Transaction Readiness: Strategic Preparation for M&A Success

Tyson Bickley counsels private equity firms and strategic partners in healthcare, manufacturing, distribution, business services, technology and other industries in a wide range of mergers, acquisitions, strategic corporate transactions and alternative business arrangements. Mr. Bickley's transactional experience includes the representation of publicly traded companies as well as private equity firms and their portfolio companies in complex mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and dispositions. Mr. Bickley also assists a variety of investors in growth equity and alternative investments in new and emerging companies.

Previously, Mr. Bickley served as Chief Development Officer at Contessa Health where he led successful development efforts for joint ventures with health systems and health plans to participate in bundled payment programs for home hospitalization and other patient-centered home-based care models.

Reidar Brekke is a Partner at Brightstar and a Member of the Investment Committee.

Prior to joining Brightstar, Reidar was President of Intermodal Holdings LP, a provider of containers and portable storage solutions for both on land and maritime usage. Prior to Intermodal, he held several senior roles including manager of Poten Capital Services, a strategic and financial advisory specializing in the logistics and maritime sectors. Previously, Reidar served as CFO, then President and COO of SynchroNet Marine, a logistics service provider to the global container transportation industry, and held numerous senior positions with AMA Capital Partners LLC, a merchant bank.

Reidar served as an Advisor for the Norwegian Trade Commission in New York & Oslo, Norway, and as a financial advisor in Norway. He has been an adjunct professor at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs – Center for Energy, Marine Transportation and Public Policy. He served as an independent Director for Scorpio Tankers (STNG), including being the Chair of the Compensation and Audit Committee. He served in the Royal Norwegian Corps of Engineers. Reidar represented Norway in the Eisenhower Trophy, a biennial world amateur team golf championship led by the International Golf Federation.

Reidar graduated from the New Mexico Military Institute and obtained an MBA from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Chris Cochran is the co-founder and CEO of FreightWise, marking his second successful company founded in the application tech space. FrieghtWise is highly regarded as a Nashville organic growth story and just finished the acquisition of Kuebix from Trimble (Nasdaq: TRMB). Chris expertly navigates the logistics and technology sectors, showcasing a stellar track record of success in shaping and leading innovative companies. He is an active alumnus of Vanderbilt's Owen School of Management and the Financial Chair of the Nashville Tech Council.

With over 20 years of healthcare IT experience, David Paschall is a seasoned HCIT executive, entrepreneur, and venture capitalist with a passion for building teams and developing driven people. He has a diverse executive background serving in almost every facet of the C-suite in major healthcare SaaS companies at multiple stages of growth.

David currently serves as the CEO of Ntracts and is a founding partner of Transparency Health, a Chattanooga based healthcare technology investment fund.

David has been a guest speaker at events including Consero Healthcare General Counsel Forum.