From Transaction to Transformation: Driving Value After the Deal
Presented By: Consero / Husch Blackwell
Closing a deal is just the starting point. In this discussion, operators, investors, and advisors share how they unlock growth and performance after acquisitions — particularly in complex mergers and carve-outs. Learn how alignment, execution, and the right post-deal playbook can turn strategic intent into measurable business impact.
Moderator:
CFO
Consero Global
Ashley Honeyman is the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer at Consero Global, where she oversees all financial strategy, operations, product, and client success to ensure that Consero continues to deliver unmatched value.
Honeyman brings over 15 years of experience leading private equity- and venture capital-backed companies. Her experience leading global finance teams gives her a unique perspective on what clients truly value: accuracy, speed, insight, and trust, making her exceptionally well-suited to guide Consero’s product strategy and delivery organization.
Her priorities for Consero include strengthen the link between execution, product innovation, and client outcomes, scaling AI-driven solutions that deliver faster, more efficient outcomes for clients, and strengthening the company’s position as the trusted choice for CFOs looking to modernize their finance departments.
She holds an MBA from MIT Sloan School of Management and a BS in Business and BS in Math from the University of Vermont.
Panelists:
Founder & Executive Chairman
Revance, Inc.
Focused on driving innovation in dermatology, skincare and medical aesthetics, delivering advanced solutions to improve patient/consumer outcomes. Recent initiatives reflect a commitment to blending cutting-edge technology with proven efficacy to deliver positive outcomes in a consumer's skin health journey.
As Founder/CEO, leverages over 41 years of expertise in the skincare industry. Contributions have included shaping strategic growth, product innovation and fostering collaboration across organizations. Prior experience emphasized brand equity development and customer-centric product innovation.
Jeffery built his career through leadership roles at Stiefel Laboratories, Herald Pharmacal, Allergan, Rejuvena Skin Therapy, Murad, and Medical Options Finance before founding Crown in 1998.
Partner
Husch Blackwell
Chris Friedman is a nationally recognized leader in fintech, consumer finance, and alternative commercial finance, serving a go-to legal advisor for companies navigating the complexities of the financial services industry. His insights into the financial services industry and regulatory trends have been featured in Bloomberg, National Mortgage News, Dodd-Frank Update, RESPA News, and other leading publications. Chris is a frequent speaker for the International Factoring Association, the Online Lender’s Alliance, the American Bar Association, and the Conference on Consumer Finance Law, among other trade groups. He also brings a wealth of experience addressing litigation risk and is the co-author of the “Settlement” chapter of the American Bar Association’s Class Action Strategy and Practice Guide, as well as the former co-editor-in-chief of the ABA’s Class Action and Derivative Suits Newsletter.
Chris represents a diverse range of clients, including fintech-based small business finance companies, commercial factors, reverse factors, supply chain finance companies, purchase-order finance companies, and embedded finance companies. He also represents consumer fintech companies, buy-now-pay-later companies, bank and non-bank consumer lenders, and service providers. With deep industry knowledge and a business-first approach, Chris helps clients—from startups to established institutions—structure and scale their operations while ensuring compliance with a quickly-evolving state and federal legal landscape.
Clients turn to Chris not just for legal counsel, but for strategic guidance in building and growing their businesses. He excels at assembling multi-disciplinary teams tailored to address each client’s unique needs, from regulatory compliance and licensing to transactional diligence and deal structuring. His ability to bridge the gap between legal and business objectives makes him an invaluable partner to companies operating in highly regulated financial markets. Chris regularly represents fintechs and traditional lenders in Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) deals, ensuring partnerships are structured for long-term success. He regularly conducts regulatory diligence for M&A transactions involving fintechs, mortgage companies, banks, and other financial services firms, helping clients navigate the complex web of state and federal financial regulations.
Chris also advises financial services companies on debt and equity transactions, providing the legal foundation for capital raising and growth. In addition, his practice includes consumer and commercial finance state licensing as well as preparing loan documents, compliance management systems, and policies and procedures to ensure regulatory alignment. He works closely with businesses to develop innovative financial products that comply with the industry’s evolving legal landscape.
Chris’s ability to distill complex regulatory frameworks into actionable strategies makes him an essential resource for financial services companies operating at the intersection of innovation and compliance. His understands that legal decisions in financial services must be carefully calibrated to the realities of the industry, and he prides himself on providing practical, business-aligned solutions that allow clients to move forward with confidence.
Senior Portfolio Chief of Staff | President
Council Capital
Krysta Cass Kozlowski is a value creation leader at Council Capital and serves as President of two portfolio companies, partnering with executive teams to turn strategy into lasting impact. Prior to Council, she worked with Blue Wolf Capital on complex investments in the healthcare and industrial sectors. She is a Teaching Fellow at Yale School of Management, supporting courses on value creation, and holds degrees from Yale SOM, Tufts University School of Medicine, and the United States Military Academy at West Point.