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Committee

Chairman

Fred Koury

Fred Koury

President & CEO

Smart Business Network


Fred co-founded Smart Business Network in 1989 with a single publication in Cleveland, Ohio. In the years since, he has built the company into a leading multimedia and content marketing business providing print and digital marketing services to a national client base.


Host Committee

Sloan Allen

Sloan Allen

Vice President

Kanbrick, LLC


Sloan is VP at Kanbrick, is a long‐term investment partnership that buys, builds, and grows great businesses for the long‐term. Sloan is located in Nashville and spent the previous 13 years of her career with Bank of America in various roles between Nashville and Charlotte. Most recently, Sloan was an SVP, Private Client Advisor with BofA’s Private Bank working with high-net-worth families and individuals, and prior to that worked in the Global Commercial Bank serving upper middle market companies between $50M to $2B in sales.

In leading Kanbrick Community efforts, Sloan focuses on building and growing Kanbrick's network of founders/CEOs/owners and bringing thoughtful content, programming, and opportunities for the Community to engage and connect. Sloan also leads business development for Kanbrick working closely with partners equally focused on helping CEOs, entrepreneurs, and founders grow and build businesses for the long term.

John M. Anderson

John M. Anderson

Former Partner

Resource Communications Group


A recognized leader within the Greater Nashville technology and entrepreneur community, John serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Nashville Technology Council (NTC), is an advisor and co-creator of the NTC’s Emerging Leaders in Tech and Engineering (ELITE) Program, and serves as an Entrepreneur-in-Residence for the Nashville Entrepreneur Center - Inflight Program.
 
He has been recognized for his contributions with awards such as the NTC’s 2020 Champion of the Year, as a 2019 INC 5000 recipient, named as one of the Top 101 Technology Advisors in the nation by Channel Futures Magazine, and as an honoree of the 2025 Nashville Dealmakers of the Year Awards from Smart Business Dealmakers.

James Aylward

James Aylward

Serial Entrepreneur & Investor


Jim Aylward last was VP, Business Development for Cell Phone Seat. He had three successful exits in less than 10 years in the Healthcare SaaS space. As CEO he sold Sy.Med to HealthStream, MedCenterDisplay to PatientPoint, and Preferral to AristaMD. He serves on the Board of Cell Phone Seat as well as VideoBomb, PatientFocus and ForceField. Aylward is recognized for his startup leadership and has won numerous entrepreneurship awards and mentors many local, young CEOs.

 

Sheila Bangalore

Sheila Bangalore

Venture Partner

Springtide Ventures


Sheila Bangalore is an executive with global business experience spanning public and private multinational technology (B2B/C), and specialty materials businesses over nearly 20 years.

Since February 2022, Ms. Bangalore has served as a Venture Partner at Springtide Ventures, a venture capital firm focused on investment in cutting-edge healthcare technology businesses. She also served as an independent director and member of the first class of directors for McLaren Technology Acquisition Corp.

Ms. Bangalore also serves as Co-Chair of the Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors for the International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution, a non-profit organization promoting the prevention and resolution of conflict, and on the Governance and Strategic Planning Committees of the Board of Directors for the United Way of Southern Nevada.

Previously, from April 2020 to May 2021, Ms. Bangalore served as Chief Strategy Officer, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of MP Materials, a regulated specialty materials company she helped take public in 2020.

Ms. Bangalore received her B.A. in Literature from Tufts University, her J.D. from the Washington University in St. Louis, and her MBA with a concentration in Finance from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Jeffrey Bedard

Jeffrey Bedard

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.

Tyson Bickley

Tyson Bickley

Partner

Holland & Knight LLP


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.

Todd Brengel

Todd Brengel

Director of PE/VC

Consero Global


Todd is a technology executive with expertise in go-to-market strategy, M&A, and building high-performing sales organizations. At Consero, he supports the private equity business and partners with operating teams and portfolio companies to drive value through solutions in the office of the CFO. Todd also serves as a Sales Coach at Harvard Business School and advises several early-stage technology companies.

Judith Byrd

Judith Byrd

Executive Director

Greater Nashville Private Capital Association


Judith Byrd is a seasoned executive with experience in business, government, trade association, health policy and journalism. Most recently, she was Director of Community and GR for Ardent Health Services, Executive Director for Healthcare for Waller, Lansden, Dortch and Davis and Senior Policy Advisor for Healthcare for Nashville Mayor David Briley. Previously she served in policy and communications roles with 180 Health Partners, the Nashville Health Care Council, Hall Strategies, the American Cancer Society, the Massachusetts State Senate, and the Alliance for Health Reform in Washington, DC. She began her career in journalism working for publications in Washington and London, England. She holds a B.A. in Journalism from Samford University.

Milt Capps

Milt Capps

Editor & Publisher

Venture Nashville Connections


Milt Capps covers business, capital formation, innovation, tech transfer, economic development and associated DEI/Equity issues via Venture Nashville, founded 2008. Earlier, he held journalistic, public affairs and other roles with Mergermarket, Vanderbilt University, United Press International, Charleston Evening Post, Manning Selvage & Lee, U.S. Air Force (Vietnam), and others.

 

Kathy Casey

Kathy Casey

CEO

Green Peaks


Kathy Casey is a proven CEO, founder, general manager, and commercial leader with over 30 years of experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry, spanning both blue-chip companies and entrepreneurial ventures. Her leadership roles include senior executive positions at Procter & Gamble, Kellogg Company, and the CEO and founder of Simply Better Brands/TRUBAR, a publicly traded CPG wellness platform. At Kellogg, she led a $2B P&L across Club, Drug, Dollar, Discount, and eCommerce channels. Today, Kathy focuses on mentoring and consulting with entrepreneurs on scaling brands and companies via Green Peaks, LLC.

Todd Colpron

Todd Colpron

Managing Partner

Eliakim Capital


Todd Colpron, a Registered Representative with Piper Jaffray, has over 25 years of experience in business development, strategic planning, and capital raising. As the Managing Director at Sozo Holdings LLC, he has been involved in organizing and capitalizing private and public companies in a variety of transactions that total more than $1B in capital. The Dallas-based private equity firm invests in technology, oil & gas, and real estate, with a special focus on photonic integrated circuits.

Previously, he has served as an advisory board member at Attune Medical and The Richard G. Lugar Center for Renewable Energy at Indiana University and Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI) and as an advisor at The Institute for Philanthropic Excellence.

He studied for a bachelor's degree at Washington State University and holds several licenses, including Series 7, 6, 63, and insurance.

Matt Craine

Matt Craine

Principal

Upside Growth Partners


Matt Craine is a Principal at Upside Growth Partners. Founded in 2018, Upside is a private equity firm focused on building excellent business services, home services, healthcare, e-commerce, and technology companies. Previously, Matt spent eight years MSouth Equity Partners and Simpson Thacher as a principal investor and corporate lawyer.

Silas Deane

Silas Deane

Vice President

Tyler Technologies, inc


A serial entrepreneur, Silas Deane is currently serving as General Manager at Tyler Technologies, which recently acquired his start-up VendEngine. Silas has experience in technology, healthcare, government relations and communications -- and a passion for finding solutions to complex problems and creating/executing sustainable business models from them. Silas previously worked on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

 

Evan Duby

Evan Duby

Managing Partner

GoEx Venture Capital


Evan Duby is the Founder and Managing Partner of GoEx Venture Capital, a Nashville-based $5MM pre-seedventure fund focused on backing US-based consumerproptech startups. Leveraging deep industry expertise and a proven track record, Evan has built GoEx to support the next wave of innovative companies that will shape the future of homeownership.

