Event List
Prev MonthPrev Month Next MonthNext Month
Webinar | Effective Private Equity Boards - The Evolution of Human Capital Strategy and the Independent Director
Tuesday, June 08, 2021, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM CDT
Category: Multi-Chapter

01:00 PM - 02:30 PM (Pacific)
02:00 PM - 03:30 PM (Mountain)
03:00 PM - 04:30 PM (Central)
04:00 PM - 05:30 PM (Eastern)

Register
Zoom invitation will be shared the day before the event.

Overview

With today’s high valuations, pressure to grow and challenge to find the right players for key roles, how are PE firms innovating their approach to Human Capital to increase portfolio company value?  What Human Capital tools are they developing and applying to hit the ground running with new portfolio company platform and add-on acquisitions?  How do they apply Human Capital strategy for their own board structure, engagement of independent directors and key management roles for the perfect ‘cast’ of leaders?

The Chicago and Tampa Bay Chapters have organized a panel, including

  • a long-time PE Firm principal whose firm is leading the charge in the evolution of the PE’s approach to Human Capital,
  • the author who recently wrote the playbook on how to approach Human Capital in ways that drive growth and deliver value in M&A,
  • a top portfolio company C-level executive, and
  • an experienced middle market M&A legal and business professional.

Thank you to our Webinar Hosts!


 

Thank you to our National and Gold Chapter Sponsors!

Panelists

 

David Gershman
Partner and General Counsel
Trivest Partners

Mr. Gershman joined Trivest in 2002.  As Trivest General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer, he provides transactional services and comprehensive legal oversight to the portfolio companies and assists in the transaction processes.  At Trivest, Mr. Gershman is a member of Trivest’s Investment Committee and serves as Chairman or Board member of numerous Trivest companies including GAL Power Systems and Pelican Water Systems.  Prior to joining Trivest, Mr. Gershman served as in-house M&A counsel at Automatic Data Processing Inc. and practiced law in the New York office of Morgan Lewis where he focused on representing private equity firms.  He earned his B.A., cum laude, from Union College and his J.D. from New York University School of Law and is a member of the bar in New York and Florida.  

 

Jennifer J. Fondrevay
Founder, Chief Humanity Officer
Day1 Ready™ M&A Consultancy

Jennifer J Fondrevay is the Founder and Chief Humanity Officer of Day1 Ready™, a consultancy that advises forward thinking business leaders, owners and C-Suite executives on how to prepare for and manage the people challenges of business transitions, particularly Mergers & Acquisitions.

As a Fortune 500, C-Suite Marketing Executive who led teams through three separate multibillion-dollar acquisitions, Jennifer authored the satirical survivor’s handbook, “NOW WHAT? A Survivor’s Guide for Thriving Through Mergers & Acquisitions” which became a #1 new release on Amazon. Her NOW WHAT? audiobook was launched in March 2021 to similar acclaim.

She shares her M&A expertise as a contributor to Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Inc., Forbes and Thrive Global; is a sought-after podcast guest and keynote speaker for conferences and associations; and has advised numerous small and mid-market as well as Fortune 500 companies, on how to prepare for and lead through the multiple transitions of the M&A-deal journey.

 

Sherina Maye Edwards
Chief Executive Officer and President
INTREN

Edwards joined INTREN in 2020 as its CEO, having originally served as a member of the board.  INTREN, a 2000+ employee premier WBE utility specialty contractor with 14 regional offices, works with the nation's leading utility providers, private contractors and developers, municipalities and cooperatives to build and maintain their infrastructure, providing innovative design, construction and management solutions.  Edwards led innovative change at INTREN resulting in record-breaking financial results through operational efficiency, cost reductions, and safety excellence.  INTREN was recently acquired by MasTec (NYSE: MTZ).  Edwards has held positions as energy and utilities regulatory Partner at Quarles & Brady LLP, and a five-year term as a Commissioner for the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) responsible for ensuring safe, reliable, and affordable utility service to Illinois consumers.  In 2016, she was appointed as Co-Chair of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Voluntary Information-Sharing System Working Group, providing recommendations to the Secretary of Transportation on protection of proprietary and security-sensitive information.

Edwards is involved in several civic organizations.  She founded the Women’s Energy Summit and the Women’s Energy Network of Chicago.   Her leadership within the utility and energy sector led to the creation of the Illinois Utilities Business Diversity Council and the ICC’s Office of Diversity and Community Affairs.  Additionally, Edwards serves on the board of directors for SouthWest Water Company.

Edwards is a graduate of Howard University’s School of Law and a cum laude graduate of Spelman College where she received her B.A. in Psychology.

Moderator

 

Arthur E. Mertes, Esq.
Partner
Tucker Ellis LLP

Art is a partner in the Business Law Department of Tucker Ellis.  He chairs PDA’s Private Equity and Family Office Committee. His 25+ year law practice focuses on corporate and contract law, M&A, financings, securities, capital raises and investments, growth companies, IP + licensing, entity governance, shareholder disputes and business litigation, and business law involving new economy and traditional industries, predominantly counseling middle-market growth to mid-sized public companies and the related investment community.  Art is a proud 3-time University of Illinois grad, holding a J.D./magna cum laude/College of Law, an MBA/ honors/Geis College of Business, and a B.S. Mechanical Engineering/College of Engineering. He has presented on topics such as Mergers & Acquisitions, M&A Ethics, Board Governance, Venture & Angel Financing, and Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship.  Art has a history of board service and counseling companies, boards and investors, has founded and run a prior law firm, and has received several M&A Awards from the MBBI M&A trade group.  Art enjoys yoga, real estate, growth company investment and not-for-profit service.

Register