Chicago Family Office & High Net Worth Conference

Denny Chared is the Founder and CEO of DC Finance, a leading global community connecting family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and investors. Since 2003, he has built a powerful international network of over 1,000 families representing more than $300 billion in assets through curated conferences, private dinners, and exclusive gatherings across major financial centers.

He is also the creator of the Family Office Circle, a private club for family office members chaired by Lisa Silverstein, designed to foster trusted relationships, meaningful dialogue, and access to curated opportunities within this highly discreet ecosystem.

In parallel, Chared launched the first dedicated family office podcast in partnership with iHeartRadio, where he hosts conversations with some of the most influential and compelling voices in the global family office world, bringing rare insight into a traditionally private space.

Before founding DC Finance, he served as a financial journalist and Wall Street editor for Globes, covering global markets and economic trends.

Chared is widely recognized for his ability to connect the right people in the right setting, creating a trusted platform for relationships, insight, and deal flow at the highest level.

Melissa Hart is part of the broadband investing team at Pello Companies, a family office with a portfolio focused on digital infrastructure, connectivity, and next-generation broadband platforms. Her work sits at the intersection of capital strategy, public-private infrastructure needs, and emerging connectivity models, including the evaluation of fiber, wireless, and other infrastructure opportunities.

As part of her work with Pello, Melissa supports corporate development across the firm’s broadband portfolio, with a current focus on XNET, an infrastructure company building neutral-host connectivity through secure, carrier-grade Wi-Fi offload. XNET reflects a broader shift in broadband investing toward models that improve coverage, monetize existing networks, and create new revenue opportunities across carriers, real estate, and venue ecosystems.

Melissa also brings experience in digital access, connectivity strategy, and partnership development. She earned her BA from Duke University and holds a master’s degree.

As moderator, Melissa brings a practical lens to the conversation, including how family offices can evaluate broadband as an asset class, where capital is flowing, what makes infrastructure projects financeable, and how emerging technologies are creating new revenue opportunities across fiber, wireless, real estate, and carrier networks.

Christopher Roy is a senior telecommunications and technology executive with a multi-decade track record of leading multibillion-dollar businesses, driving complex transformations, and executing growth initiatives across the connectivity ecosystem. He currently serves as Chief Strategy Officer at EarthLink, a private equity–backed broadband and internet services company, where he leads corporate strategy, M&A, product development, and strategic partnerships to drive long-term value creation.

Prior to EarthLink, Chris spent 20 years at AT&T in senior executive leadership roles, holding full P&L responsibility for some of the company’s largest and most complex business units. He led AT&T’s Global Wholesale Practice and Global Public Sector divisions, overseeing more than $10 billion in annual revenue. Earlier in his tenure, he served as Vice President of Business Marketing and Vice President of Operations for the Northeast Region, managing sales, operations, engineering, and external affairs across a multi-state footprint. His experience provides a uniquely integrated perspective on how capital, technology, and regulation intersect within the broadband and digital infrastructure markets.

Chris maintains deep relationships across the media, telecommunications, and public-sector landscapes and is active in governance and board roles. He serves on the Board of Directors for The Ohio State University’s Sports and Society Organization, The Board of Directors at the Navy SEAL Legacy Foundation’s Trident Cup, the Verizon Partner Advisory Board, and the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Board of Directors—reflecting his ability to build durable partnerships across corporate, nonprofit, and civic institutions.

Recognized by industry publications and routinely named to the “Power 100” list—highlighting the top 100 most influential executives in telecommunications—Chris brings a disciplined operator’s perspective to growth, consolidation, and capital deployment in digital infrastructure. He holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Southern Methodist University.

Micky Stefanov is an M&A and valuation specialist focused exclusively on the telecommunications and broadband sector. He is the Founder and CEO of Stefanov Capital LLC, an advisory firm that provides comprehensive transaction, growth, and valuation solutions to ISPs and network operators ranging from founder‑led businesses to scaled platforms. Micky is a partner at Link Broadband LLC, a rapidly scaling fiber platform as well as in Coastal Communications, a PE backed fiber broadband network.

Micky brings a decade of experience in telecom mergers and acquisitions, with a particular emphasis on helping sellers navigate competitive sale processes and helping buyers source and underwrite proprietary opportunities. As Senior Vice President of M&A at ISP Advisor, he secured nearly $1 billion in commitments from qualified buyers and more than $225 million in exclusive sell‑side mandates in just twelve months, giving him direct insight into pricing, deal structures, and investor appetite across the market.