Chris Ferrell

Chris Ferrell

CEO

Endeavor Business Media


Chris Ferrell is the co-founder and CEO of Endeavor Business Media, one of the largest B2B media and marketing firms in the United States. Endeavor built market leading audiences through a series of 26 transactions during the last seven years. Today the company operates 98 media brands and more than 50 conferences and trade shows. Endeavor Business Intelligence, the company's market research firm conducts research for some of the leading companies in the US. Previously Ferrell was the CEO of SouthComm, a local niche media publishing company.

Tracey Figurelli

Tracey Figurelli

Managing Director

90North Partners


Tracey combines operating, M&A, and investment experience across public companies and private ventures. She founded 90North Partners, a buy-side firm with over $2B in middle-market transaction value. She also launched a venture fund backing early-stage technology companies. Previously Chief Digital Officer at a global consultancy nearing a $1B market cap. She serves on multiple boards.

Richard Flores

Richard Flores

Co-Founder and COO

Healthpoint Ventures


Richard Flores is Co-Founder and COO of Healthpoint Ventures. In his 30+ years as a Revenue Cycle Executive, Richard has served in SVP and VP roles with large multi-hospital health systems including LifePoint Health, Norton Healthcare, Kindred/Scion Healthcare and Quorum Health. He is very excited to take those experiences and leverage generative Artificial Intelligence to optimize revenue cycle operations.

Wayne Foreman

Wayne Foreman

CEO

Foreword Companies


 

 

Shān Foster

Shān Foster

CEO

Fostering Healthy Solutions


Shan Foster is a dynamic and influential leader, widely recognized for his transformative work in fostering healthy solutions to diversity issues. As the Co-Founder and CEO of Fostering Healthy Solutions, LLC, he spearheads initiatives that tackle diversity challenges through education, training, and execution. Shan's multifaceted experience spans various sectors, including entertainment, financial services, technology, media, environmental services, and law enforcement.

Barton Garvin

Barton Garvin

Former President & Owner

Garvin Industries Inc.


Former Owner & President of Garvin Industries, a manufacturer of electrical, low voltage and lighting product for the construction industry. During his twenty-five-year tenure at Garvin Industries revenue increased over 30% per year driven by strong demand from major technology companies such as Facebook, Tesla, Google, Netflix, & Amazon. In 2005, Mr. Garvin established Garvin Hangzhou Hardware, an International Manufacturing Operation with offices in Shanghai, Ningbo, & Xaioshan China. After 23 years of consecutive growth, Garvin Industries was acquired by Southwire Inc of Carrolton, Georgia in 2018.      

Mr. Garvin currently serves as President of MCC Holdings, a real estate investment company specializing in residential and industrial property renovation. He and his wife Lisa actively partner with over twenty  Non-Profits Organizations primarily serving children and teenagers  throughout the United States.    

Jessica Ginsberg

Jessica Ginsberg

Managing Director

LFM Capital, LLC


Jessica Ginsberg is a Managing Director at LFM Capital, a manufacturing-focused lower middle market private equity firm based in Nashville, where she leads business development, including deal sourcing and firm marketing efforts. Prior to joining LFM, Jessica held various roles in private equity, banking and investment management. Jessica graduated from Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business with a BSBA in Finance and Accounting.

Paul Goldman

Paul Goldman

Founder, CEO

Muserk, LLC


Paul Goldman is the Founder and CEO of Muserk, a Nashville-based music administration platform that ensures global royalty accuracy for music rights holders. A four-time Inc. 5000 honoree, he is also the founder of Blue Matter, Muserk's patented AI technology that powers precise, scalable rights management and royalty collection. With over 30 years in the industry, Paul is dedicated to innovating solutions that meet the evolving needs of music and media.

Blake Hogan

Blake Hogan

CEO

Nashville Door


Blake Hogan is the CEO of Nashville Door, a company with a 50-year heritage founded by WWII Navy Veteran L.W. Loyd. Nashville Door was recently acquired and is backed by Cobalt Service Partners, a private equity firm. Prior to this role, Hogan served as a Marine Officer and was the CEO of Bunker Labs, a national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping veterans and military spouses start and grow their businesses. Bunker Labs has supported nearly 100,000 entrepreneurs over ten years before being acquired by Syracuse University. Additionally, Hogan serves as a Senior Advisor for the Milken Institute and is an appointee to the Governor's Tri-Stars and Stripes Council.

Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson

Bruce D. Henderson Professor

Vanderbilt University, Owen Graduate School of Management


M. Eric Johnson is the Bruce D. Henderson Professor at Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. His teaching and research focus on digital strategies and the impact of information technology on the extended enterprise. In addition to his academic research, Johnson has consulted with global companies such as Accenture, Hewlett-Packard, Nike, Oracle, and Philips Healthcare.

Michael King

Michael King

Executive Director & Market Team Lead

National Christian Foundation


As a charitable wealth strategist and attorney at NCF, Michael works with generous families and their professional advisors, sharing concepts and strategies that allow them to leverage the impact of their giving by minimizing their income and estate tax liabilities.

In his role with NCF, Michael’s primary focus and expertise is facilitating charitable gifts of complex assets including closely held businesses, real estate, and intellectual property assets. He also helps families to plan their estates in a manner that dramatically increases their charitable giving, and in most cases avoids estate tax completely—regardless of the size of their estates.

Prior to joining NCF in 2006, Michael spent over ten years with an international tax and accounting firm, and a multi-family office. In these roles, he counseled affluent families on a broad range of wealth management issues including both financial and non-financial aspects of wealth.

Michael received his undergraduate degree in finance from Penn State University, and his law degree from the U.C.L.A. School of Law. Michael and his wife, Tammy, were high school sweethearts and have been abundantly blessed with five children and a precious granddaughter.

Lee M. Koury

Lee M. Koury

Managing Partner

Smart Business Network Inc.


Lee is managing partner of Smart Business Network Inc., a national events, media and marketing company founded in 1989, primarily responsible for expanding the company’s Aspire deal-making conference throughout the U.S. He plays a key role in establishing corporate policies and developing long-term strategy and growth plans. Previously, he founded and chaired the Growth Group at national law firm Arter & Hadden LLP (now Tucker, Ellis & West), which focused on working with middle-market and high-growth technology companies. 

Howard Lamar III

Howard Lamar III

Member

Bass Berry & Sims


A seasoned corporate attorney with more than 30 years of experience, Howard Lamar helps clients navigate significant corporate events, including mergers and acquisitions, various types of corporate finance transactions and corporate governance issues, including challenges from activist shareholders. He works with boards of directors, senior management of public and private companies, entrepreneurs, family offices, and early-stage growth companies.

Howard’s practice includes:

Corporate Governance – Counseling companies on a variety of corporate and securities matters, including boards of directors on governance, public company disclosure matters, strategic analysis, special committees and activist shareholders.
Mergers & Acquisitions – Advising on equity and asset acquisitions, mergers and other business combinations, including transactions involving publicly traded companies, restructuring transactions, workout transactions involving financially distressed or bankrupt providers, and sell-side dispositions of businesses and carveouts.
Corporate Finance – Assisting issuers and underwriters in debt and equity transactions, including initial public offerings, follow-on offerings, and Rule 144A and institutional private placements.
Prior to attending law school, Howard spent three years with Bank of America (formerly, and during the time he was there, NCNB) where he was a corporate lending officer in NCNB’s Corporate and International Banking Group.

Chad Marcum

Chad Marcum

Founder & CEO

VideoBomb


High energy entrepreneur and executive with over 10 years’ experience and professional success in software product design and development; architecture and construction; brand building and project management; entrepreneurial mentoring; public speaking; marketing and sales; team building and administrative management skills; and enterprise growth.

 

Braden Martini

Braden Martini

Senior Vice President, Private Wealth Advisor

Merrill - Evelo|Singer|Sullivan|Bruegge Group


Braden Martini is a Partner and Private Wealth Advisor with The Evelo|Singer|Sullivan|Bruegge Group within Merrill's Private Wealth Management division. The Group is a nationally recognized private wealth advisory team serving senior-level public company executives, private business owners and ultra high net worth families across the country.

