7:45 - 8:45 a.m.

Your Digital North Star in the world of AI and Intelligent Automation

Presenter: Mark Shivers, Founder & CEO, Ignite IPA

Overwhelmed by AI and automation? Unsure where to start or which technologies will truly impact your business? Tired of hearing about ChatGPT? Navigating this new AI world can feel daunting. In this session we'll:

• Simplify the concepts of AI and intelligent automation, helping you align these solutions to your business goals, demonstrating real case studies and demos from real clients with big financial impact.


• Learn how automation can cut costs, streamline operations, scale your business efficiently, and enhance customer experience.


• Discover your company’s unique digital path and how to leverage intelligent automation to boost margins and confidently navigate the future.

Topic: Business Operations: Technology

7:45 - 8:45 a.m.

Completing the Deal Live: Capital Raising and M&A Market Insights

Presenter: Matt Andersen, CEO, Westlake Securities

Based on his best-selling book, Completing the Deal, Matt Andersen has delivered his Completing the Deal Live speaker series to Vistage groups across the US and Canada. Recognizing that CEOs need clear, actionable guidance on mergers, acquisitions, and growth-oriented capital raising, Matt distills complex strategies into straightforward, practical insights.

This breakout session offers a powerful, condensed version of his talk, covering today’s capital markets, key growth strategies, and how to maximize your businesses value. Walk away with expert advice to drive growth, navigate the capital and M&A markets, and unlock your company’s full potential.

Topic: Financials: Mergers & Acquisitions

7:45 - 8:45 a.m.

Eliminate Hiring & Management Mistakes: How Data Analytics Save Time & Money

Presenter: Barry Shulman, Principal, Shulman Associates Search Services, Inc., Premier Certified Partner from PI

Experts agree 90% of business problems are people problems. Do you have the right people in the right roles? How do you assess employees and candidates? Can you accurately define and articulate job specs for every role in your company? Do your managers have the tools to effectively create and manage teams for maximum performance, profitability, and ROI? How do you address over-and-under performers, conflict resolution, and communication differences? Can you quickly and effectively create winning teams and predict how they'll work together?

In this breakout, you’ll take away tools to easily and efficiently optimize your talent and understand why people behave the way they do.

Topic: Leadership: Employee Development

7:45 - 8:45 a.m.

The CEO's Guide to Strategically Scaling Sales

Presenter: Frank Niekamp, Managing Partner, SalesStar

Unlock the secret to scalable, measurable, and predictable sales growth in this exclusive session designed for CEOs. Learn how to build a strategic sales system that drives consistent results and empowers your sales force. Attendees will leave with actionable takeaways:

• Proven methodologies to streamline sales processes and drive consistent results.


• Strategies to leverage data for better decision-making and measurable outcomes.


• Insights to achieve sustainable growth and elevate your company's performance.

This session is for CEO's who want a clear path to building a strategic sales system that is scalable, measurable, and predictable.

Topic: Customer Engagement: Sales & Marketing

12:10 - 1:15 p.m.

The Dark Side of Private Equity: Missteps that Could Cost You Millions

Presenter: Zane Tarence, Managing Director and Partner, Founders Advisors

With more PE firms targeting private companies, business owners must be equipped to navigate this complex world successfully. Using case studies, data-driven insights, and over two decades of M&A experience, we’ll discuss the PE investor ecosystem, how they exploit inexperienced business owners, and strategies to help you protect your equity.
You’ll learn:
• 7 reasons your business is not qualified for PE investment (and what to do)
• Essential questions to answer before engaging PE
• The truth about “Minority Investors” and “Founder Aligned” PE
• Why 90% of founders lose in PE negotiations
• Enterprise Value Coaching through Industry Driven Valuation Scorecards

Topic: Financials: Mergers & Acquisitions

12:10 - 1:15 p.m.

Turn on the Financial Headlights: Maximize Your Profitability & Success

Presenter: K. Scott Crawford, Partner, Preferred CFO

The future can't be predicted, but with proper tools and strategies, businesses can “Turn on the Headlights,” increasing their opportunity for prosperity while reducing risk of failure. In this session, Preferred CFO presents tools and strategies that help stakeholders elevate their company's fiscal health, confidence, and strategy by: • Understanding the importance and intricacies of a forward-facing financial strategy—and how to execute it. • Evaluating a financial teams' capabilities and ability to provide actionable information. • Tracking the right metrics to better inform the future. • Harnessing the power of forecasting to more confidently achieve goals through data-backed decision making.

Topic: Financials: Financial Management

12:10 - 1:15 p.m.

Walk-Away Money: 6 Steps To Turn Your Business Into Financial Freedom

Presenter: Joe St. Thomas, Regional VP, Strategic Partnerships, Wealth Enhancement Group

In today's rapidly evolving job market, the talent crisis is casting a shadow over the potential growth of small and midsize businesses (SMBs) in the US. Job openings are surging, surpassing the number of available skilled workers, resulting in a vicious cycle of long hiring times, skyrocketing salary expectations, dwindling efficiency, and declining productivity of the US workforce- especially for SMBs.

In response to the talent crisis, SMBs should reevaluate their hiring strategies. Through his deep expertise in remote talent integration and management, Rob offers tailored, innovative solutions that meet today's unique challenges.

Topic: Financials: Capital / Cash Management

12:10 - 1:15 p.m.

Accelerate Growth With a Revenue Generation System

Presenter: Matt Reilly, CEO, Sales Empowerment Group

Most businesses are missing their revenue goals. Across the board, missed quotas are the norm, sales cycles are longer, and win rates and deal sizes are smaller. We have more technology and channels than ever. Growth should be easier. So what’s missing? The best businesses have a system for everything – from hiring talent to delivering products and services. To meet today’s unique challenges, you also need a system for revenue generation. This session will explore:

• How the current environment makes scalable growth difficult


• The core components of a revenue generation system


• Key considerations for systematizing marketing, talent, training, and technology

Topic: Customer Engagement - Marketing