First Annual Business Owner Summit
Driving Growth | Building Value
Location
Houston Country Club,
1 Potomac Dr, Houston, TX 77057
Date
Thursday, February 13th, 2025
Moderators & Panelists
Kevin Alft
International award-winning strategic business advisor, business exit strategist and global speaker Kevin Alft has been ranked Top 5 in the world consistently for over 17 years within the 84-country ActionCOACH organization. He has served on the Boards of 20 businesses in 7 countries and is a 6th generation entrepreneur bringing real-world guidance to the business community that is both practical and actionable.
Kevin is passionate about changing lives and transforming communities through exponentially improving business’ growth, team, profitability, cash in the bank, exitability and exit value along with accelerating the jobs created and philanthropy developed in communities across Texas. If you are looking for clarity on how to build an amazing business, live an extraordinary life and leave an impactful legacy, then your next step is to engage Kevin and his team of ActionCOACH Senior Partners across Texas to guide you forward with certainty of success.
Kevin enjoys his free time learning, enjoying time out-of-doors and with his three married children and seven grandchildren.
Sean Barnes
Sean is a seasoned cross-functional leader with over two decades of progressive expertise in Leadership Development, Digital Strategy, Operational Excellence, Human Resources, ESG, and HSE. Driven by a passion to harmonize leadership and operational excellence, he founded WSS Solutions and hosts "The Way of The Wolf" podcast.
Through these platforms, Sean is dedicated to developing exceptional leaders and building high-performance teams that consistently surpass expectations. His mission is to empower organizations to achieve sustainable success by encouraging a culture of excellence and continuous improvement.
Daniel Brunello
Daniel L. Brunello is a Director in Bernstein’s Wealth Strategies Group and is based in the firm’s Houston office. He is a leader in the firm’s Business Owner and Professional Practice Owners groups, where he consults with advisors, their professional partners and clients as an expert in a wide field of complex investment planning topics for high-net-worth individuals who are business owners. Topics include planning for the sale of a practice, succession planning, trust and estate planning techniques, and maximizing benefits from charitable planning vehicles.
Daniel has been at Bernstein for 20 years, and has over 25 years of industry experience. He has published research on various planning topics in multiple white papers and articles for industry journals and has published multiple blogs on Bernstein.com. He earned his BBA in finance from the University of Texas at Austin, and his MBA from the Jones Graduate School of Business at Rice University. Daniel is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional, has earned the Certified Exit Planning Advisor designation, and is a member of the Houston Business and Estate Planning Council.
In his free time, Daniel enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, watching college football, and volunteering with a Boy Scout troop.
Jack Chang
Jack Chang is the founder and a Managing Director at DGP Capital, an independent investment bank focused on early/growth-stage technology-oriented energy and industrial companies. Jack has executed over $4 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.
Frank deVay
Mr. deVay is a Managing Director of the Mergers & Acquisitions group of Chaffe & Associates, Inc., focusing on providing advisory services to privately held companies. He has more than 24 years’ experience in the structuring and negotiation of transactions, valuation of small to mid-sized companies, and the development and execution of competitive processes for sale, recapitalization, or purchase of businesses.
Prior to joining Chaffe in 2000, Mr. deVay began his career with Martin Marietta Manned Space Systems in New Orleans which eventually led him to become Chief Financial Officer a multiple entity energy EPC company. He left the corporate world to enter into the investment banking industry in 1999.
Rob Ferguson
Prior to becoming an advisor, Rob had a distinguished career in leadership – including ten years as a CEO at two different companies. One was a public company with $300 million in revenue, the other a family business with $100 million in revenue where he successfully managed the restructuring and sale of the company.
Rob has led companies through 10x growth, helped turn struggling companies around, and has conducted more than $100 million in acquisitions.
Rob's company, Ferguson Alliance, is on a mission to increase the lifespan of family businesses. Rob believes that with the right foundation in place, businesses can live infinitely.
Philippe Flichy
Philippe Flichy guides mid-market companies in their cyber risk management. He is a seasoned executive with experience in Fortune 500 companies and contributed to the 2002 Salt Lake Olympics Intranet. He strategically aligned digital technologies with business objectives at Schlumberger, Baker, Hughes, and Weatherford.
