5th Private Equity Chicago Forum
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The Private Equity Chicago Forum is the premier Midwest event designed to enhance financial and investment practices while fostering collaboration within the private equity community. Hear from the Top Private Equity Firms as well as Institutional LPs and RIAs in the Midwest on their manager selection process.
Key discussions include strategies for maximizing returns through various liquidity pathways, driving value creation with operating partners, and capitalizing on opportunities in the lower middle market. Learn about effective exit strategies, operational improvements, talent development, and the latest trends in middle market investing.
Don't miss out on networking with industry leaders and gaining actionable insights to navigate the evolving private equity landscape.
Register now to secure your spot!
OUR SPEAKERS
Series Keynote Speakers
Christopher Zook
CAZ Investments
Founder, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer
Christopher Zook is the Founder, Chairman, and Chief Investment Officer of CAZ Investments. He has more than 30 years of experience investing in both traditional and alternative asset classes. Christopher recently co-authored “The Holy Grail of Investing,” with Tony Robbins, which became a #1 New York Times Bestseller. Christopher was honored with the Texas Alternative Investments Association’s (TAIA) Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his contribution and sustained support of the industry in Texas. He is a regular contributor to major media outlets, including CNBC, Fox Business, and Bloomberg. Prior to starting CAZ Investments in 2001, Christopher served in senior leadership positions with Oppenheimer, Prudential Securities, Lehman Brothers, and Paine Webber. Christopher is actively involved in public policy and frequently serves as a resource to state and local officials. In 2019, Christopher was appointed by the Governor to serve on the State of Texas Pension Review Board, where he chairs the Investment Committee. He also recently served two terms as a member of the Greater Houston Partnership’s Executive Committee and is a past President of the “C” Club of Houston. Christopher is a graduate of Texas Tech University where he was honored as a Distinguished Alumni. A lifelong Houstonian, he is a former Vice-Chairman of the Deacons and serves on the Finance Committee at Second Baptist Church. He has held leadership positions on a variety of charitable boards, including his current role on the board of Elizabeth Ruth’s Home, an organization helping adults with autism. Christopher previously served as President of the Board of Trustees of Avondale House and President of The Children’s Fund. He is a proud father to Christopher, Jr. (and daughter-in-law, Cecelia Zook, and grandson “Tripp”) and husband to his high school sweetheart, Lisa.
Craig Smith
PPM America
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mike Bego
Kline Hill Partners
Managing Partner
Nick Orum
Gryphon Investors
Co-Founder, Co-Chief Executive Officer & Co-Chief Investment Officer
Past Speakers
Amit Gaind
Investcorp
Head of Commercial Services and Senior Managing Director - Private Equity
Amit Gaind, Partner, joined Investcorp in 2010 and currently leads the Commercial Services vertical. Amit is also a member of the Investment Committee. Prior to joining Investcorp, Amit was an investment banking associate in the Technology, Media & Telecommunications Group of Lazard Frères & Co. Amit currently serves on the board of directors of BCTS, RESA Power, RoadSafe, and Sunrise Produce. Amit holds a BS in Engineering from Dartmouth College and a BA in Physics from Colby College.
Andrew Lim
Blackstone
Managing Director, Portfolio Operations
Ashley McNamee
Revelstoke Capital Partners
Partner, Responsible Investment
Benjamin Blum
Flexpoint Ford
Managing Director
Boriana Karastoyanova
Neuberger Berman
Managing Director
Boriana Karastoyanova is a Managing Director of Neuberger Berman and a member of the Secondary Private Equity Team. Prior to joining Neuberger Berman in 2019, Boriana was with Blackstone's Strategic Partners Fund Solutions, where she focused on originating, evaluating, structuring and negotiating secondary private equity transactions, co-investments and primary commitments. She was with Strategic Partners while it was in the Asset Management division of Credit Suisse. From 2005 to 2008, she led Strategic Partners' European operations out of London. Boriana began her career in Investment Banking at Citigroup. She is a graduate of Middlebury College.
