De-Risking the Deal
Presented By: Lockton / Wells Fargo
The list of issues that can derail buy-side M&A transactions continues to grow. They include more stringent due diligence, looking into data privacy concerns and potential cybersecurity breaches, managing labor challenges, resolving delays in the ability to deliver products and services to clients, and even normalizing forecasting after three years of uncertainty. So, what can you do to mitigate risk when you’re preparing to make an acquisition? And if you’re on the other side of the equation, what can you do to make the transaction smoother for the buyer? Join a group of experienced dealmakers for a discussion on how to identify, understand, and mitigate risks—no matter the economic climate.
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:
CFO
Detroit Manufacturing Systems, LLC
Scott Cieslak brings more than 25 years of experience as a finance professional. Prior to joining DMS nearly 5 years ago, Mr. Cieslak held various roles at Faurecia, Lear Corp., and Oxford Automotive. Mr. Cieslak earned his M.B.A. from University of Michigan and Bachelor’s in Finance from Oakland University.
Managing Director & Michigan Market Executive
Wells Fargo Bank
Kim Gorman is a managing director and market executive for the Wells Fargo Commercial Banking Michigan region. Based in Birmingham, Michigan, Kim leads teams focused on serving the financial needs of emerging, middle, and midcorporate market segment banking customers throughout the state of Michigan.
Prior to her current role, Kim was the regional vice president for the East Michigan region. Kim joined Wells Fargo in 2007 as a senior relationship manager and in 2012 became a regional vice president.
Kim started her career at NBD Bank before moving to National City Bank to build an upper middle market portfolio.
Kim holds a B.A. in management from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo and her M.B.A. with a concentration in finance from University of Detroit Mercy in Detroit. Kim is the vice chair of the board of trustees, chair of the governance committee, and member of the executive committee for Leader Dogs for the Blind; a corporate member of Financial Executives International (FEI); and a member of the Detroit Economic Club.
Executive Director, Global Tax & Treasury
Gentherm
Kate Rivard is the Executive Director, Global Tax & Treasury at Gentherm, Inc., a global leader in innovative thermal management and pneumatic comfort technologies for the automotive industry. Kate leads the global tax and treasury functions for Gentherm as well as M&A and integration efforts for those functions. During Q2 2022, Gentherm completed two acquisitions, a German multinational company, and a domestic China acquisition.
Prior to Gentherm, Kate spent time at Tecumseh Products Company LLC, where she led the global tax and treasury function, before joining Gentherm in July 2021. She started her career at EY working with several automotive clients on all aspects of international taxes, including structuring & planning, tax compliance, and US GAAP reporting. Kate has a BBA and MAcc from the University of Michigan.
Vice President, Unit Leader
Lockton
As a Unit Leader, Nate ensures the business unit operates efficiently and effectively in supporting client needs. He is also responsible for the development, communication, and implementation of systems and processes needed to drive best practices and efficiencies.
Having spent more than 11 years on the carrier side of the business, Nate’s underwriting background helps him anticipate insurance carrier questions and concerns. He has carrier and broker experience working with small commercial, middle-market and national accounts. His expertise is in loss-sensitive casualty programs.
Nate is passionate about serving clients by understanding their business and finding solutions to meet their unique needs based on their business goals and their individual risk tolerance.