M&A forum to review the state of the market for buying or selling a business

Cynthia LaConte, CEO of The Dohmen Co., delivers the keynote address at the 2019 M&A Forum.

Are we nearing the end of the M&A market boom? The state of the M&A market will be examined in depth at the annual BizTimes Media M&A Forum Thursday, March 31, 2-6:30 p.m. at the Brookfield Conference Center. Click here to join.

Each year, the program provides participants with an overview of the M&A market and best practices for buying or selling a business.

The event will feature two panels, one on buying a business and the other on selling your business.

Panels and panelists will include:

Sell your business – From Strategy to Execution – Business owners will share best practices, lessons learned, biggest surprises and other experiences from the sales process. Panelists will include:

Shane Vaughn, President and CEO, KDV Labels, LLC
John Topetzes, Former Owner, President, Sanborn Tube and Fab
Nate Neuberger, Shareholder, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren
Steve Flynn, CEO/Owner, S. Flynn & Company
Moderator: Ann Hanna, CEO and Founder, Groupe Taureau

Growth by acquisition – An overview of the why of buying a business, the differences between needs and wants and ideas on what to do next? Panelists will include:

Kristin Dufek, President, Eppstein Uhen Architects
Dan Druml, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, FirstService
Keith Smith, President, Vonco
Jake Hansen, Director, Jacsten Holdings
Moderator: Inge Plautz, Senior and Executive Vice President BDO, Old National Bank

The M&A Forum will also include three breakout sessions:

Building sustainable business value – Value drivers that endure through market cycles and attract the most desirable buyers. Presenters will include:

Tyler Carlson, MBA, Director and Owner, Groupe Taureau
John Tokarz, Shareholder, Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren

Buying a business, how to start financing the purchase strategically and wisely – Transaction process, risk management and financing, including SBA options. Presenters will include:

Megan Brobson, Vice President, Borgman Capital
Jeff Roseland, Director of SBA Loans, Old National Bank
Mike Schroeder, MBA, Director and Owner, Groupe Taureau
Moderator: Derek Smith, Senior Vice President of Commercial Banking, Former National Bank

Family succession: sale, recap or other alternatives – choose the best option to create liquidity and involve the next generation. Presenters will include: