XPX Tri-State Summit 2025
New York City: Deal! or No Deal!
Location
The Offices of Citrin Cooperman - 50 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY
Date
Wednesday, March 26th, 1:30 - 7:00 pm EST
Moderators & Panelists
David Barral
David Barral, VP at Northern Trust, crafts tailored financial plans to help clients achieve their goals. A CPA and CFP® with extensive tax advisory experience, David also teaches financial courses at NYU. He holds degrees from St. John’s and Villanova and actively contributes to financial planning committees and journals.
Nichol Chiarella
Nichol Chiarella, M&A Tax Practice Leader at Citrin Cooperman, has 20+ years of expertise in transaction advisory, tax structuring, and compliance. She leads diversity initiatives and specializes in buy-side and sell-side tax planning. Nichol supports industries ranging from technology to real estate, fostering client success in private equity transactions.
Brian Ciszczon
Brian Ciszczon, Citrin Cooperman’s National Tax Office Leader, specializes in complex tax advisory with 25+ years’ experience. Focused on equity, debt, real estate, and international tax matters, Brian also authors articles and teaches tax strategy courses. Previously a partner at PwC and RSM, he brings deep expertise across industries.
Carrie DiLauro
Carrie DiLauro, Director of Operations at HRCP, oversees investor relations, marketing, and operational management. With 20+ years in manufacturing and fund administration, she drives efficiency through system improvements. A Cornell and Harvard alum, Carrie excels in fiscal responsibility and global process optimization.
Daniel Eisemann
Daniel Eisemann, SVP of Corporate Development at Fairfield-Maxwell, leads deal execution, portfolio management, and restructuring. With 15+ years in M&A and performance improvement, he has held key roles at Asgaard Capital, FTI Consulting, and Alvarez & Marsal. Daniel holds degrees from Johns Hopkins and UVA Darden, serving on boards like SpeedPro Imaging and UBS.

Terry Hannafin
Terry Hannafin, Partner at Carter Morse & Goodrich, advises family-owned businesses on M&A transactions. With 15+ years in deal execution across industries, he serves on boards for Exit Planning Exchange and AM&AA. A Boston College alum and former NCAA athlete, Terry is deeply involved in youth sports and resides in Connecticut with his family.

Paul Hsiao
Paul Hsiao, Executive Director in UBS's Asset Allocation team, crafts portfolio recommendations for $1.7 trillion in assets, leveraging a decade of financial services expertise. Specializing in economics, macro research, and advisory, he identifies trends and risks to drive investor success. Paul collaborates with media and executives to simplify finance, empowering clients to achieve their goals.

Diane Johnston
Diane Johnston, XPX Tri-State Chairperson and SVP of Wealth Management at UBS Financial Services, navigates complex financial landscapes to assist business owners and small institutional plans (ERISA/E&F) in wealth management. With over two decades of expertise, she provides tailored financial strategies, tackling regulatory, tax, and investment challenges. Diane's passion lies in empowering clients to connect with their wealth and optimize outcomes, especially for endowments and foundations. A Long Island resident, Diane enjoys sailing, exploring new sports, and indulging her artistic pursuits through writing, painting, and sketching.

Alex Lirtsman
Alex has over 20 years of experience in data, innovation, and digital strategy. He founded and scaled Ready Set Rocket into a top digital transformation consultancy, working with major brands like BlackRock, JPMorganChase, NBA, and ACLU. Now, as CEO of CorralData, he leverages AI to help regulated industries securely democratize data without traditional BI complexity or LLM risks. CorralData integrates with hundreds of platforms for instant insights. Alex also teaches Digital Strategy and AI at NYU and Baruch’s Zicklin School of Business, focusing on MBA/MS programs.
Matthew Rappaport
Matthew Rappaport, Co-Chair of Tax at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman, specializes in tax planning for real estate, private equity, and closely held businesses. Known for innovative solutions in 1031 Exchanges and Opportunity Zones, Matthew guides clients in structuring and compliance. He serves ultra-high-net-worth families and collaborates across financial disciplines.
Paula Campbell Roberts
Paula Roberts, KKR’s Chief Investment Strategist for Global Wealth, advises on macroeconomics and private asset allocation. With two decades in investment strategy and economics, Paula chairs KKR’s Global Wealth Investment Council and drives inclusion initiatives. A Yale and Harvard alum, she serves on prominent boards like the NYC Ballet and advises the Federal Reserve.
Richard Rudolph
Rich Rudolph, Founder of Rudolph Capital, brings 25+ years of experience acquiring and managing family businesses. Formerly with Bradford Equities, he has overseen $400M+ in acquisitions, building trusted relationships with business owners. Rich holds degrees from St. Bonaventure and Boston College and resides in Connecticut with his family.
Moderators & Panelists

Kevin Alft

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

Frank deVay
Rob Ferguson

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

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

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.

Daniel Magill

Chris McCarty

Matthew McFarlane

John McKee

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

Jessica Seff

Ryan Seifert

Jeff Smith

Rusty Smith

Shanna Trenchard

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

John Walker

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.
Chapter Events
Tri-State Gold Sponsors

Tri-State Silver Sponsors

Shareholders of a family-owned or closely held business are at or approaching a transition point relative to transferring ownership, management and/or control of the business.

You need help navigating complexity and want to pre-experience wealth creation decisions.

Buy and Sell-Side Due Diligence, Outsourced Finance/Accounting, Digital Transformation (ERP, CRM, etc.)

Buy or sell-side due diligence is needed. You need a part-time or interim CFO.The CFO needs to improve accounting operationsThe company needs a new accounting system.
Tri-State Bronze Sponsors


your client is seeking financing during all stages of their business life cycle around expansion, equipment, real estate, working capital, and purchasing or selling their business

Business owners need to prepare their financial, operational and technical systems for a sale and when buyers have identified an acquisition target for diligence.