02:00 PM - 05:00 PM (Pacific)
03:00 PM - 06:00 PM (Mountain)
04:00 PM - 07:00 PM (Central)
05:00 PM - 08:00 PM (Eastern)

Registration

$35   Member Registration Fee
$45   Non-member Registration Fee

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Overview

All private businesses must plan for the inevitable transitions that take place as the result of a change in leadership, market dynamics, or otherwise. This panel will discuss the importance of governance across various business cycles and major milestones.

• Upgrading operations to improve the viability and value of the business
• Building out an advisory board and deciding when a fiduciary board is required;
• The potential impact on capital raising and exit arising from weak governance practices
• Understanding exit options and pros/cons of each;
• Developing a business, personal and financial transition plan for business owner(s)
• Issues related to valuations, including impact of public markets on private valuations
  
  

Thank you to our Houston Chapter Sponsors!

Thank you to our National Sponsors!

Speakers

Daniel Kennedy is the founding co-owner of Joule Processing, a mid-stream focused engineering, procurement and fabrication company, which was recently purchased by Plug Power following an unsolicited bid. The Joule team is now acting as the engineering arm of Plug, designing and fabricating hydrogen liquefaction systems for Plug as well as third parties.
Daniel’s expertise includes plant design, installation and start-up for hydrogen liquefiers, refrigeration plants, amine plants, gas to liquids plants, J-T plants, dehydration plants, bio-diesel plants and compressor stations. In his early career, Daniel led facility design and cost analysis for pipeline, plant and compressor facilities; process control and plant automation; process modeling and simulation technologies.  Daniel is also a founding partner and board member of Taproot Energy Partners and he earned a B.S. in chemical engineering from The University of Texas at Austin.

John Symington is an experienced general counsel and compliance officer with a track record of executing on transactions and addressing critical legal issues, allowing management to focus on the business. He has been GC of two public company groups and a start-up. His experience includes two IPOs, and numerous other private and public equity and debt offerings, in the U.S., Norway and other countries. John’s experience in mergers and acquisitions includes large public transactions (including the merger between Frank's International and Expro Group), smaller private transactions, as well as advising on issues that arise during post-acquisition integration and separation of business units from a larger parent organization.
In addition, John has headed numerous internal investigations of misconduct, and led responses to government investigations including an FCPA investigation by the DOJ and SEC. With more than 20 years of experience in-house, complemented by 10 years of experience in private practice, I have lived and worked in the U.S., the U.K., Venezuela, and Brazil, and have broad global experience with transactions on every continent.
John earned his B.A. from Duke University and his J.D. from The University of Texas at Austin.

John joined Merrill in 2009 and is currently a Private Wealth Advisor within Merrill Private Wealth Management. He began his career in financial services at Bernstein Global Wealth Management in the Private Client business where he worked with a number of ultra-affluent client across several industries.
John advises Senior Corporate Executives, closely held business owners, and ultra-affluent families about multiple facets of their financial lives. In addition to providing access to the wide ranging capabilities within Merrill. John also partners with professionals outside the firm to provide a process driven strategy to help business owners prepare for and execute a Liquidity event. He also works with C-Suite executives to manage Concentrated Stock and execute diversification strategies available to Section 16 insiders.
John is a member of the Advisory Council for the Business School at Stephen F. Austin State University, Klein Education Foundation, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Houston and he chairs the Finance Committee at John Wesley United Methodist Church.

Jack Chang is the founder and a Managing Director at DGP Capital, an independent investment bank focused on growth-stage and mature companies in the industrial, manufacturing, business services and energy sectors. 
Jack has executed over $7 billion in transactions within the energy and industrial sectors, including M&A, Initial Public Offerings, and Private Placements. He holds Series 79, 63 and 82 licenses*. 
Prior to DGP, Jack was a Director within GE Venture’s Oil and Gas Investment team.  While at GE Ventures, he focused on technology-enabled midstream, downstream and process industry investments.
Prior to GE Ventures, Jack was an Associate Director within UBS’ Global Natural Resources Investment Banking group.  While at UBS, he executed transactions for upstream, midstream, downstream and oil-field service companies.  Before joining UBS, Jack was a member of Tyco International’s corporate strategy and business development team. Jack earned his BS in Electrical Engineering and MBA from the University of Texas at Austin.

 *Jack Chang is a registered representative of, and securities transactions are conducted through, StillPoint Capital, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC, Tampa, FL.  StillPoint Capital, LLC, is not affiliated with DGP Capital.

Moderator

Sue Kean Board Director and Principal Kean | Walker Strategies

Sue Kean is formerly the senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary of Rubicon Oilfield International, a portfolio company of private equity firm Warburg Pincus. Sue was responsible for leading legal, compliance and risk management teams as well as various key cross-functional integration strategies and implementation for multiple acquisitions. Sue also served as the key advisor for the company’s M&A strategy and international business planning.
Prior to Rubicon, Sue served in senior executive positions with McDermott International, Trico Marine Services, and Exterran. Sue is recognized for her strategic approach and expertise in de-risking complex transactions. She served as a corporate director and later a liquidating trustee overseeing the divestiture and final wind down of a private equity/public debt company in the marine construction industry.
Sue currently serves on the Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council board and the United Way Women’s Initiative steering committee. She earned her B.S. in business and economics from Vanderbilt University and her J.D. from the University of Houston.

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