An MIS graduate from Boston University, he has been a long-time member of the Infragard Houston Chapter, on which he serves on the Board. Infragard is a partnership between the FBI and the private sector aimed at protecting U.S. Critical Infrastructure. He is also a member of ISSA (Information Systems Security Association) and ISACA (Information Systems Audit and Control Association). Philippe has received numerous awards from the Society of Petroleum Engineers for leading various thought-leadership initiatives in data management and security within the oil and gas community. Additionally, he is an international speaker who has delivered hundreds of presentations worldwide and sits on private companies’ boards.
Dr. David Flint
David Flint is a professor, mentor, musician, world traveler, and as an entrepreneur, a habitual risk taker. He has been engaged in entrepreneurial activities since the early 1980s across multiple industries and is presently involved in board, leadership, or advisory positions across business endeavors in software applications, real estate, and insurance. David serves on the board of several not-for-profit organizations with both domestic and international activities and is passionate about helping businesses, entrepreneurs, and individuals succeed.
Rich Hall
Rich Hall is a trusted Business Advisor, M&A Advisor, and Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA) dedicated to helping business owners prepare themselves and their companies for successful transitions. Drawing from a corporate career spanning executive leadership, business turnarounds, and mergers & acquisitions, Rich offers an unparalleled blend of experience and strategic insight.
As the founder of Rich Hall Group, he specializes in aligning business value with owners' financial goals, ensuring that their legacy and hard work translate into lasting success. Rich’s work has led to transformative results, including tripling the exit value of a family-owned software company and guiding a technology business from near insolvency to record-breaking revenue and profitability.
Rich’s approach centers on building value-driven, sellable businesses while preparing owners for their next chapter. His process addresses critical challenges like valuation uncertainty, operational risks, and personal readiness, turning complex transitions into seamless, rewarding outcomes.
An accomplished speaker and author of The Exit Planning Journey™, Rich engages audiences with practical strategies and real-world insights. He is a recognized leader in his field, serving as a Silver Fox Advisor, CEO Roundtable Chair, and mastermind group facilitator. Rich’s expertise spans industries, including oil & gas, technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and professional services.
A lifelong learner, Rich holds a BS in Management Science from Georgia Tech and an MBA from the University of Houston. Outside of work, he’s a dedicated husband, father, and mentor who prioritizes faith, family, and relationships.
Rich’s philosophy is simple yet impactful: “Build a valuable business today, so when opportunity knocks, you’re ready to answer.”
Sharon Heaton
Sharon B. Heaton, the CEO and Founder of sbLiftOff, is dedicated to serving commercial and government contracting clients. An avidly sought speaker on M&A, Heaton’s book LIFT OFF: 12 Things to Know Before Selling Your Business, published by Forbes, is an Amazon bestseller. Heaton also shares her thought leadership in Harvard Business Review, Federal News Network, Washington Business Journal, the Set-Aside Alert, Alabama.com and other trade and regional outlets around the country. Named to the Small Business Administration’s federal Investment Capital Advisory Committee, she was also chosen as one of the “Power Women of GovCon” in 2025.
Heaton has been associated with the global law firms of Skadden Arps and Latham & Watkins and has served as Senior Counsel on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, General Counsel and Deputy Staff Director of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. She co-founded Wellford Energy Group, an investment bank serving clean energy and low carbon companies. Previously, she was Deputy Counsel of a Fortune 500 company operating in ten states.
Ms. Heaton holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Chicago Law School and a B.A. from Barnard College. She is a registered representative of StillPoint Capital, LLC, member FINRA and SiPC, and securities transactions are conducted through StillPoint Capital.
Brandon Henry
Before founding Mosaic, Brandon spent time at some of the nation’s largest financial firms, where he had the opportunity to advise hundreds of business owners and their families on the intersection of business, tax, and succession planning. Today, Mosaic serves a handful of Texas based entrepreneurial families with significant liquid holdings. Client families are typically first-generation founders with most of their success tied up in their operating company and real estate while trying to navigate the inevitable complexities that accompany substantial success. These families tend to outsource the bulk of their technical needs such as tax, legal, investment, and insurance to specialists that commonly work independently, rarely communicating or collaborating with each other.
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Amy Holmes
Amy Holmes is a seasoned attorney with 20 years of experience advising businesses on corporate law, mergers and acquisitions, and strategic legal matters. As a Co-Founder of GoodBiz.Law, Amy collaborates with clients to deliver tailored legal solutions that align with their business goals. Her expertise spans a variety of industries, including energy, infrastructure, and private equity, where she has successfully navigated complex transactions and operational challenges.
