XPX Houston 2026 Summit
Empowering Growth | Elevating Value
Location
Houston Country Club,
1 Potomac Dr, Houston, TX 77057
Date
Thursday, February 12th, 2026
Program Agenda
Registration, Coffee, & Networking
Breakfast / Welcome Remarks
Opening Keynote
Morning Break
Learning Lab 1
Growth is exciting—until it quietly erodes profitability. This learning lab is designed for owners who want to scale with intention, not just ambition. Many middle-market companies grow top-line revenue only to discover that margins, cash flow, and management focus are under pressure.
This session explores how to recognize the difference between healthy growth and growth that looks good on paper but weakens enterprise value.
Led by seasoned operators and advisors, the discussion focuses on how pricing discipline, customer mix, operational efficiency, and segmentation directly influence both gross and net margins. Attendees will learn how to use data to identify unprofitable growth, when to say “no” to the wrong opportunities, and how to reallocate resources toward higher-value customers and services. The panel will also explore how customer success, retention, referrals, and advocacy can drive lower-cost, higher-trust growth over time.
Owners and leadership teams will leave with practical frameworks for aligning growth strategies with profitability goals—without stalling momentum. Whether you are scaling organically or preparing for a future transaction, this session provides clarity on how disciplined growth strengthens valuation, reduces risk, and gives you greater control over the long-term trajectory of your business.
Most owners have a number in mind for what their business is worth—but few understand how buyers actually arrive at value. This learning lab demystifies business valuation and helps owners close the gap between perception and market reality.
The panel will explain common valuation methodologies such as EBITDA multiples, discounted cash flow, and strategic versus financial value, using real-world examples relevant to middle-market companies.
Attendees will learn what truly drives valuation beyond the financial statements, including risk factors, scalability, customer concentration, management depth, and growth sustainability.
The discussion also addresses why owners often misjudge value and how buyer perspectives differ depending on whether the acquirer is strategic, private equity, or financial.
This session is particularly valuable for owners at any stage of the journey—whether a transaction is years away or actively being considered. Understanding valuation early allows you to make smarter decisions today that compound value over time. Owners will leave with clearer expectations, better questions to ask advisors, and a stronger foundation for planning growth, exit timing, and long-term wealth outcomes.
Owner dependency is one of the most common—and costly—constraints on growth, valuation, and exit options. This learning lab is designed for founders who want to transition from being indispensable to being strategic.
The panel will explore how founder behaviors, decision-making patterns, and beliefs can unintentionally cap growth and limit scalability.
Attendees will learn how to develop leadership teams, systems, and delegation models that allow the business to perform without constant owner involvement.
The discussion also addresses the personal side of scaling—how owners evolve alongside their company and redefine their role without losing control or purpose.
This session is particularly relevant for owners thinking about future liquidity, leadership succession, or simply reclaiming time and focus. Businesses that run independently attract better buyers, stronger talent, and more favorable capital. Owners will leave with insights on how reducing dependency today creates flexibility, resilience, and long-term enterprise value.
Learning Lab 2
Access to capital can accelerate growth—or create long-term constraints if structured poorly. This learning lab is built for founders and CEOs who want to understand their funding options before capital becomes urgent. The panel will compare traditional and non-traditional capital sources, including bank debt, mezzanine financing, private equity, and alternative structures, through the lens of real middle-market growth scenarios.
Rather than promoting any single approach, this session focuses on alignment: matching capital structure to strategic goals, risk tolerance, and ownership priorities. Attendees will learn how different forms of capital impact control, flexibility, and exit optionality—and how early decisions can either expand or limit future choices. The discussion also highlights common funding mistakes that stall growth, dilute value, or introduce misaligned partners.
Owners will gain insight into how to proactively build relationships with lenders and investors, understand what capital providers look for, and prepare their company financially and operationally to be “capital-ready.”
This session is particularly valuable for leadership teams evaluating growth initiatives that require outside funding and want to stay in control of their destiny while scaling responsibly.