Carol Schleif
BMO Private Wealth
Chief Market Strategist
Carol Schleif is the Chief Market Strategist for BMO Private Wealth, the North American Wealth Management Business of BMO Financial Group. In this role, Carol leads several key initiatives aimed at amplifying BMOPW’s research and investment expertise, including authoring the firm’s Weekly Strategy Perspectives. Decades in the industry as a strategist, thought leader and portfolio manager position Carol as a sought-after speaker, writer and media commentator. Carol is a member of key asset allocation, strategy and governance working groups from across the bank as well as leading the Senior Investment Advisory Council. Carol is an active member and contributor to BMO’s Women & Wealth group. Prior to her current role, Carol was the Chief Investment Officer for BMO Family Office, the Ultra High Net Worth money management group within BMO Private Wealth. As CIO, Carol led a team of 35 front line investment professionals, managed portfolios, and oversaw development and compliance activities for the team. Prior to BMO, Carol spent over 25 years in the HNW and UHNW space of Wells Fargo, managing portfolios and client relationships, leading teams and participating in research, strategy and portfolio construction. Prior to that, Carol spent a decade on the sell side as a Market Strategist, Senior Research Analyst and Director of Fundamental Research. Carol serves on the joint board of trustees for the College of St. Benedict & St. John’s University where she chairs CSB’s investment committee. She earned her MBA from Hamline University and undergraduate degrees in both business administration and equestrian science from William Woods College, where she graduated salutatorian and summa cum laude. She is a Chartered Financial Analyst® (CFA) and has also earned the Fundamentals of Sustainability Accounting (FSA).
Chris Satchell
Clayton Dubilier & Rice
Managing Director, Technology & Digital
Dipo Ashiru
Veritas Capital
General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer
Eric Jensen
Nordic Capital
Operations Managing Director
Frank Karl
Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors
Managing Director, Private Credit
Frank Karl is a Managing Director for Kayne Anderson Private Credit (“KAPC”) and Senior Vice President of Kayne Anderson BDC, Inc. (“KBDC”), a publicly listed business development company. Mr. Karl joined Kayne Anderson in 2013 and, during that time, has been involved in all aspects of KAPC’s business, including: (i) leading the origination and execution of numerous investments, (ii) playing an integral role in capital formation activities, investor-facing communications / reporting and (iii) managing other fund-level operational aspects of KAPC’s various investment vehicles. Mr. Karl participated in the facilitation of the successful May 2024 initial public offering (“IPO”) of KBDC (NYSE: KBDC), a ~$2.3 billion investment vehicle. Mr. Karl was deeply involved in the capital raise and deployment of KBDC, structuring seed investor economics and participating in hundreds of investor meetings (through which KBDC raised ~$1.1 billion of equity capital prior to IPO). As part of KBDC’s IPO process, Mr. Karl led the drafting of organizational and offering documentation with the SEC, communicated directly with the equity research analyst community covering KBDC and presented KBDC as part of its IPO roadshow to investors. Prior to joining KAPC, Mr. Karl started his career in Houlihan Lokey’s financial restructuring group, a market-leading advisory practice supporting debtors and creditors in in- and out-of-court sale and restructuring transactions.
Jason Barg
Lovell Minnick Partners
Partner
John Klare
Chicago Pacific Founders
Operating Partner
Katherine Bryan
Madison Dearborn Partners
Chief Compliance Officer and Associate General Counsel
Katherine is the Chief Compliance Officer and Associate General Counsel of Madison Dearborn Partners. Prior to joining MDP, she was a partner in Kirkland & Ellis LLP’s corporate transactional group, where she advised clients in a variety of complex business transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and growth equity investments, leveraged buyouts, take private acquisitions, recapitalizations, executive compensation and equity arrangements, private financings and general corporate counseling. Katherine is responsible for handling legal and compliance issues relating to MDP’s funds and limited partners, potential investments, portfolio companies and corporate counsel matters.
Michael Drexler
Brightstar Capital Partners
Chief Strategy Officer & Managing Director
Michael Drexler is the Chief Strategy Officer and a Managing Director at Brightstar. Prior to joining Brightstar, Michael was Managing Director and Global Head of Strategy and Business Transformation at J.P. Morgan Asset Management based in New York. He was a member of the division’s Operating Committee and worked with all business lines on strategic initiatives, including M&A, business efficiency, and decision making. Previously, he worked for nearly a decade in a senior leadership role at the World Economic Forum as Member of the Executive Committee responsible for partnerships and content in the Alternative Investment industry and later the Forum’s content initiatives across the financial sector, infrastructure, and long-term investing. Michael also spent nearly a decade at Barclays Capital in London, as the Global Head of Strategy and Planning for the majority of his time there, following his role as a consultant at McKinsey & Co and a post-doctoral position at Stanford University. Michael holds a doctorate in Mathematics from Oxford University and an M.Sc. in Engineering from the Technical University at Munich.
