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Cleveland Virtual Event | Creating Competitive Advantage Through ESG Strategy and Compliance Within Private Companies, presented to you in partnership with Conscious Capitalism NEO
Thursday, June 09, 2022, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM EDT
Category: Cleveland

02:30 PM - 04:00 PM (Pacific)
03:30 PM - 05:00 PM (Mountain)
04:30 PM - 06:00 PM (Central)
05:30 PM - 07:00 PM (Eastern) 

Registration

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Zoom link will be sent the day before the event

Overview

Environmental, Social, and Governance (“ESG”) initiatives are becoming increasingly critical in multiple industries. Their origins may differ amongst public or private companies, large or small companies, family-owned or private equity-owned companies, etc., but their implications can be broad. Our panel will focus on issues boards – private and public -- should consider when addressing ESG trends and evolving imperatives.

The panel will address:

  • Why should private companies care about ESG? 
  • What aspects of ESG are most relevant for private companies and their key stakeholders (i.e., employees, shareholders, customers, regulators, etc.)? and
  • How do you create a culture of ESG excellence, given the resources available?

Thank you to our National and Gold Chapter Sponsors!

Panelists

      

Amy Wojnarwsky
Senior Associate
McDonald Hopkins LLC

Amy Wojnarwsky is a senior associate in the firm’s Business Department and Mergers and Acquisitions Practice Group. Her practice is focused on representing both strategic buyers and sellers including private companies and private equity funds in various types of transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, leveraged buyouts, distressed acquisitions and dispositions, and investments. In addition to her merger and acquisition practice, Amy works extensively with family and privately owned companies on a variety of general corporate matters, including commercial contract negotiation, structuring business organizations, compliance and operational issues and business succession planning. Amy also works with companies in structuring and consummating venture capital and securities offerings.

She has a strong passion for helping entrepreneurs and businesses on corporate social governance matters to help impact-driven companies continue to grow the revenues while having a positive social impact by assisting with business initiatives ranging from social finance and impact investing to organizational matters for “b corporations.” Amy brings this passion to her M&A practice by helping both buyers and sellers to ensure cultural alignment and integration planning in their transactions and works as general outside counsel for companies with the dual objectives of profit and purpose.

Amy earned her J.D., cum laude, from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2013. She also received a Master of Elementary Education, summa cum laude, from Arizona State University in 2009 and a B.A. in political science from Yale University in 2007, where she served as a coordinator for Dwight Hall, the largest campus-based student-run service organization in the country. Following her undergraduate studies, she joined Teach for America as a corps member where she taught fifth grade and computers in Phoenix, Arizona, where she helped facilitate professional development programs and district curriculum development.

      

Neal Restivo
Chief Executive Officer
Oatey Company.

Neal R. Restivo is Chief Executive Officer of Oatey Co., a 105-year-old manufacturer and distributor of plumbing products. Oatey, which employs 1,500 associates worldwide, serves the plumbing and home improvement industries with its market leading brands and over 6,000 products. Prior to assuming the CEO role, Neal served as Oatey’s Chief Financial Officer.

Prior to joining Oatey, Neal was a partner of Tatum LLC, an executive services firm that provided financial leadership to companies in transition. In addition, he has served as Chief Financial Officer of Weatherchem Corporation, Corrpro Companies, and Waxman Industries. Neal started his career in public accounting with Arthur Andersen & Co. in Cleveland.

Neal serves as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Sea-Land Chemical Company. In addition, he is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the Cleveland Leadership Center, the American Red Cross, Facing History and Ourselves and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame (where is also Co-Chair of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee). Neal is also a member of the Leadership Cleveland Class of 2017.

Neal received a BS Business from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio and is a Certified Public Accountant in the State of Ohio. He currently resides in Moreland Hills, Ohio. 

      

Andrew Waterson
President and Founder
Blue CSR Strategies

Sustainability and corporate responsibility professional with nearly 20 years of experience creating positive social, environmental, and economic impacts in both public and private sector roles. Proven results in corporate responsibility strategy development, community engagement and communications. Leading blue csr strategies to help shape and inform our clients' corporate social responsibility efforts to advance organizational priorities and achieve the full potential of their purpose. Previously served as Sustainable Value Vice President for GOJO Industries, Senior Vice President and Head of Sustainability for KeyBank, Senior Consultant at Brown Flynn, and the First Chief of Sustainability for the City of Cleveland 

      

Kimberly Reed
Managing Director of Talent
Blue Point Capital Partners

Kimberly joined Blue Point Capital in 2020. She was most recently the Vice President of Human Resources at siffron, LLC, a private equity-owned manufacturer of display fixtures. Prior to joining siffron, she served as the Vice President of HR for Knorr-Bremse, Bendix, a German manufacturer of braking systems for commercial vehicles and locomotives. She began her Human Resource career with 13 years at General Motors Corporation, followed by holding global Human Resources roles with increasing levels of responsibility at three other manufacturing firms such as Cytec-Solvay, Saint-Gobain, and Johnson Controls. Throughout her over 25 years of experience, she has successfully developed and facilitated enterprise-wide strategies around employee engagement, recruitment and development, and culture integration of acquired companies. She has also led programs that supported global product expansion and increased global manufacturing flexibility.

Kimberly holds a B.S. in Chemistry and Psychology from Youngstown State University and an MBA with a concentration in International Business from Kent State University. She is currently a Member of The Society for Human Resource Management and HR Leadership Group (Cleveland Chapter).

Outside of the office, Kimberly enjoys spending time exploring local museums and exploring international cuisine and fitness with her family. She has a husband and two daughters.

Moderator

      

Richik Sarkar
Partner
Dinsmore & Shohl LLP

Richik is a courtroom advocate, boardroom strategist, and collaborative leader who directs commercial, consumer, and cybersecurity litigation for all sizes. He is a nationally recognized class action litigator and a former chief privacy officer for a $65 million company. He deploys his knowledge and experience to help his clients achieve their goals and leverages his network to provide bespoke commercial judgment, legal intelligence, and strategic vision.

Specifically, he advises and advocates for clients working in media, technology, utility, real estate, finance, retail, and other industries concerning risk and crisis management and regularly speaks on issues related to ESG, cybersecurity and data privacy, corporate and governance strategy, policy management, and regulatory investigations. Richik also has experience resolving civil investigative demands and disputes involving the FTC Act; the TCPA; the ADA; state and federal corruption and trade practices statutes; state and federal consumer protection and UDAP laws; fraud; negligence; breach of fiduciary duty; breach of contract; and conspiracy theories.

Recognized as one of The Best Lawyers in America®, an Ohio Super Lawyer®, and on Lawyers of Color’s “Nation’s Best” list, Richik’s counsel includes: Directing commercial and consumer litigation – including shareholder and class action litigation – across the country for retailers, financial institutions, small and middle-market companies, and manufacturers; handling federal, state, and internal investigations and litigation related to ESG, fraud, unfair and deceptive practices, false advertising, cybersecurity issues, and data privacy violations; counseling companies and boards about their cybersecurity and data privacy duties, risks, and protocols; and advising small, middle market, and Fortune 500 clients on legal and business strategies concerning innovation, expansion, ESG, shareholder disputes, access to capital, trademarks, copyrights, and patents and, if necessary, connecting them with other resources to solve their problems. 

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