Over the course of his career, Micky has advised on more than $1 billion in closed transactions in the sector. His background as a valuation specialist enables him to translate technical, operational, and regulatory realities into clear, defensible value narratives for both buyers and sellers. He is known for his hands‑on approach to process design, from initial positioning and financial analysis through diligence, negotiations, and closing, with a consistent focus on transparency, communication, and maximizing after‑tax outcomes for owners.

At Stefanov Capital, Micky leads a focused team serving clients through strategic reviews, valuations, capital advisory, and sell‑side and buy‑side M&A. His work is grounded in the growth dynamics of fiber and fixed‑wireless deployment, the evolving competitive landscape, and the needs of both institutional and family office capital seeking durable cash‑flowing broadband assets.

Sydney Atkins is a capital markets executive and entrepreneur focused on broadband, digital infrastructure, and technology‑enabled services. As Founder and General Partner of Rudder Capital Partners and Chief Investment Officer of Stefanov Capital, she leads M&A and capital markets advisory work with broadband clients—partnering with operators, investors, and family offices on capital formation, acquisitions, and strategic positioning. She is Founder of Link Broadband LLC, a rapidly scaling fiber broadband platform.
Previously, Sydney served as Managing Director and Head of Capital Markets at Boston Omaha Asset Management (NYSE: BOC), where she led fundraising for more than $1 billion in broadband and real estate opportunities and helped institutionalize platform investments serving high‑growth and rural markets. As CEO and Head of Capital Markets at Mac Mountain, she played a central role in designing and deploying broadband solutions for underserved communities, aligning private capital with public‑interest infrastructure outcomes.
Her experience spans both public and private markets. Sydney served as Lead Independent Director of Yellowstone Acquisition Company, which took Sky Harbour Group (NYSE: SKYH) public, and has been instrumental in building and scaling investment platforms across multiple firms. At Ellevest, she built an impact investing platform and led the private wealth division, growing assets under management to more than $1 billion. At Goldman Sachs, Sydney advised founders, executives, and entrepreneurs on more than $8 billion in client assets and high‑stakes liquidity events. Before entering finance, she founded Synergy Inc., an organization focused on empowering young women through sport, reflecting a long‑standing commitment to leadership development and inclusion.
Sydney is deeply engaged in governance, philanthropy, and community‑focused investing. She serves as a Trustee of Shore Country Day School and of the Peabody Essex Museum. She and her wife, Caroline, are co‑owners of the Killington Distillery and the Mountain Inn in Vermont and leads Fred J. Dion Yacht Yard, a multigeneration family marine business founded in 1914.
Sydney holds an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management and a BA from Middlebury College, where she studied neuroscience and studio art. Her work centers on unlocking growth and resilience for operators and investors at the intersection of capital markets, infrastructure, and community impact.

Dennis Pinto represents the second generation of the Pinto family at Micato Safaris, a company his parents founded in Kenya more than 60 years ago. In 1982, he established the New York office, helping to build Micato into one of the most respected names in luxury travel.

After graduating from Stanford University, Dennis began his career in international banking, but was soon drawn back to the family business. Under his leadership, Micato has expanded beyond East Africa into India and Southern Africa, while remaining deeply rooted in a philosophy of anticipating every detail, delivering seamless journeys, and creating moments that guests describe as truly unforgettable.

He also co-founded AmericaShare, Micato’s nonprofit arm, which supports orphaned and vulnerable children across Africa. Through its One-for-One programme, every safari helps send a child to school, a commitment that remains central to the company’s mission.

Micato Safaris has been recognised with numerous honours, including an unprecedented ten wins as World’s Best Tour Operator by Travel + Leisure.

Dennis divides his time between Nairobi and New York City, where he lives with his wife, Joy, and their two children, all safari enthusiasts in their own right.

Robert is one of the founding Principals of CoreOne Indstrial LLC, with over 23 years of experience in the real estate and corporate consulting world.  Since CoreOne’s inception in 2020, Rob has led CoreOne’s Investment initiative supporting the growth of CoreOne to over 2 million sq ft of assets under management.

Prior to CoreOne, Robert was the VP of Real Estate for Cenveo Corporation (“CVO”), which is currently the largest converter of envelopes in North America.  During Rob’s tenure with CVO, he oversaw all aspects of CVO’s 7.5 million sq. ft. real estate portfolio with over 100 facilities nationwide. Prior to joining CVO, Robert was Director at Corporate Properties. Rob also worked at Marcus & Millichap as a commercial real estate broker where he participated in underwriting, listing, negotiating, and sales of over $200 million worth of investment real estate.