Rod McDaniel

Rod McDaniel

CEO

S3 Recycling Solutions


Rod McDaniel is the Chief Executive Officer of S3 Recycling Solutions, one of the fastest‐growing private companies in America. Since 2016, S3 has seen exponential growth with revenues increasing by more than 1,900 %.

A native of Nashville, Rod comes from humble beginnings and was raised by a single mother in public housing. Rod serves on the Board of Directors of the Nashville Entrepreneur Center, Nashville Technology Council and Tennessee Environmental Council. Rod was named Nashville Post InCharge List 2023, one of Nashville Business Journal’s “40 Under 40” and a finalist of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leader Award. He was named one of NBJ’s 2021 & 2022 Most Admired CEOs in Middle Tennessee, NBJ’s 2022 Power 100 List and as of 2023 has made the Inc. 5000 list three consecutive years.

Rod is married to his High School sweetheart, Antonia McDaniel. They are proud parents of RJ, Nathan and Gabrielle.

Dane McFarlin

Dane McFarlin

Founder

TripleKey


With experience ranging from managing his own boutique development shop to being a hired mercenary to launch enterprise fintech sales teams, Dane brings unique perspectives and knowledge to the company's leadership team. As a co-founder of the company, the initial products were inspired from his own experiences of what "not to do" as a non-technical CEO. Outside of work, he loves sports, nature, chess and spending time with his wife and 9 year old son.

Anderson McLaughlin

Anderson McLaughlin

Commercial Insurance Advisor

HUB International


Born and raised in Nashville, TN, Andy has been in the insurance industry since 2017 and is responsible for Property & Casualty Due Diligence and Advisory Work. His experience includes helping businesses identify and mitigate specific exposures, improve existing policies and procedures, and work to reduce their total cost of risk. Clients and areas of expertise include businesses in Private Equity, Healthcare, Real Estate, and Manufacturing. Additionally, Andy specializes in supporting his clients by leveraging HUB’s Group Benefits Department and Private Client Unit. He holds a degree in Risk & Management and Insurance from the University of Georgia and is both a Commercial Lines Coverage Specialist (CLCS) and a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC).

 

Andy attended the University of Georgia and received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a major in Risk Management & Insurance. He was a member of the UGA Insurance Society, as well as the UGA Professional Entertainment & Sports Association. Currently, he is involved with the Montgomery Bell Academy Young Alumni Board as well as the Nashville Downtown Partnership

Chris Mioton

Chris Mioton

Partner

Shore Capital


Chris is a Partner at Shore Capital, a microcap private equity firm focused on partnering with companies that have between $1-10 million of EBITDA. Chris is responsible for sourcing, evaluating and enabling the growth of Shore healthcare investments. Chris is a Director for SENTA, Assembly Health, OMS360, Triumph, Great Lakes Dental Partners, Southern Orthodontic Partners, Empower Aesthetics and PartnerCare. He is a past Director of EyeSouth Partners.

Chris received a B.A. in Economics from Northwestern University and an M.B.A., with distinction, from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

 

Carter Owen

Carter Owen

Director of Business Development

Petra Capital Partners


Carter joined Petra in 2020 as Director of Business Development and focuses on growing the firm’s pipeline of investment opportunities. He is responsible for developing and maintaining relationships with intermediaries, co-investing partners, business owners, and other sources of deal flow.

Prior to joining Petra, Carter was with Gemini Investors, a lower middle market private equity firm based in Wellesley, MA. During his tenure, Carter was responsible for deal origination, interacting closely with investment bankers and business brokers, and was exposed to investment opportunities spanning a variety of industries. Carter began his career in sales at Oracle.

