2012
Programs/Speakers Todd Buchholz
Former White House
Director of Economic Policy
The former White House director of economic policy and past managing director of the $15 billion Tiger hedge fund, Todd Buchholz has both crafted economic policy as a public servant and invested in the market. In entertaining presentations refreshingly free of investment jargon, Buchholz shows audiences how to interpret strategy-altering phenomena for wiser, sounder investments, providing you with a snapshot of the market to come: what companies are on the right track to success, what you can learn from them and how their successes can be yours as well. Buchholz discusses critical issues, conveys practical survival tactics and shows audiences how to adapt to the ever-changing global economy. Buchholz, a contributing editor for Worth magazine, has authored numerous books, including the critically acclaimed Market Shock, New Ideas from Dead Economists, From Here To Economy and Bringing the Jobs Home. His latest releases include the business leadership book New Ideas from Dead CEOs and Rush: Why You Need and Love the Rat Race.
Mike Ditka
Pro Football Hall of Famer, Former Chicago Bears Player and Head Coach
Mike Ditka is a former American Football NFL player, television commentator and Super Bowl-winning coach. “Da Coach” or “Iron Mike,” as he is often called coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for three years. Mike Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people who have won Super Bowls as a player, an assistant coach and a head coach. Mike was the only individual to participate in both of the last two Chicago Bears’ championships as a player in 1963 and as head coach in 1985.
Mike played for the University of Pittsburgh from 1958–1960, where he started all three seasons and is widely considered one of the best tight ends in college football history. In addition to playing tight end, he also served as the team's punter. He led the team in receiving in all three of his seasons with them and was a first team selection on the College Football All-American Team in his senior year. In 1986, he was enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame.
In 1988 his fearsome blocking and 427 career receptions for 5,812 yards and 43 touchdowns earned him the honor of being the first tight end ever inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Mike worked as both an analyst and commentator at CBS and NBC and in 2004 he joined ESPN as an NFL analyst on Sunday NFL Countdown and Monday Night Countdown. He makes regular appearances on ESPN Radio and SportsCenter.
In addition, Mike is a restaurateur, an actor, a commercial spokesperson and an avid golfer. He is involved with many charitable organizations and in 1989 founded The Mike Ditka Foundation to raise funds for Misericordia, a residential facility for mentally and physically challenged youths and also for pediatric AIDS research programs.
Mike resides in Naples and Chicago with his wife, Diana.
Robert L. Moon
The Moon Group
Robert L. Moon joined the Private Banking and Investment Group (PBIG) at Merrill Lynch in 2008. Robert heads The Moon Group, which is a five person team that advises high net worth individuals, foundations and organizations on all aspects of financial management and strategy. The Moon Group specializes in establishing virtual family offices for clients who require a 360- degree approach to financial management. Robert advises on issues ranging from stock option strategies, philanthropic giving, tailored lending, and estate planning.
Prior to joining Merrill Lynch, Rob was a Senior Advisor with Citigroup/Smith Barney for fifteen years. While at Citi, Rob earned inclusion in the exclusive Citi Family Office group, made up of 45 advisors within the firm to advise ultra-high net worth clients and their families.
While at Citi, Robert elected by his peers as co-Chairman of the Directors Advisory Group in 2007 – a seven-person group that serves as an advisory council for Smith Barney and Citi management. Additionally, in 2008 Robert was appointed to a ten-person Ultra-High Net Worth Advisory Council for Citi that led the firm in the development of an ultra-high net worth division of the firm. Robert's assets and production placed him in the top .003% of the 13,500 Financial Advisors in the firm.
Robert enjoys a 95% client retention rate which far exceeds industry standards. He has received countless Client Services Awards and had been in the top 5% of Smith Barney financial advisors for over a decade. Robert was named to the Barron's Top 400 Advisors in 2006 and has been quoted in the Washington Post on a wide range of financial issues.
Rob is involved in various community and global volunteer activities. In addition to financial support, Rob has donated his time and energy over the years to African literacy and adoption organizations (Wide Horizons For Children), a local food bank (The Crisis Bread Basket), local mentoring programs (Southeast White House), Rotary International, and the Visiting Nurses Association holiday support program.
John R. Sloan
Vice Chairman
Allegiance Capital Corporation
Executive Profile
For more than 25 years, John Sloan has served as chief executive officer for a number of
private equity and venture capital organizations. To date, he has participated in financial
transactions that have exceeded $6 billion in aggregate value for both public and private
companies in a wide range of industries.
Key Achievements:
Raising more than $1 billion in debt and equity through an extensive private finance contact network
Advising investors in a $5.1 billion leveraged buyout of The Southland Corporation, NYSE.
Evaluating, negotiating and financing the acquisition of more than 20 companies
Specializing in the successful execution of investment realization strategies for public and private middle
market companies
Managing all phases of private equity transactions
Building and overseeing operating management teams
Highlights of Mr. Sloan's career include serving as president and chief executive officer of The Thompson Company, a
private investment company, owned by the founders of the Seven-Eleven convenience stores. His long-term relationship
with the Thompson family resulted when he successfully served as senior advisor to the founders during The Southland
Corporation leveraged buyout.