In 2008, Robert obtained his Masters of Science from New York University’s Shack Institute of Real Estate, with a concentration in Finance and Investment. Additionally, he holds Bachelor of Science in finance with a minor in accounting from Marist College where he also played Division 1 soccer.

Josh Tolley is celebrating his 31st year as an entrepreneur. He has been featured on Fox Business, Kiplinger, and over thirty other media outlets. His show, The Logical Podcast, His down-to-earth approach has led to his books on business to be utilized by universities and he has personally started to enjoy advising governments on economic growth. When not running his finance and commerce company, Sceptyr, he loves taking his wife and four kids on adventures and the occasional Astros game.

Steven is a valued legal and business advisor who focuses on complex business litigation. He has successfully argued before federal and state appellate courts across the country as well as the Illinois Supreme Court. He has a record of consistent success in motion and trial practice, both jury and nonjury, in state and federal courts and in arbitration.

Steven’s clients range from Fortune 500 companies and government entities to small businesses and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries, including gaming, consumer packaged goods, financial services, insurance, health care, and real estate. He has represented a market-leading food company for several years, advising on labeling claims, class action defense, consumer claims, Prop 65, and slack fill issues.

As a strategic counselor, Steven learns the economic, financial, and human drivers affecting a client’s business. He helps them identify and overcome obstacles and design plans to accomplish their goals. Drawing on his skills as a litigator, he solves problems related to class action defense, corporate governance and control, securities, insurance, real estate, regulatory compliance, and other business issues.

In addition, Steven serves as the first line of defense for clients responding to inquiries from state attorneys general and in qui tam litigation, with experience representing businesses before state and federal regulatory and governmental bodies. He also leads internal investigations regarding alleged corporate misconduct and represents parties in trust disputes and other probate matters.

Steven, chair of the firm’s social responsibility initiative Much Community, is always pursuing ways to impact law reform. In the aftermath of the 2023 Hamas terror attack in Israel, Steven filed lawsuits on behalf of students experiencing antisemitic harassment and intimidation at Northwestern University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He partnered with Access Living to ensure people with disabilities have fair and equal access to tickets for Chicago White Sox games. He filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court of Louisiana arguing defendants convicted by Jim Crow juries have been denied their constitutional rights. The bottom line: Steven is driven to stand up for those who have no one else to speak for them.

As a member of Much’s Management Committee, Steven focuses on growing the next generation of attorneys and instilling that same drive to make a difference.

Denny Chared is the Founder and CEO of DC Finance, a leading global community connecting family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and investors. Since 2003, he has built a powerful international network of over 1,000 families representing more than $300 billion in assets through curated conferences, private dinners, and exclusive gatherings across major financial centers.

He is also the creator of the Family Office Circle, a private club for family office members chaired by Lisa Silverstein, designed to foster trusted relationships, meaningful dialogue, and access to curated opportunities within this highly discreet ecosystem.

In parallel, Chared launched the first dedicated family office podcast in partnership with iHeartRadio, where he hosts conversations with some of the most influential and compelling voices in the global family office world, bringing rare insight into a traditionally private space.

Before founding DC Finance, he served as a financial journalist and Wall Street editor for Globes, covering global markets and economic trends.

Chared is widely recognized for his ability to connect the right people in the right setting, creating a trusted platform for relationships, insight, and deal flow at the highest level.

Mitch Thrower is the CEO, Chairman, and Founder of Events.com, a leading global SaaS platform that helps passionate people create, promote, discover, enjoy, and make the most of every event.  Events.com gives organizers access to a suite of products for every step of the event
life cycle, allowing organizers to save time and generate more revenue.  Events.com offers sponsorship and promotional tools, event management software, event calendars, digital marketing services, on-site check-in, and sales to make the event organizing process a smooth experience from start to finish.

Thrower also serves as Chairman of The La Jolla Foundation, a 501c3 foundation whose primary initiative is Project Active, providing funding, mentoring, encouragement, and education to areas of world tension —specifically — sending sports equipment to children in war zones.

Thrower Co-Founded Active.com (The Active Network, Inc.). He also launched ActiveEurope.com (Active Europe Network) as Co-Founder and CEO. Active went public before selling to Vista for $1.05 billion. Vista later sold a few divisions of Active to Global Payments for $1.2 billion.

