Agenda

Friday, October 18, 2024 • Shell Auditorium, Jones Graduate School of Business

* Breakout Session Options:

• Due Diligence Deep Dive: A Buy-Side Guide for ETA Transactions — Classroom 212
• Unlocking Opportunity: Empowering Underrepresented Founders in ETA — Classroom 312
• Post-Acquisition Integration for Long-Term Growth — Classroom 314
• ETA Valuation Workshop: Key Techniques for Business Assessment — Classroom 318

PANELISTS AND SPEAKERS

Jess Bailey founder and managing attorney of Bailey Law Firm, was recognized as a Most Admired CEO by the Houston Business Journal in 2023. With over a decade of experience in M&A transactions across various industries, she combines legal expertise with strategic business guidance to help clients achieve their goals with confidence.

Aaron Ball is a corporate and transactional attorney with over 27 years of experience, specializing in mergers and acquisitions. As the founder of BALL PLLC, he provides expert legal counsel across a range of industries. Aaron is actively engaged in the ETA space and brings a wealth of knowledge to the field.

Hilary Colling is the vice president of Network Development at Jiffy Lube International, leading network growth and real estate. She has 10 years of brand marketing experience with Mars and Coca-Cola. Hilary holds an MBA from Rice Business and a bachelor’s from The University of Chicago.

Gary Cooper, CPA, CVA, CMAP, is the president and CEO of Cooper CPA Group, PC, a full-service accounting and consulting firm he founded in 2004. With over 35 years of public accounting experience, Gary is a recognized expert in tax planning, mergers and acquisitions, and business valuations. His extensive background, including leadership roles at KPMG and publicly traded companies, combined with his entrepreneurial acumen, positions him as a trusted advisor for mid-market companies and entrepreneurs across industries.

Al Danto, a Rice University professor and managing partner of the Danto Group, brings over 30 years of experience in acquisitions and exit strategies, providing students with hands-on learning in entrepreneurial acquisitions.

Mike Dey, president of American Spray Technologies, teaches at Rice University and shares his journey from corporate strategy at Boeing to successful acquisition entrepreneur through ETA.

Chris Frank, an MBA graduate from Rice and founder of the Rice Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Conference, brings his military leadership and operational experience to the world of skilled labor and business acquisitions.

Lauren Gore, leader of portfolio operations at LDR Growth Partners, applies his experience as a global projects attorney and army infantry officer to guide the strategic growth of businesses through acquisition.

Jacob Hall is a managing partner of Kando Capital and president of Speedworks Investments, with over 20 years of leadership across startups and Fortune 10 companies. He specializes in lower middle market leveraged buyouts and actively supports startups led by underrepresented founders.

Craig Kaiser is the co-founding partner of Phillips Kaiser, a Houston-based business law firm specializing in providing general counsel services to companies of all sizes. With over 30 years of legal experience, including leadership roles at Compaq Computer Corporation, Craig has a deep understanding of business strategy and legal counsel and is committed to empowering business owners and entrepreneurs through strategic legal support.

John Leggett, founder of Leggett Ventures, leads investments across real estate, energy, and alternative sectors. A seasoned entrepreneur, he co-founded On Point Custom Homes and holds degrees in Business and Accounting from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Darrell Morris is vice president at JSTAR Holdings, leading business acquisitions and driving value creation through digital transformation. As founder of The Morris Capital Group, he focuses on identifying and scaling lower-middle market businesses. Darrell’s expertise spans private equity, strategy execution, and operational growth.

Shelley Ewart Naglieri, Rice MBA and Senior VP at Comerica Bank, oversees a $400 million portfolio, bringing deep expertise in commercial lending and financing for entrepreneurs seeking to acquire businesses.

Cody Nicholson, founder of CNE Group, has acquired eight companies in two years and brings his expertise in private enterprise acquisition to his role as an instructor in Rice’s ETA program.

Kunal Pasrija, with leadership roles at Uber Eats and Yahoo, is now focused on acquiring and growing a business through a search fund, leveraging his expertise in corporate strategy and M&A.

Connie Porter is the senior associate dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Rice Business. A leader in fostering DEI initiatives in business of all sizes. Her academic work bridges marketing, technology, and relationship-building, while her role at Rice also centers on deepening community engagement and inclusion.

Gregory L. Phillips is a co-founding partner of Phillips Kaiser PLLC, specializing in providing general counsel services to businesses. With a strong entrepreneurial background and corporate law expertise, Greg is committed to increasing diversity through The Legacy Project, which supports the development of underrepresented leaders in the legal field. He holds a J.D. from the University of Texas School of Law and has a passion for empowering future leaders.

Don Porr, owner of Diamond Fiberglass, successfully grew his company through acquisition and now shares his experience in scaling businesses with ETA entrepreneurs looking for growth strategies.

Rocky Robbins, founder of Texas Essential Investments, connects entrepreneurs and investors through Rice Alumni Capital, driving private market investments in the ETA space.

Allegra Stennett, co-founder of New Majority Capital, focuses on empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs through small business acquisitions through her background in finance and impact investing.

Mark Winchester is the district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Houston office, with over 21 years of experience in federal service and economic development. He oversees SBA support for small business acquisitions, including $1.23 billion in loan guarantees across 32 counties. Mark holds an MBA from the University of Connecticut and specializes in finance.

Brian Wolfe, a partner at Kirkland & Ellis and founder of Funded Ventures, is an expert in private equity and small business acquisition, with extensive experience teaching and advising on ETA strategies.