 people and currently works with private equity from Norwest Venture Partners.

Conference Location

320 N Dearborn St.
Chicago, IL 60654
Tel: 312.726.7500