Creating Value Before and After the Deal: Smart Strategies for Growth, Savings & AI Advantage
Presented By: IntelePeer / Merchant Advocate
Value creation doesn’t start at closing—and it certainly doesn’t end there. In today’s competitive market, buyers and sellers are looking for proven strategies to strengthen performance, reduce risk, and boost valuations across the deal lifecycle. This session will take a two-pronged approach—exploring how disciplined cost management and vendor oversight can unlock hidden savings that directly increase enterprise value; and how the strategic application of AI is reshaping efficiency, accelerating growth, and in some cases even commanding valuation premiums. Together, we’ll discuss how forward-thinking investors and operators are using technology, financial discipline, and operational insights to create lasting value—before, during, and after the deal.
Moderator:
CEO
Merchant Advocate
A veteran of the finance industry, Eric Cohen founded Merchant Advocate in 2006. After his extensive experience in the merchant services industry, he was determined to create a fair value proposition and transparency for merchants with their credit card processors. He established Merchant Advocate to act as a trusted advisor on behalf of all size and categories of businesses. As the CEO and founder of Merchant Advocate, Eric leads the team with passion that comes from saving merchants over $300MM. He is always striving to help business owners save money. His unique vision has driven the development of an entirely new industry of Advocacy in Merchants Services.
Prior to founding Merchant Advocate, Eric held various sales and training positions in the industry, gearing up for the formation of his own organization as an independent advocate for merchants. Eric earned his undergraduate degree in Communications from Rutgers College and his MBA from the Graziadio School of Business and Management at Pepperdine University. Eric lives in New Jersey with his beautiful wife and three adorable daughters.
Chief Revenue Officer
IntelePeer
Michael serves as Chief Revenue Officer of IntelePeer bringing more than two decades of sales and account management expertise to his role. A high-impact executive known for achieving and exceeding growth objectives, Michael is focused on driving revenue in dynamic markets and geographies while improving profitability and meeting other business objectives.
Panelists:
CEO
HealthChannels
Dr. Tony Andrulonis leads HealthChannels as Chief Executive Officer. In this role he collaborates cross-functionally with executive, senior and local management to define key performance objectives, and develop strategies to address healthcare delivery challenges.
As an emergency medicine physician, Dr. Andrulonis has driven groundbreaking results in clinical care, and administrative efficiency over the course of his career. With expertise improving the quality of life for patients and providers, he guides health systems through the transition to value-based care.
Prior to joining HealthChannels, Dr. Andrulonis served as the President of Emergency Medicine at Envision Health, and Chief of the Department of Emergency Medicine at Baptist Health in Miami, Florida. As a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Task Force member, Dr. Andrulonis contributed to the emergency response for 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. He is a sought out speaker, and was recognized by the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) as a “Hero of Emergency Medicine” during their 40th Anniversary celebration.
Dr. Andrulonis graduated from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and completed a residency at the University of Pennsylvania. He holds an MBA from Northwestern, Kellogg School of Management and served as an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.
Managing Partner
Cambridge Capital
Benjamin Gordon is founder and Managing Partner of Cambridge Capital. He draws on a career building, advising, and investing in supply chain companies. Benjamin has led investments in outstanding firms including XPO, Greenscreens.ai, Grand Junction and others.
Prior to Cambridge Capital, Benjamin built BGSA Holdings into a global leader in M&A for the supply chain sector. As CEO of BGSA, Benjamin led the firm’s efforts, advising on over $2 billion worth of supply chain transactions. Benjamin has worked with firms such as UPS, DHL, Kuehne & Nagel, Agility Logistics, NFI Logistics, GENCO, Nations Express, Raytrans, Echo Global, Dixie, Wilpak, and others.
Benjamin received a Masters in Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale College.