Steven Kesten
Erik Konicki
Gregory Kostiuk
Greg has spent more than 25 years building and leading world-class sales teams. His career path has taken him from his birthplace in Western Canada to stops in England, France, and Russia, landing in Houston in the late 1990s, where he has resided ever since. He has worked at various companies in the energy space, from large multinational corporations like Schlumberger and Nabors Industries to private companies of various sizes, including start-ups and early-stage technology organizations. At Nabors, he was responsible for the sales and marketing efforts of the technology division, Canrig Drilling Technology. During Greg’s tenure, the organization enjoyed tremendous growth, and the brand achieved global recognition for its multiple products and services. Recently, Greg served as the COO of Energi Bizz, an e-commerce startup, and before that, he was the vice president of Evolution Engineering, a technology-focused manufacturer ultimately acquired by Baker Hughes.
Now, Greg is the President and Founder of StratEX Sales. As an expert sales advisor and practitioner with decades of experience, he helps businesses address challenges across the entire spectrum of revenue-generation activities. Often, this involves implementing a Certified Sales Operating and Management System. This comprehensive approach encompasses all elements needed in a modern, thriving sales environment, resulting in predictable and scalable growth.
Michael Landers
Michael Landers brings over 20 years of extensive audit and business advisory experience, concentrating his practice in strategic financial planning and corporate transactions. His proficiency includes M&A, deal structuring, SEC reporting, and ensuring GAAP compliance, which positions him as a resource for both public and privately held companies. Michael conducts thorough due diligence reviews, where he assesses accounting policies, earnings quality, working capital, cash flow, asset valuation, and operational processes.
His approach enables him to provide nuanced insights that significantly enhance the strategic decisions and financial structures of his clients. His ability to integrate complex financial data with strategic business planning makes him a crucial figure in guiding significant corporate transactions and a trusted advisor to each of his clients.
Robert Latham
Bob Latham is the managing partner and principal at IBG’s Texas and Arizona offices. He offers extensive M&A experience in the purchase and sale of businesses in the manufacturing, construction, maintenance, aviation and distribution sectors and in logistics and other B2B services. Buyers and sellers benefit from Bob’s 30-plus years of hands-on business experience and a uniquely broad range of skills, experiences, and abilities. His key attributes in deal-making are creative problem solving, attention to detail, and follow-through–qualities that provide him with a rare perspective in helping business owners achieve their purchase and sale objectives.
Sarah Long
Sarah Long is Senior Tax Manager with UHY Houston office and a CPA licensed in TX. She has 20 years of extensive experience in tax compliance and planning. Specializing in overall tax optimization for high-net-worth individuals including business owners and their pass-through entities and corporate executives, Sarah is dedicated to helping clients achieve their financial goals with comprehensive and holistic tax strategies.
Daniel Magill
As a business owner, Daniel experienced this concept first-hand when he bought a family business – a promising 30-year-old chemical company. Wanting to bring new life to the business, he hired a Leadership Team Coach to learn a better operating system. Within two years of introducing the concepts, net profit increased 3X, the high-turnover culture became one which attracted and kept top talent, and the new framework built a “well-oiled machine” – a thriving business that no longer owned him.
After a successful exit from the chemical industry, Daniel focuses 100% on teaching other leaders how to drive consistency, scalability, and traction in their businesses. Fighting through the entrepreneurial trenches and implementing the tools in his own company, he brings an insightful perspective as a trusted advisor and Leadership Team Coach. He believes that the right tools, the right vision, and the right guide can make a company’s path to the summit clear, simple, and achievable. Daniel has a passion for helping people improve their business so they can live better lives…and do less, better.
Chris McCarty
I have a passion for my family, playing golf, and entrepreneurship. After a short career in professional golf, I transitioned into business coaching and development. For the past 20 years, I have used my passion for entrepreneurship to build multiple businesses, and I continue to share my experiences to help other entrepreneurs build and grow their businesses.
I specialize in executive coaching and leadership team training by helping the teams I work with clarify their visions, gain traction through discipline and accountability, and improve overall team health.
As a lifelong entrepreneur, I started my first business working with restaurants and entertainment venues. In 2010, I founded Einstein Marketing Concepts, a strategic marketing firm that is dedicated to helping clients build a vision for their business and execute their visions by utilizing the fundamental components of business development.