Frank Pellegrino

Frank Pellegrino

M&A Partner

Bass, Berry & Sims


Frank advises public and private companies in a broad range of transactional, corporate governance and securities matters. Over the course of his career, he has completed more than $25.0 billion worth of mergers and acquisitions for public and private companies across various industries including healthcare and manufacturing, among others.

David Pierce

David Pierce

Director

Council Capital


David joined Council Capital in 2023 and leads the firm’s deal origination efforts. His responsibilities include developing investment themes, sourcing and evaluating investment opportunities, and managing intermediary relationships.

Prior to joining Council, David was a Director at Serent Capital, a private equity firm based in San Francisco, where he focused on sourcing investment opportunities in the HCIT space. Before Serent, David worked for Global Healthcare Advisors, an M&A advisory focused on the healthcare services space.

Reggie Polk

Reggie Polk

President | CEO

Polk & Associates Construction Inc.


Reggie Polk is the Founder | CEO of Polk & Associates Construction Inc., a full-service construction firm specializing in Construction Management, General Contracting, Civil Construction, Real Estate Development, and Facilities Maintenance. Polk is a leading provider of Construction Services throughout the Southeast and Midwest. Alongside Co-Founder, Tanora Polk, Reggie leads a team of construction professionals who are well versed in estimating, construction management, facilities operations, design-build, and construction processes, which enables them to provide services beyond the scope of a typical general contractor.

Casey Riggs

Casey Riggs

Member

Riggs Davie PLC


Casey Riggs is a co-founder and Member of Riggs Davie PLC, a Brentwood, TN-based boutique law firm. His practice centers on M&A and other business transactions, guiding closely held businesses and investor-backed startups through acquisitions, sales, and complex restructurings across industries including technology, real estate, logistics, manufacturing, healthcare services, professional services, distribution, and business services, from initial structuring through closing and post-closing integration. He also advises owners on pre-transaction estate and wealth transfer planning to align deal structures with long-term family objectives.

Kevin Robb

Kevin Robb

Partnership Development

Seven Hills Capital


Kevin Robb leads Partnership Development for Seven Hills Capital, where he focuses on theme development, origination, industry coverage, and value creation through M&A for Seven Hills Partner Companies.

Having spent almost a decade in healthcare services, his expertise spans M&A, strategic planning, due diligence, integration, and managed care functions for middle-market companies.

Prior to joining Seven Hills, Kevin was the Vice President of Business Development for PhyNet Dermatology, managing national acquisition efforts for the 100+ clinic, 300+ provider MSO. He started his career as a CPA with Capital One and has been healthcare focused ever since joining the Healthcare Transaction Advisory Team within Berkeley Research Group. Kevin is originally from Winchester, VA and holds a BBA and MS in accountancy from James Madison University. Outside of Seven Hills, Kevin enjoys chasing around his two young boys, reading, playing golf, and seeing live music.

Drew Rodgers

Drew Rodgers

Senior Vice President

First Horizon Bank


Drew Rodgers is a Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking at First Horizon Bank in Nashville, TN. Drew joined First Horizon (formerly known as First Tennessee Bank) as a Commercial Relationship Manager in April of 2010 and currently serves as a Team Leader in the Commercial Banking Department, serving companies in the Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky area with annual revenue greater than $30,000,000.

Drew’s 21 year banking career has been focused on managing relationships with middle market businesses with complex credit and depository needs, including sponsor owned and rapidly growing businesses, and now leads a team of 4 of the best Commercial bankers in the Southeast.

Prior to beginning a career in banking, Drew attended Millsaps College in Jackson, MS where he earned his Masters of Business Administration (Concentration in Management) and received his undergraduate degree from Auburn University with a B.S.B.A in Management Information Systems.

Israel Rollins

Israel Rollins

General Partner

Aligned Health Ventures


I am Managing Partner of Aligned Health Ventures, a seed-stage fund backing founders building the next operating system for healthcare—platforms that automate, personalize, and scale care and discovery. Our investment strategy centers on Health AI, tech-enabled services, and regulated healthtech, with a clear focus on solutions that expand access, improve outcomes, and reduce system burdens. By targeting mission-driven platform companies with durable moats and structural tailwinds, we generate both meaningful health impact and asymmetric returns for our investors.