Simon Oak
Lexington Partners
Managing Director
Simon Oak is a Managing Director on the Secondary team primarily focused on the origination, evaluation, and execution of secondary opportunities including partnership and GP-led transactions.
Simon joined Lexington in 2006 as an associate on the CIP team and rejoined as a member of the secondary team in 2010 after business school. Prior to that, he was an analyst in investment banking at Credit Suisse. Simon graduated from McGill University with a BCom in Finance and from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania with an MBA.
T. Bondurant French
Adams Street Partners
Chairman of the Board of Directors
Bon is the Chairman of the Board of Directors and has been with Adams Street Partners and its predecessor organizations since 1980. He was instrumental in the development of Adams Street’s private equity investment strategies, fund management, and investor relations. He is sought out by private equity firms, consultants, and investors for advice and recommendations on a variety of private equity topics. Throughout his career, Bon has been a guest lecturer to business schools, Wall Street firms, private equity conferences, and industry trade associations about various investment topics and strategies. He was a member of the CFA Institute Committee (formerly AIMR – the Association for Investment Management and Research), which made recommendations concerning standards for reporting performance in private equity. Bon was a contributor to the ICFA’s first book on the subject of private market investments, Investing in Venture Capital (1988). He also sits on the advisory boards of New Enterprise Associates and Madison Dearborn Partners. Bon is Chairman of the Adams Street Partners Board of Directors. He is a member of the Board of Trustees, and former Chairman and current member of the Investment Committee at Northwestern University. He is also a member of the Kellogg Graduate School of Management Dean’s Advisory Council. Bon is a member of the CFA Institute, the CFA Society of Chicago Leadership Council, and Chairman of the Board of the Center for Railroad Photography and Art. Bon is former Director of the National Venture Capital Association, and former Chairman of the Board of the Chicago History Museum, where he remains as a Trustee.
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Key Discussion Topics
Opportunities and Challenges: Investing in U.S. Private Equity
This panel will examine the landscape of investing in U.S. private equity, highlighting current trends, opportunities, and challenges. Experts will discuss the factors driving investment in the U.S. market, including economic conditions, sector performance, and regulatory changes. Panelists will explore strategies for sourcing deals, evaluating potential investments, and managing portfolio companies in a competitive environment.
Pathway to Liquidity
This panel will explore the various pathways to liquidity in private equity, focusing on strategies for realizing value from investments. Experts will discuss the key considerations for planning exits, including timing, market conditions, and the role of potential buyers. Panelists will share insights on different exit options, such as public offerings, strategic sales, and secondary markets, as well as the importance of preparing portfolio companies for a successful transition. Join us for a comprehensive discussion on optimizing liquidity strategies to maximize returns for investors and ensure sustainable growth for portfolio companies.
Empowering Success: Continuous Support for Portfolio Companies in Private Equity
This panel will explore the critical importance of ongoing support for portfolio companies throughout the private equity deal cycle. Experts will discuss strategies for enhancing operational performance, driving growth, and implementing best practices from acquisition to exit. Panelists will share insights on effective partnership approaches, talent development, and resource allocation, emphasizing how sustained engagement can maximize value and ensure successful outcomes. Join us to delve into the essential role of support in navigating challenges and achieving long-term success for both investors and portfolio companies.
Selecting Private Equity Managers: Institutional Investors' Due Diligence Process and Best Practices
This panel will provide an in-depth look at the institutional investor manager selection process for private equity, focusing on how large-scale investors—such as pension funds, endowments, and foundations—evaluate and choose private equity managers. Experts will discuss the critical components of due diligence, including the assessment of a manager's historical performance, investment strategy, operational infrastructure, and alignment with institutional goals.
ESG Management & Impact Investing: Meeting Evolving Expectations
This panel will examine the differing perspectives on responsible investing, focusing on the impact of ESG factors on deal-making, portfolio management, and fundraising. Panelists will debate whether ESG will become a mandatory standard for private equity or if the sector will revert to more traditional investment approaches. The discussion will offer valuable insights into how private equity firms can adapt to this shifting landscape, striking a balance between financial performance and social responsibility while navigating the evolving demands of investors and stakeholders.
Registration
INVESTORS: Complimentary Registration for all qualified investors. Email IR@marketsgroup.org for more information on obtaining a complimentary ticket.
MANAGERS: Rates below reflect the current price for all asset managers.
SERVICE PROVIDERS: Please contact Paloma.Lima@marketsgroup.org for more information on our partnership opportunities at the event.
Tickets
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