Selling a business is not a single event—it is a complex, multi-stage process that often takes longer and requires more preparation than owners expect. This learning lab walks attendees through the full lifecycle of a sale, from early preparation and assembling the right advisory team to negotiations, due diligence, and closing.
The panel will clarify the roles of key advisors—including M&A advisors, CPAs, attorneys, and wealth planners—and explain how coordination among them impacts outcomes. Owners will gain insight into where deals typically slow down, what causes unexpected friction, and which decisions owners most commonly regret after closing.
Rather than focusing on deal mechanics alone, this session emphasizes decision-making, expectations, and risk management. Attendees will leave with a realistic understanding of timelines, emotional dynamics, and trade-offs involved in a transaction. For owners who want to approach a sale with clarity, confidence, and fewer surprises, this session provides an invaluable roadmap.
For many owners, taxes represent the single largest cost of a liquidity event—yet planning often starts too late. This learning lab provides an advanced but accessible overview of tax minimization strategies specifically relevant to middle-market business owners preparing for an exit.
The panel will discuss current tax considerations, capital gains planning, and structuring strategies that can materially impact net proceeds. Attendees will also explore tools such as trusts, charitable strategies, donor-advised funds, and post-exit structures that support both wealth preservation and long-term objectives.
Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, this session emphasizes proactive planning and coordination across tax, legal, and wealth advisory disciplines. Owners will gain clarity on what is possible, what requires early action, and how to avoid common pitfalls that lead to unnecessary tax exposure. This session empowers owners to approach a liquidity event with confidence and foresight.
Networking / Refreshment Break
Learning Lab 3
Acquisitions can be a powerful growth lever—or a costly distraction if done poorly. This learning lab is designed for owners considering acquisitions as part of their growth strategy and want to understand what separates successful buyers from those who struggle post-close. The panel will walk through how to identify acquisition targets that truly align with your strategic objectives, culture, and operational capabilities.
Beyond deal sourcing, the session focuses heavily on integration—where value is either realized or lost. Attendees will explore best practices for protecting customers, cash flow, and employee morale during integration, as well as common pitfalls that strain leadership bandwidth and erode returns. Financing options and deal structures that limit downside risk will also be discussed, helping owners understand how to pursue acquisitions without overleveraging the core business.
Real-world stories from experienced professionals bring the lessons to life, highlighting what worked, what didn’t, and why. This session offers practical guidance for owners who want to grow through acquisition thoughtfully, preserve enterprise value, and ensure that growth by purchase strengthens—rather than destabilizes—their organization.
Value creation does not start when you go to market—it starts years earlier. This learning lab focuses on the practical steps owners can take 12–36 months before a sale to increase valuation and reduce deal risk. The panel will highlight operational, financial, and legal improvements that buyers consistently reward, as well as common “deal-killers” that can derail transactions late in the process.
Attendees will explore how recurring revenue, customer concentration, intellectual property, and documentation impact buyer confidence and pricing. Importantly, this session emphasizes value-enhancing moves that do not require massive reinvestment or radical restructuring, making it relevant for owners balancing growth with exit preparation.
Whether a sale is imminent or still on the horizon, this session helps owners prioritize initiatives that strengthen enterprise value while preserving optionality. Leadership teams will gain clarity on where to focus time and capital to maximize outcomes—regardless of whether the ultimate path is a full sale, recapitalization, or internal transition.
Succession and legacy planning are as much about people as they are about finances. This learning lab addresses the often-overlooked human dynamics involved in transitioning wealth, leadership, and ownership across generations. The panel will explore how to align founder values with next-generation vision while preserving family harmony.
Attendees will learn how governance structures, family charters, and intentional communication reduce conflict and clarify expectations. The discussion also addresses emotional and psychological readiness—preparing heirs not just financially, but personally, for responsibility and stewardship.
This session is especially valuable for owners balancing business success with family relationships. Knowing when to involve outside advisors, facilitators, or family business specialists can make the difference between a smooth transition and lasting tension. Owners will leave with frameworks for thoughtful succession planning that protects both enterprise value and family legacy.
Closing Remarks
Reception & Networking
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