Whether it is in my own businesses or in my executive coaching practice, I truly believe in a help-first philosophy. I’m passionate about helping others build their businesses and helping them have the freedom to live a life they love.
Matthew McFarlane
Matt McFarlane is an esteemed business and corporate law attorney with Woodall Rensimer. With over 16 years’ experience practicing law, he seamlessly navigates and guides clients with general corporate and business transactional matters, complex mergers & acquisitions, leveraged finance transactions, and real estate matters. Matt provides individualized client counsel focused on his client’s goals, industry, and budget.
As a seasoned transactional attorney with vast experience, Matt provides a unique perspective from his role as a business principal, his involvement in dozens of mergers and acquisitions transactions, his first-hand experience with the legalities of business start-ups as well as the day-to day of business operations. Matt worked for over 15 years in various executive positions with businesses ranging in size from five to 500 million dollars in revenue including his successful tenure as President and General Counsel for a venture studio specializing in starting and scaling companies across various industries. He also served as General Counsel and Chief Operations Officer for both a cryogenic services corporation and a fast-growing commercial construction company.
A multiple-time Ironman and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt, Matt was named the Ironman Volunteer Captain of the year in 2015. He also enjoys Extreme Endurance athletics and plays the guitar and violin.
John McKee
John McKee is the principal and founder of Encore Advisory Group, which provides exit and succession planning, and financial consulting, for small and medium-sized businesses. Using these tools, John helps owners transform their relationship with their business by working with them to clarify their goals and then putting an action plan in place to attain them. John has earned a Certification in Exit Planning (CExP) from Business Enterprise International, Inc. and a certification in Leadership Coaching from the Doerr Institute for Leadership at Rice University.
Prior to starting Encore Advisory Group, John spent 25 years as a commercial lender working with owners of small to medium-sized privately held companies to help them fund and grow their businesses. From that experience, John developed an in-depth understanding of the challenges that business owners face. He started Encore Advisory Group in 2018 to help business owners meet those challenges.
John is from Tyler, Texas, but has lived in Houston since 1993. He and his wife, Miranda, have two sons, Tyler and Maxwell. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in finance and a concentration in accounting. John formerly served as treasurer and board member at First Presbyterian Church. He is currently an active member of Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church. John is an Eagle Scout and active as an adult leader in Boy Scouts.
Nancy Mills
Based near Houston, Texas, Nancy Mills is a Business Prosperity Advisor with Lowenberg Consulting. She works with business owners to get the most out of their company, using a proven process to maximize business value and minimize taxation.
Given that most business owners' wealth is tied up in their business, 75% of business owners plan to exit in the next 10 years, but only 30% of businesses that go to market will sell; she helps business owners beat these odds.
Before becoming a Business Prosperity Advisor, Nancy has 20 years of global business experience; in advertising, consumer insights, management consulting, strategic marketing, mergers and acquisitions, operations, sales, and innovation.
She advised senior executives at multinational companies - including Unilever, Procter & Gamble, L’Oréal, Johnson & Johnson, Estée Lauder, Colgate-Palmolive, and Mary Kay on marketing, innovation, and distribution strategy. She also had clientele such as Miami Cancer Institute, MD Anderson, and Quanex Building Products, whom she guided in growth strategy.
However, Nancy prefers working with small and mid-sized businesses, for their positive impact on local communities.
She holds an MBA in International Management from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a BA in Mass Communication, summa cum laude from Texas State University. She speaks Italian fluently as a second language and lived in Europe for 5 years.
A native Texan, Nancy loves spending time with her family, going to the theater, swimming, boating, riding, walking her dog, gardening, and birding.
Ken Sanginario
Ken Sanginario is the Founder of CVM, creator of the Value Opportunity Profile software (“VOP”), and developer of the Certified Value Growth Advisor training program (“CVGA”). Both the VOP and CVGA are uniquely focused on “How To” create value in private companies over whatever time horizon makes sense for the owner. Most private companies could double in value in 2 to 3 years, or triple in 3 to 5 years.
Ken has 40 years of experience providing executive leadership and strategic advisory services to private middle market companies, developing and executing business improvement initiatives, turning around distressed operations, managing M&A transactions, and valuing companies.
In addition to teaching in the CVGA program, Ken has extensive experience as an instructor in the training and certification programs of other national associations, including the Alliance of M&A Advisors, the Exit Planning Institute, and the International Exit Planning Association. He has also served on the advisory board of the MidMarket Alliance as its educational leader, and on the Boards of Advisors of multiple privately held companies.