Thrower was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Triathlete Magazine, the world’s largest triathlon magazine, where he also served as Chairman. He has also served as the Chief Interactive Officer, Strategist & Senior Correspondent for the Competitor Group (CGI), the active lifestyle industry’s leading media and event entertainment company.

Thrower spoke at his university graduation at St. Lawrence University and has lectured at many colleges such as Stanford University, Anderson School at UCLA, UCSD, and the University of San Diego, where he served as the “Entrepreneur in Residence,” teaching Entrepreneurship.

Thrower is an active member of TED.com and the Executive Producer of TEDxLaJolla, an independently organized TED event. He is the author of “The Attention Deficit Workplace: Winning Strategies for Success in Today’s Fast-Paced Business Environment” published by Lyons Press, and he was the Author of the popular monthly column “Starting Lines” in Triathlete
Magazine for more than a decade. He was also co-author of the travel guide “The Passport,” which, for several years, was distributed to 50,000 college students before traveling abroad each year.

In 1990, Thrower co-founded his first company and served as CEO of The College/Rail Connection, Inc., serving American Express, AT&T, and Eurail until he sold the venture in 1997.

Thrower graduated from the Executive Institute at Stanford University. He holds an MBA from the University of San Diego and a bachelor’s degree from Saint Lawrence University. He also studied strategic thought at Yale University. He has competed in 22 Ironman Triathlons, including 13 World Championships. He is the only photojournalist ever to photograph and film
the Ironman Triathlon World Championships while competing in the event.

Thrower is an East Coast native whose father, Fred Thrower, was a television pioneer as Vice President of NBC and also as president of WPIX-TV in New York City and is known for his holiday creation of the televised “Yule Log.” Thrower’s mother, Lori, worked as an assistant for
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in NYC.

Thrower is happily married to his lovely wife Amanda and lives in La Jolla, California with their children.

Joseph serves as Executive Chairman of ELRH Investments, Electra America and American Landmark, diversified investment vehicles with assets throughout the sunbelt. He recently served as executive chairman of Landmark Apartment Trust of America, Inc. He is the founder of Landmark Residential and has successfully completed $8 Billion of value-added multifamily transactions in the Southeast in the last 20 years. An expert in value added and distressed real estate repositioning, Joe has 25 years of experience in multifamily acquisitions, operations and disposition. On behalf of ELCO Holdings, ELRH ‘s largest investor, Joe is very familiar with the publicly traded world and reported quarterly to analysts covering ELCO and made numerous presentations before the members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. In his capacity as CEO, Joe was responsible for annual GAAP and IFRS audit presentation as well as standard institutional reporting. An honors graduate of Cornell University, he holds a Juris Doctor degree from Delaware Law School. He is active in numerous civic and charitable organizations, including AIPAC, Hillel, and The Cornell University Tower Club. Joe also serves as presidential Advisor of Temple Beth David in addition to civic and corporate Board assignments.

An avid motorsports aficionado, Joe has competition licenses in several racing classes.

Denny Chared is the Founder and CEO of DC Finance, a leading global community connecting family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and investors. Since 2003, he has built a powerful international network of over 1,000 families representing more than $300 billion in assets through curated conferences, private dinners, and exclusive gatherings across major financial centers.

He is also the creator of the Family Office Circle, a private club for family office members chaired by Lisa Silverstein, designed to foster trusted relationships, meaningful dialogue, and access to curated opportunities within this highly discreet ecosystem.

In parallel, Chared launched the first dedicated family office podcast in partnership with iHeartRadio, where he hosts conversations with some of the most influential and compelling voices in the global family office world, bringing rare insight into a traditionally private space.

Before founding DC Finance, he served as a financial journalist and Wall Street editor for Globes, covering global markets and economic trends.

Chared is widely recognized for his ability to connect the right people in the right setting, creating a trusted platform for relationships, insight, and deal flow at the highest level.

J. Bradley Hilton, a proud member of the Hilton family, began his career with Hilton Hotels Corporation at age 17. Over the span of 14 years, he developed his expertise within the family business, making significant strides in corporate growth. One of his notable achievements includes increasing corporate solicitations from $700 million to $1.2 billion in a single year, an accomplishment that underscores his ability to drive engagement and elevate business outcomes within a global enterprise. Today, Brad channels his vision and expertise into The J. Bradley Experience, a company dedicated to empowering individuals, families, and businesses around the world. With a commitment to the legacy of his grandfather, Conrad N. Hilton, his mission is to redefine luxury through curated experiences that create everlasting memories. By anticipating emerging trends and embracing new opportunities, he aims to fill the world with warmth, light, unparalleled hospitality, and advanced technologies.