With 25+ years as a healthcare operator, investor, and CEO, I’ve led startups through exits and built companies across services, technology, and devices. Our early portfolio includes Nest Health, Phiex Technologies, and Fullsteam Health. While governance is a key part of my toolkit (NACD Directorship Certified, SEC-qualified financial expert), my priority is disciplined venture investing—leveraging Nashville’s healthcare ecosystem and tier-1 syndicates to help seed-stage companies scale into category leaders.

Peter Rousos

Peter Rousos

Founder

The Innovation Studio 1, LLC


Mr. Rousos is currently a founder of The Innovation Studio, a venture studio that starts, scales, and sells startup companies. Prior to that, he was the Director, Economic and New Venture Development, in the Vanderbilt Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization. That group launches and supports new companies in which Vanderbilt holds equity resulting from a license or a direct investment.

Mr. Rousos is also an investor, an entrepreneur, and has served on a number of for-profit, non-profit, and trade association boards of directors.

Prior to that, Mr. Rousos served in senior level business and legal positions with large companies and startups and practiced law. He received his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh.

Douglas Song

Douglas Song

Co-Founder & Principal

Prodos Capital


Mr. Song has a diverse background with over 35 years in principal investments, investment banking, and operational experience. Prior to co-founding Prodos Capital ("Prodos"), Mr. Song was the head of investments and corporate finance for Verus International, a boutique merchant banking firm that was co-founded by Citigroup, where he led investments in both private and public companies in the emerging growth and middle market.

Prior to Verus, Mr. Song was SVP of Corporate Development at On2 Technologies. At On2, Mr. Song led all aspects of strategic planning, financial analysis, mergers & acquisitions, financings and the capital markets. Prior to joining On2, Song was a Managing Director at Bluestone Capital Partners, where he was a senior banker and a manager in that firm's Corporate Finance Department. At BlueStone, Mr. Song was responsible for the execution of public offerings and private placements as well as merger and acquisition transactions. Mr. Song was a member of BlueStone's Management Committee and Commitment Committee.

Previously, he held positions as an investment banker at Smith Barney in the Global Energy and Power Group and Chase Manhattan Bank in the M&A Group and subsequently in the Workout Group

Shalin Tejani

Shalin Tejani

Founder & CEO

Legacy Dental Group


Shalin Tejani, co-founder and CEO of Legacy Dental Group (LDG), is revolutionizing dentistry in East Tennessee. He focuses on doctor support, staff culture, patient care and has ambitiously grown LDG by acquiring six practices in four years. A serial entrepreneur, Shalin's background also includes over $1.5 billion in commercial real estate financing, owning and managing a significant e-commerce retailer, and founding a hospitality equity fund. He is passionate about building relationships and fostering growth. Shalin, married to Niti Tejani, enjoys family life with their three children in Chattanooga, TN.

Rich Thomson

Rich Thomson

Founder & CEO

Dreamliner


In late 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic with music touring at a standstill, Founder Rich Thomson had an opportunity to purchase 12 touring buses. With no certainty when touring would commence again, Thomson took a bet on the live music industry - these 12 coaches were the beginning of Dreamliner Luxury Coaches.

In less than a year, as Thomson hoped, large-scale concerts returned and in August 2021 Dreamliner embarked on its first post-COVID tour with The Jonas Brothers, led by Tour Director David Licursi.

With consumer interest in live experiences at an all time high, Dreamliner sought to expand its capabilities and reach, leading to the acquisition of Diamond Coach Leasing in June of 2022. The purchase more than doubled Dreamliner’s fleet, established new headquarters in Nashville, TN, and expanded the company’s ability to serve the country music industry. Shortly thereafter, with dozens of coaches touring throughout the United States simultaneously, Dreamliner opened a secondary facility in Fontana, CA, allowing in-house servicing to its coaches on the West Coast.

