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Session B

Deals That Didn’t Close… For All the Right Reasons

Presented By: Louis Plung & Company / CIBC Bank USA

Not every deal is destined to reach the finish line, nor should they. Join a buyer, seller, lender, and professional services advisor as they take a deep dive into two deals from 2022 that didn’t close. The group will break down the reasons and provide a series of practical takeaways from all sides of a deal.

Moderator:

Beth Bershok
Chief Marketing Officer
Louis Plung & Company

Beth Bershok has been appointed to the newly created role of LPC Chief Marketing Officer at Louis Plung. She’ll be leading the marketing strategy and vision as the firm celebrates more than a century of expert accounting and advisory services.

Previously, Beth oversaw the marketing and practice development efforts for Herbein + Company. Prior to her career in professional services marketing, Beth earned a degree in speech communications (radio and TV) from California University of Pennsylvania and went on to a 26-year career in radio. From 1990 to March of 2008, Beth served as co-host and producer of “Gary & Beth in the Morning” on Lite Rock 92.9 FM. In 2005, she was awarded Best Pittsburgh On-Air Personality by the Pittsburgh Radio and Television Club.

Panelists:

Tom Bakaitus
Partner
Louis Plung & Company

Tax Partner with Louis Plung & Company. Have 35 years experience primarily in tax. Focus area is transaction analysis. Undergraduate California University of PA. Masters in Tax from Duquesne University. Prior to Louis Plung I was regional managing partner and firmwide Director of Tax with a regional firm.

Rich Beaty
Managing Director
IMB Partners

Rich is a finance professional, investor, runner, and triathlete. He has 20 years of experience in capital markets, commercial lending, business development, and credit risk management. In addition to his role as Managing Director at IMB, he is also the Treasurer and on the Executive Committee of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre.

Gary Cerrone
CEO
CE Consulting Group

Gary provides over 40 years of executive experience in various industries which include technology, manufacturing, distribution, marketing, healthcare, energy, and education. He has helped companies navigate through complex business situations arising from Chapter 11, restructurings, turnarounds, start-ups and acquisitions while leveraging the competitive advantage of market leading companies. After working for several companies where he has held various executive positions, Gary started his own consulting practice in 2011. It was evident that the opportunities and challenges that companies face across all industries have elements that are essentially the same. By leveraging Gary’s extensive experience, he is able to provide his clients with a variety of “C Level” experience across many disciplines. Without question, the time Gary has spent operating his consulting practice has been the most rewarding time of his career.

Gary has a BS from Duquesne University and is on the board of a few non-profit organizations.

 

Annie Westbrook
Managing Director
CIBC Bank USA

Annie is currently a Managing Director at CIBC Bank USA headquartered in Chicago (global HQ in Toronto) focused on middle market commercial lending and banking. As a relationship manager, Annie provides senior debt and related banking services to middle market companies (directly and via private equity investments). Companies (prospects and clients) generate $20 million to $2 billion in annual revenue and require senior debt in the $10 million to $125 million range. Annie firmly believes understanding the operations, management team and culture of a business are paramount when developing an appropriate financing package and long-term banking relationship.

Prior to this position, Annie was a corporate lender for TriState Capital Bank. She also worked for The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, PNC Bank and was a mathematics teacher and coach at Woodward Academy in Atlanta, GA.

Annie serves on the board of The Neighborhood Academy, Foxwall EMS and the Pittsburgh Chapter of INFORMS. 

 

Conference Location

600 Commonwealth Place
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Tel: (412) 391-4600