Creating Impact and Influence through Activist Investing
Presented By: Ancora
Shareholder activism is often misunderstood—but when executed thoughtfully, minority investors can play a powerful role in shaping a company’s future. In this session, leaders from Ancora share how activist investors identify opportunities, influence strategy, and work with boards and management to drive long-term value. Hear the investor and boardroom perspectives on how minority ownership can impact governance, strategic direction, and growth in ways that extend well beyond traditional investing.
Moderator:
Chief Content Officer
Smart Business
Dustin is an award-winning business journalist, bestselling author, and the chief content officer of Smart Business. Over the past 30 years, he has interviewed thousands of business and civic leaders, and helped more than 50 CEOs and entrepreneurs transform their ideas into books. A trained investigative politics reporter and former digital media entrepreneur, Dustin joined Smart Business in 1997 after serving as an editor at several daily newspapers.
Panelists:
President
Ancora Alternatives LLC
Jim Chadwick has been a Portfolio Manager since joining Ancora in 2014. He is President of Ancora subsidiary Ancora Alternatives LLC and leads the Alternatives group while also serving as Portfolio Manager for a number of the firm’s Alternative investment products. Jim has had a lead role in growing Ancora’s alternative investment business and building and managing the investment team. He leads the firm’s shareholder activist strategy and has worked in the shareholder activist arena for over 20 years. Jim also leads the group’s investment research efforts and is actively engaged in day-to-day idea generation, risk management and investment decision-making.
Chairman & CEO
Ancora
Mr. DiSanto leads Ancora Holdings Group as Chairman and CEO. Ancora is a Northeast Ohio-based financial advisor and money manager. Prior to joining Ancora, Fred served in senior leadership roles at Fifth Third Bank’s Investment Advisors Division, Maxus Investment Group and Gelfand Partners Asset Management. He began his investment career with McDonald Investments.
Independent Director
Multiple Companies
Carl Grassi was previously President and Chairman of McDonald Hopkins. Before his retirement in 2024, Carl provided counsel with many of the firm’s business clients regarding various strategic alternative considerations. Independent and separate from the practice of law, Carl along with his business partner have made meaningful investments in “life style” businesses with the intent of making them better. There are certain “red flags” to avoid and “strategies” to consider that we learned for a successful investment.