Through the private investment and venture capital firm he founded in 1993, J. Sloan & Co., d/b/a VentureLink, Mr. Sloan
pursues a strategy of acquiring companies within a consolidating industry. He continues to serve as president and chief
executive officer of the firm. The following is a sample of the successful transactions Mr. Sloan engineered:
Providing venture seed capital and raising more than $100 million in expansion capital for an early
stage specialty finance company
Raising $33 million with HO2 Partners to create the largest first time venture capital fund in Texas during
the late 1990s
Leading an investor group in acquiring East Teak Fine Hardwoods, Inc., an importer of exotic hardwood lumber from
around the world and the largest importer of high-grade teak in the United States
In addition, to his private equity and venture capital work, Mr. Sloan has served on the board of directors for numerous public
and privately held corporations. A graduate of The University of Texas at Austin, Mr. Sloan is a licensed CPA.
James C. Chadwick
Partner
Patton Boggs LLP
Jim Chadwick, co-chair of the Firm's Business Department, counsels domestic and foreign financial institutions, capital companies and private funds in leveraged acquisitions and leveraged recapitalizations, senior and subordinated debt, private placements, asset-based lending, equipment and project financings, secured and unsecured term lending and other forms of debt and equity financing, together with restructurings, workouts and bankruptcy matters relating to these financings.
Mr. Chadwick also counsels clients in their mergers, acquisitions and other business combinations, as well as their securities matters, general corporate matters, restructurings, workouts, fund formation, import and export activities and inbound and outbound investment activities. He works closely with, and provides ongoing legal advice to, company management and boards of directors on a continuous basis, including offerings, acquisitions, mergers and other business and financial transactions undertaken by these companies.
Professional Affiliations
Fellow, American College of Investment Counsel
Fellow and Regent, American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers
American Bar Association; Chairman of Subcommittee on Cross-Border Secured Transactions
Association of Commercial Finance Attorneys
Board of Editors, The Bankruptcy Strategist
Board of Directors of Notre Dame School of Dallas, Texas
Finance Council of St. Rita Catholic Community, Dallas, Texas
Honors & Awards
Texas Super Lawyers, Texas Monthly Magazine (2005, 2006, 2007)
Publications, Speeches, and Presentations
Selected articles
Author, "Texas Commercial Lending Law: A Guide for Commercial Lenders and Businesses (2009)
Co-author, "Down-Round Financings – Anticipating and Overcoming Legal Obstacles," Dallas Business Journal – 2nd Annual Texas ACG Capital Connection (February 2005)
Co-author, "Government Risk and Opportunity in Corporate Acquisitions – Proper Assessment Now More Important Than Ever," Houston Business Journal (April 2006)
Co-author, "How The Sarbanes-Oxley Act is Changing the Landscape of Chapter 11" The Bankruptcy Strategist (February 2002)
"Representing Secured Lenders in Private Practice Management Bankruptcy Cases," The Bankruptcy Strategist (July 2000)
"Lender Liability for a Borrower's Unpaid Payroll Taxes," 43 The Business Lawyer 507 (February 1988)
Selected presentations
Commercial Finance Professional Development Workshops: Workout and Bankruptcy Series
Multiple Credit Party Transactions: Fraudulent Transfer and Beyond
Building Exit Strategy into Mezzanine Finance Deal Structure
Revised Article 9 Transition Rules
Building Products Industry Mergers and Acquisitions—Capturing the Legal Issues and Concerns
Documentation Issues in Financing E-Commerce Companies
Mexican Assets and Commercial Finance: Taking Another Look at Mexico
Andrew S. McGhee
Executive Vice President and President,
Commercial Banking
AloStar Bank of Commerce
Andy McGhee co-founded AloStar Bank of Commerce and serves as AloStar's executive vice president and president of the bank's commercial division. With experience in traditional banking, private equity, and all aspects of commercial banking and finance, Mr. McGhee will oversee the bank's commercial division, which will provide a suite of innovative products to businesses with revenues between $5 million and $150 million.
Mr. McGhee was most recently co-founder of Archway Equity Partners, an Atlanta-based investment banking firm. Prior to Archway, he spent 12 years with SunTrust Banks Inc., eventually serving as senior vice president. During his early days at SunTrust, he served as managing director of three business units including Trusco Capital Management, the Specialty Lending Group and the Private Equity / Asset Based Group. In these positions he gained invaluable leadership experience in establishing policies and procedures for new business, attracting industry veterans and caliber professionals to the company and reducing problem assets while quickly growing revenues within various business units.
Having held senior management positions at Citicorp, Bank South, and Bank of America Business Credit, Mr. McGhee brings diverse experience to his role at AloStar.
Currently, Mr. McGhee serves on the Terry College of Business Alumni Board. He received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia.
Jay C. Jester
Managing Director
Director of Business Development
Audax Group
Mr. Jester is a Managing Director, Director of Business Development. Previously, Mr. Jester was a General Partner with Florida Capital Partners, a middle market private equity firm. Mr. Jester also worked at Bowles Hollowell Conner & Company.
Mr. Jester received a B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Robert L. Moon
John R. Sloan
James C. Chadwick
Andrew S. McGhee
Jay C. Jester