Tyler Wanke invests on behalf of his family office with a focus on impactful venture investments within the life sciences.

Tyler is CEO & co-founder of MadSci (Madison Scientific, Inc.), a medical technology company developing smart implantable neurotech devices for hydrocephalus patients. He previously co-founded and serves on the board of Innoblative, medical technology company innovating therapeutic devices for breast cancer and beyond. He is also on the board of EDGe Surgical, Inc., an Orthopedic & Spine medtech venture.

He is adjunct professor at Northwestern University where he teaches medical entrepreneurship to the Kellogg School of Management, Feinberg School of Medicine, and McCormick School of Engineering.

He volunteers at Cures Within Reach (CWR), a non-profit dedicated to repurposing – testing already approved therapies for unsolved diseases. He completed an MD from Feinberg School of Medicine, MBA from Kellogg School of Management, a Masters of Engineering Management (MEM) / Masters of Science of Design Innovation (MSDI) from McCormick School of Engineering / Segal Design Institute, and a BS in Neurobiology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Ivanny Gorski Franklin is a MedTech investor, family office executive, and healthcare industry leader with deep expertise spanning medical technology, diagnostics, clinical strategy, and life sciences investing. She is the Managing Partner of MedSight Capital, a family office-backed investment platform focused on identifying and supporting next-generation medical technology and healthcare innovation companies.

Prior to her investment activities, Ivanny played a significant role in the growth and strategic expansion of NAMSA, one of the world’s leading MedTech-focused CRO and regulatory consulting organizations. Over nearly a decade with the company, she held multiple senior leadership roles across global strategy, consulting, diagnostics, and commercialization initiatives, helping founders and medical technology companies navigate clinical development, regulatory pathways, reimbursement strategy, and market positioning.

Today, through MedSight Capital and her broader family office activities, Ivanny works closely with visionary founders, emerging healthcare platforms, and innovative medical technology companies at the intersection of clinical advancement and strategic capital. Her investment philosophy combines operational insight, regulatory expertise, and long-term partnership thinking, particularly within highly specialized sectors such as diagnostics, IVD, digital health, and next-generation medical devices.

In addition to her investment work, Ivanny is actively involved across the global MedTech ecosystem as a speaker, advisor, and strategic connector within healthcare innovation communities. Known for her strong industry relationships and hands-on approach, she has become a respected voice in MedTech investing, commercialization strategy, and family office participation in healthcare innovation.

Omid Akhavan is a family office investor with experience across venture capital, private equity, real estate, oil and gas and cryptocurrency investing.

He is the Founder and Managing Director of Anthro Ventures, an investment platform focused on partnering with next-generation healthcare and medical technology companies at the intersection of innovation, commercialization, and global healthcare impact.

Prior to launching Anthro Ventures, Omid held senior investment and corporate strategy roles across the healthcare and life sciences ecosystem. He previously served as Investment Principal at MVM Partners, a healthcare-focused investment firm, and earlier led strategy and business development initiatives for Becton Dickinson’s multi-billion-dollar diagnostics division, where he worked on growth strategy, innovation initiatives, and commercial expansion.

Omid began his career in management consulting within Deloitte’s Life Sciences & Healthcare practice, advising healthcare and medical technology organizations on growth, commercialization, and operational strategy. His background uniquely combines technical healthcare expertise, investment experience, and strategic operational leadership across both startups and global healthcare platforms.

He holds a Master’s degree in Bioengineering Innovation & Design from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia. He was also awarded a Fulbright Fellowship for research related to healthcare access and innovation in the Middle East.

Today, Omid is recognized within the MedTech and healthcare investment ecosystem as an active investor, advisor, and speaker, frequently participating in global healthcare innovation summits, venture panels, and family office investment discussions focused on medical technology, diagnostics, and emerging healthcare platforms.

Noel K. Moore is the Managing Principal of Endurance Venture, a private investment firm focused on early-stage opportunities in life sciences and deep tech. Endurance Venture partners with technical founders and emerging managers to discover, create, build, and commercialize breakthrough technologies shaping a happier, healthier future. Noel is a Venture Partner at GreyMatter Capital, where he partners with mission-driven founders and scientists to develop novel solutions and build innovative companies improving brain and mental health. Noel is also a Principal at a Chicago-based family investment platform active across alternatives, space, defense, and intelligence. Previously, Noel was a founder, an early employee at an intelligence startup with a $150M exit; and an investment banker in life sciences and deep tech.

