For many founders and family business owners, selling the company is a once-in-a-lifetime decision—with significant personal and financial considerations that go far beyond finding the right buyer. But with preparation, clarity, and the right advisors at the table, you can emerge from your transaction with the flexibility and legacy you have worked so hard to build. Whether you are seriously contemplating the sale of a business, or just exploring your options, this half-day seminar led by seasoned M&A advisors is designed to demystify the process and position you for success.

We’ll begin with a practical update on the current M&A market, including buyer appetite and timing considerations. From there, we’ll explore how the right deal team can influence valuation, minimize tax exposure, manage complexity, and add value long before a letter of intent is signed. We’ll conclude with behind-the-scenes stories of deals gone wrong—and common pitfalls to avoid.

All event proceeds will be donated to LegalCORPS.
LegalCORPS offers transactional business and intellectual property protection legal aid to entrepreneurs, business owners, inventors, and nonprofits with limited resources and/or access to the legal system. Learn more at legalcorps.org.

Agenda

1:30 p.m. | Registration and Networking
2:00 p.m. | Program
4:00 p.m. | Reception
5:00 p.m. | Event Concludes

Program Details

2-2:15 p.m. Session One | Signals Through the Noise: Making Sense of a “Weird” Market
This no-nonsense market update breaks down what’s really happening in today’s M&A market—beyond the headlines—including trends in buyer demand, financing, and deal terms. While the market may feel uncertain, activity remains strong, and quality businesses are in short supply—driving consistent interest from buyers, including private equity. We’ll replace anxiety with clarity and leave you with an actionable perspective on why it may be a compelling time to go to market.
Presenter: Mike Hirschberg, Managing Director, Franklin Partners

2:15-3 p.m. Session Two | Your Deal Team, Your Outcome: Selecting Advisors That Maximize Value
In this panel discussion, experienced M&A professionals unpack how the right deal team can materially impact valuation, reduce tax leakage, manage process complexity, and help you navigate emotional decision-making. Panelists will discuss why the advisors you have today may not be the ones you need for your transaction, and why companies of all sizes need sophisticated expertise on their side. The session will leave you with a clear understanding of whom to engage, when to engage them, and how a good deal team can advise on optimal go-to-market timing, position your company for maximum valuation—whether sale is imminent or years away—and then drive the deal across the finish line.
Moderator: Rick Nordvold, Co-Founder and CEO, Growth Operators
Panelists:

• Katie Eisler, Partner and Chair of Corporate & Securities Group, Maslon LLP
• Mike Hirschberg, Managing Director, Franklin Partners
• Tiffany Hovland, Managing Director, Growth Operators

3-3:15 p.m. Break

3:15-4 p.m. Session Three | Been There, Dealt with That: Laying Bare the Challenges of Sealing the Deal
Speaking to the good, the bad, and the ugly of past deal processes, this panel of M&A advisors and an exited founder will illuminate the pitfalls that can stall—or even kill—the sale of your business. Panelists will share how you can avoid being kept up at night by issues with employees, landlords, taxes, and more. The lessons we’ve learned will chart the unexpected, preparing you with the foresight to mitigate these issues before they crop up in your sale process.
Moderator: Rick Nordvold
Panelists:

• Blair Budlong, Exited Founder, DecksDirect
• Joel Fischer, Managing Director, Franklin Partners
• Susan Markey, Partner, Member of Firm Board of Directors, Maslon