Reaching the Summit: Increasing Your Deal Value to Its Peak
Presented By: CBIZ / Taft
Getting to a successful exit takes more than finding a buyer. It requires making the right moves well before going to market—and avoiding those that can erode value along the way. Drawing on lessons from both sides of the deal table, this panel explores how owners can strengthen their businesses, anticipate buyer concerns, navigate a changing market and position themselves to capture maximum value when it’s time to sell.
Panelists:
Partner
Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
Jackie is a Partner at Taft with more than two decades of experience counseling entrepreneurs, companies, and investors about corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions (buy side and sell side), securities law compliance, and tech and AI issues. Jackie leads the Quantum Computing section of the firm’s Technology and Artificial Intelligence industry group, and she serves on the firm’s Associate Advancement and Recruiting Committee.
COO
Parlor Games
Arieann DeFazio is an internationally recognized medical executive with 20 years of C-suite experience in operations and M&A. She founded and scaled a multinational company, leading its 2020 sale to a strategic acquirer. Her expertise spans integration, turnarounds such as a bankruptcy-averting transformation, and pre-acquisition value creation. She currently serves as COO of a middle-market women's health company.
Tax Practice Leader & Managing Director
CBIZ
Ryan Marczewski serves as the Tax Practice Leader and Managing Director at CBIZ in Colorado. CBIZ is a prominent public accounting firm with a presence in over 1,200 offices and a workforce of more than 6,700 employees across the United States. The team led by Ryan demonstrates proficiency in handling complex real estate transactions and remains steadfastly committed to serving middle-market clients. They possess exceptional expertise in guiding high and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and generational family partnerships through intricate tax landscapes
Entrepreneur
Grid City VR
Owner-operator of a business finance company and multiple franchise start-ups, with extensive experience building, scaling, and exiting founder-led businesses. Previously grew and profitably sold an Orangetheory Fitness region and a Big Blue Swim School business, and was recognized as an IFA Franchisee of the Year. Currently scaling a new concept with the intention of developing it into a franchise system.