Ryan Seifert
Ryan Seifert is a technology leader and entrepreneur, specializing in helping businesses scale through strategic technology and data solutions. As the founder of Teric, he guides companies in modernizing their tech infrastructure, optimizing security, and leveraging AI and automation for growth. With a focus on practical innovation, Ryan helps organizations streamline operations and prepare for the future.
Jeff Smith
Jeffrey M. Smith joined Veritex Community Bank in April 2022 to help clients of the bank understand economic conditions and implement available risk solutions to manage interest rate risk. Interest rate volatility can be a significant risk for companies borrowing money, and Jeff works daily to help his clients manage and control the volatility within selected parameters.
Jeff began his career with NationsBank in North Carolina in 1995 and has since worked on the Derivative Sales desks at Bank of America, Wells Fargo, and for the past eleven years BBVA USA and PNC Bank in Houston. He spent five years in the Wealth Management business working with individual clients to build investment portfolios and provide estate planning and retirement planning services. During this time, he held Series 7 and 66 licenses, and earned the CFP© designation.
Jeff holds an MBA with emphasis in Finance from the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia and a BS degree in Accounting from the David Eccles School of Business at the University of Utah.
He considers his greatest accomplishment to be raising five daughters to adulthood as a partner with his wife Brenda and having ten amazing grandchildren.
Rusty Smith
Rusty Smith grew up in an entrepreneurial household and was employee number 8 at a Houston-based software company that was sold to a Fortune 500 company. After that, he spent several years in the corporate world, rising to the level of Division Manager at Compaq and Hewlett-Packard. In 2005, he decided to return to the entrepreneurial world and bought a franchise with The Alternative Board, which allowed him to coach and mentor local entrepreneurs. During this time, he also taught entrepreneurship at The University of Houston – the country’s number one undergraduate entrepreneurship program. He still gets a kick when former students connect on LinkedIn, and he finds that they have taken the entrepreneurial leap.
He became an EOS implementer in 2014. Being an implementer allows him to combine his passion for teaching and helping business owners and entrepreneurs. He helps them articulate and share their vision, develop a plan of action, and implement the daily disciplines, tools, and processes to achieve their short and long-range goals. He loves inspiring people to live their best life and helping companies to reach their highest potential!
Johanna Watson
Johanna Watson is the visionary founder and owner of Artemis Partners, a Houston-based executive search firm dedicated to empowering businesses with exceptional leadership talent. Since its establishment in 2015, Artemis Partners has grown into a nationally recognized organization, serving clients across the United States with a unique, tailored approach to executive and direct searches. Johanna’s mission has always been clear: to deliver client-focused solutions that prioritize cultural alignment and drive organizational success.
Under Johanna’s leadership, Artemis Partners has expanded its offerings beyond executive search to include robust training and development programs, comprehensive outplacement support for public companies, and customized executive coaching and career accelerator initiatives. This holistic approach not only ensures businesses find the right leaders but also supports long-term growth and adaptability.
Andrew Walker
Andrew Walker is a Financial Advisor in Bernstein’s Private Wealth Management office in Houston. He advises high-net-worth individuals, families and business owners on investment strategies that align with their goals and values. He received his BS in communications from Texas Christian University in 2011. He enjoys building relationships, is active in his community and is an avid sports fan. He lives in Towne Lake in Cypress with his wife, Carly, and their two kids.
John Walker
John Walker brings over 30 years of legal and business development experience. Beyond his background in finance, insurance, business law, tax compliance and law, and corporate business development, John worked as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has a Masters degree in Tax Law. This experience gives John unique insights into how legal, tax, accounting, and business strategies intersect to create the best – and often unique – solutions for you and your business.
John’s vision is to help business owners create a clear path forward to pursue opportunities and solve problems. He loves the challenge of unraveling complex business situations and making sense of them with creative solutions. His goal is to help outline the different options available, clarify the advantages and consequences of each, and then move you forward on the path that’s best for you and your business.
Dustin Williamson
With more than 25 years of financial and management experience, Dustin is mentoring and empowering our team of finance and HR consultants, spearheading our quality program, and driving strategic growth in the area. Highly analytical and forward-thinking, Dustin’s areas of expertise include structured finance, strategic planning, valuations, turnarounds, traditional and unconventional investments, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, global business management, executive partnerships, international negotiations, and revenue growth.
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