In late 2023, concluding its third year of operations, Dreamliner purchased Hemphill Brothers Coach Company, an acquisition that nearly tripled the number of coaches in the company’s fleet. With nearly 200 coaches and the ability to service more than 50 percent of the larger arena stadium tours in the U.S., Dreamliner became the largest provider of entertainer coaches in the world. Clients now included the hottest names in entertainment, including The Weeknd, Beyoncé, Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan, Tool, Drake, SZA, and Olivia Rodrigo. Dreamliner’s services extended to providing best-in-class executive coaches for group meetings and executive trips for Fortune 500 companies including NASCAR, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the Professional Golfers’ Association of America.

Less than a year after purchasing Hemphill Brothers, Dreamliner Luxury Coaches announced its largest addition to date with the acquisition of Denver-based transportation logistics company Shomotion and Nashville-based truck and trailer company Show Pro. Through these acquisitions, Dreamliner expanded its services outside of live music to motion picture productions, mobile marketing campaigns, theatrical productions, festivals, and more. Dreamliner gained both Shomotion’s five-acre Denver facility and Show Pro’s Nashville three-acre facility, over 60 trucks, and 200 trailers. These acquisitions placed Dreamliner in every major US music tour between new trucks and coaches, adding tremendous value to Dreamliner’s client base in both production and stage set up. Additional clientele now includes Taylor Swift, Guns N’ Roses, Metallica, Coldplay, Elton John, Kenny Chesney, and more.

Dreamliner is leading the way in event transportation logistics with increased reach that now extends beyond the touring industry.

Whitney Williams

Whitney Williams

CFO

Beliade


Jeff Woody

Jeff Woody

Executive Director, Market Team Lead at J.P. Morgan Private Bank

JP Morgan Chase


Jeff Woody is an Executive Director and Market Team Lead in the Nashville office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank. Jeff directs a talented group of Bankers in providing sophisticated wealth management strategies to Tennessee’s most successful C-suite executives, entrepreneurs, business owners, families and institutions. His focus is on scaling the resources of an industry leader to a local level so that clients may fulfill their purposes and leave legacies for the next generation.

Jeff takes a partnership approach, and works diligently to deliver a boutique, customized feel across the balance sheet—banking, investing, borrowing, planning, cash management and other critical elements of wealth. He serves as a conduit to the intellectual strength of J.P. Morgan, removing obstacles and navigating the expanse of the firm to the Commercial Bank and additional lines of business. Jeff leads with a servant’s heart and shines a spotlight on his team, facilitating success for advisors and clients. His fierce loyalty to individuals, business leaders and the firm makes him an outstanding role model as the face of J.P. Morgan in the community.

Throughout his three-decade career, Jeff has become highly adept at anticipating change and navigating economic cycles. He began at Edward Jones and J.C. Bradford & Company before spending nearly 25 years at UBS Financial Services. In that time, Jeff rose from a Financial Advisor role to a Market Director responsible for leading client engagement in Middle Tennessee and Alabama. Now at J.P. Morgan, he is excited to be anchored in Nashville, playing a pivotal role in expanding the firm’s presence and name recognition.

Jeff earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Birmingham-Southern College while playing varsity basketball. He has been blessed with great mentors throughout his life, and has molded his leadership philosophy from the lessons he gleaned from their examples.

Nashville holds a special place in Jeff’s heart, and he loves to spend quality time with his wife, his family and their friends, exploring all the area has to offer.

Haley “Zap” Zapolski

Haley “Zap” Zapolski

Co-Host

The Cap Table


Zap is on a mission to build the Nashville startup ecosystem. She educates local founders at the Nashville Entrepreneur Center about capital and capital raising. She is an angel investor and advisors to several tech startups and a supporter of dozens more.

Conference Location

6201 Hickory Valley Road
Nashville, TN 37205
Tel: (615) 352-6591