About Idea to Liquidity
This five part breakfast series examines the major life events in the growth of a high tech company. A panel discussion format is used.
Current I2L
April 30, 2002 7:15-9:15am
The final session of the Idea to Liquidity series focuses on the liquidity event and various planning techniques to mitigate asset erosion.
The panel will include one of the region’s top estate planning attorneys who will discuss strategies to minimize potential transfer taxes and help preserve assets for the family; a chief financial officer of several technology companies who will offer insight into some of the pressures of divesting of company stock while still employed at the company, private sales, etc.; and an independent view of how to reinvest your assets appropriately after the liquidity event to continue the growth of the entrepreneur’s net worth.
Panelists:
- Kevin Comerford, CFO, IntoNetworks.
Kevin has over 15 years of financial management experience. Before joining IntoNetworks, he served as Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Breakaway Solutions where he led the company in raising over $115 million in venture backed financing and completed one of the most successful Initial Public Offerings in 1999 (NASDAQ: BWAY). Additionally, he oversaw the successful acquisition and integration of seven companies, which expanded Breakaway’s operations into Europe and Asia. During his tenure the company grew from $10 million to over $120 million in revenue. Prior to Breakaway he co-founded Boston Sales Automation, Inc., a system integrator of mid-market sale automation and financial accounting systems, which was the largest US re-seller and integrator of Great Plain family of software products. Comerford has also served as CFO and COO for the United States divisions of two prominent publicly traded European companies; A.B. Munters, S.E. of Sweden and Bruel & Kjar SE of Denmark. He began his career with the accounting firm of Ernst & Young. Comerford is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting from Assumption College.
- David Scott Sloan, Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP.
David Scott Sloan is a partner at the Boston office of Holland & Knight, LLP, where he is Chairman of the Boston Trusts & Estates group. Mr. Sloan concentrates his practice in the areas of estate planning and wealth management, corporate and family business planning, and taxation. Mr. Sloan has published numerous articles and has been quoted in several publications including Fortune Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, Business Week, Inc. Magazine, Financial Planning Magazine, The Boston Business Journal, and Private Wealth Management.
Mr. Sloan is an active member of several professional associations, and currently serves as Co-Chairman of the Boston Bar Association Estate Planning Committee. Mr Sloan previously served as chairman of the Taxation Section and Tax Legislation Committee of the Massachusetts Bar Association, was a member of the Massachusetts Bar Association Budget and Finance Committee. Mr. Sloan was a member of the faculty of the Boston University School of Law Graduate Tax Program and was editor-in-chief of the Boston University Journal of Tax Law for several years. Mr. Sloan also is a member of the Boston Estate Planning Council, The Boston Probate Forum, and, Massachusetts, Boston and New York State Bar Associations. Mr. Sloan is admitted to the bar in both Massachusetts and New York, and is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court. Mr. Sloan is a Fellow in the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). Mr. Sloan earned his B.S. degree in 1982 from Binghamton University (State University of New York). He earned his J.D. degree from Albany Law School of Union University in 1985 and an LL.M. in Taxation from Boston University in 1987.
Moderator:
- Michael F. Dwyer, Vice President, Wainwright Investment Counsel, LLC.
Michael Dwyer is a Vice President and a Senior Consultant with Wainwright Investment Counsel, LLC. Mr. Dwyer is a registered investment advisor and a member of the Investment Management Consulting Association. Prior to joining H.C.Wainwright in 1990, Mr. Dwyer was a Vice President at Homans McGraw, Trull, Valeo & Co., Dean Witter Reynolds, and L.F. Rothschild. He has twenty-one years of industry experience. Mr. Dwyer holds a BS from Providence College, and became a certified investment management analyst (CIMA) through the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
2001-2002 Season
December 13, 2001 – Part 1: Financing: Getting the First Round.
The panel will be chaired by Mark Tarallo, Esq. Parnter in Holland and Knight’s business law department. Panelists will include Mike Kramer, CEO of HealthWyse, Mike shnahan, Principal, Egan Managed Captial, and Ralph Wagner, Associate, Walnut Venture Associates.
January 16, 2002 – Part 2: Growing the Business
The panel will be chaired by Jim Rita of Grant Thornton. Panelists will include Jim Davlin, CFO of BURST! Media, Steve Snyder, President of Centerstone Software, and Ed Murphy of Murphy Associates Executive Search.
February 12, 2002 – Part 3: Scaling the Business: Financing for Growth and Getting Visibility
The panel will be chaired by John Koles, CEO of High Ground, Inc. Panelists will include: Chris Dahl, Esq., partner in Lucash, Gessmer and Updegrove, Rob Rosen, Managing Director of Lincoln Peak Partners, an IT services comapny, and Charlie Lax, Managing Partner of SOFTBANK Capital Partners.
March 20, 2002 – Part 3: The Path to Liquidity
The panel will be chaired by Tom Cibotti of Covington Associates LLC. Panelists will include: Glenn House, entrepreneur & CEO; Dean Goodermote, General Partner, ABS Capital Partners; Bic Stevens, Managing Director, Zero Stage Capital; Mark Tarallo, Partner, Holland & Knight LLP.
April 30, 2002 – Part 4: Liquidity...and Beyond
The panel will be chaired by Mike Dwyer of Wainwright Investment Counsel, LLC. Panelists will include: Kevin Comerford, CFO, IntoNetworks, and David Scott Sloan, Partner, Holland & Knight, LLP.
Breakfasts cost $35.00 each and are held at Monitor Company, 2 Canal Park, Corner of First and Cambridge Street, opposite the Lechmere T Station in Cambridge. Parking is available at the Galleria Garage and the Municipal Garage at 161 First Street. Please note that you should enter the Monitor building via the courtyard entrance, not the side door.
Registration
Idea to Liquidity is open to CEOs, COOs, Presidents, Founders and Senior Managers of emerging high tech companies.
The fee for Idea to Liquidity is $35 and includes continental breakfast. We are not able to accept credit cards online, but registered attendees can pay by cash, credit card or check, made payable to CBDC, at the door. Please note that our cancellation policy requires that you inform us of cancellation by the Friday prior to the event. If you fail to meet this deadline, you will be charged regardless of attendance.
Registrations are being accepted for the March and April Idea to Liquidity dates. (Please fill each box in full).