Denny Chared is the Founder and CEO of DC Finance, a leading global community connecting family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and investors. Since 2003, he has built a powerful international network of over 1,000 families representing more than $300 billion in assets through curated conferences, private dinners, and exclusive gatherings across major financial centers.

He is also the creator of the Family Office Circle, a private club for family office members chaired by Lisa Silverstein, designed to foster trusted relationships, meaningful dialogue, and access to curated opportunities within this highly discreet ecosystem.

In parallel, Chared launched the first dedicated family office podcast in partnership with iHeartRadio, where he hosts conversations with some of the most influential and compelling voices in the global family office world, bringing rare insight into a traditionally private space.

Before founding DC Finance, he served as a financial journalist and Wall Street editor for Globes, covering global markets and economic trends.

Chared is widely recognized for his ability to connect the right people in the right setting, creating a trusted platform for relationships, insight, and deal flow at the highest level.

Lee Golub is Managing Principal at Golub & Company, where he leads the firm’s national development strategy and drives growth across property sectors and markets. With more than four decades of experience, he has played a key role in shaping iconic projects such as Tribune Tower, Block 37, Moment, and The Bristol. Lee has been pivotal in overseeing significant ground-up developments and supports asset management, marketing, and strategic planning. Deeply engaged in civic and cultural organizations, Lee holds board positions with Chicago Gateway Green, Lookingglass Theatre, and the Magnificent Mile Association. He also advises the Latin School of Chicago and the Art Institute of Chicago, and co-chairs the City of Hope REACH event.

Denny Chared is the Founder and CEO of DC Finance, a leading global community connecting family offices, high-net-worth individuals, and investors. Since 2003, he has built a powerful international network of over 1,000 families representing more than $300 billion in assets through curated conferences, private dinners, and exclusive gatherings across major financial centers.

He is also the creator of the Family Office Circle, a private club for family office members chaired by Lisa Silverstein, designed to foster trusted relationships, meaningful dialogue, and access to curated opportunities within this highly discreet ecosystem.

In parallel, Chared launched the first dedicated family office podcast in partnership with iHeartRadio, where he hosts conversations with some of the most influential and compelling voices in the global family office world, bringing rare insight into a traditionally private space.

Before founding DC Finance, he served as a financial journalist and Wall Street editor for Globes, covering global markets and economic trends.

Chared is widely recognized for his ability to connect the right people in the right setting, creating a trusted platform for relationships, insight, and deal flow at the highest level.

Evan Chrapko is a serial tech entrepreneur best known for the $568 million exit of his company, DocSpace, in just 30 months.

Now, as the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Trust Science, Evan is harnessing AI to transform creditworthiness assessment, ensuring that deserving individuals gain access to fair financial opportunities.

His leadership is distinguished by a rare combination of technical expertise, financial acumen (CPA), and legal insight (JD from Columbia University). A lifetime member of the Henry Crown Fellowship in the Aspen Global Leadership Network and a member of YPO, Evan has been recognized alongside global visionaries like Bill Gates, Sir Richard Branson, and Elon Musk.

Committed to ethical business practices and long-term impact, Evan offers a unique proposition for family offices seeking both financial returns and responsible investing. With a proven ability to navigate complex challenges with speed and precision, he stands out as a compelling direct investee—deliberately keeping institutional funding off his cap table.

Tobaccowala was named by BusinessWeek as one of the top business leaders for his pioneering innovation and TIME magazine dubbed him one of five “Marketing Innovators. He is one of only 300 people elected to the Advertising Hall of Fame since 1948.

Rishad is the author of “Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in The Age of Data” which helps people think, feel, and see differently about how to grow their companies, their teams and themselves to remain relevant in transformational time and  “Rethinking Work”  which helps people thrive amidst the seismic changes that will occur at work due a combination of changing demographics, new mindsets, the rise of distributed work, and the spread of AI.

Rishad is the host of the What Next? podcast and publishes a thought letter called “The Future Does Not Fit into the Containers of the Past” which is read by 30,000 every week.

 Rishad Tobaccowala remains a Senior Advisor to the Publicis Groupe where he has spent his entire 37 career, most recently serving as the Chief Growth Officer and Chief Strategist of the 100,000+ person firm. Prior to those roles Rishad was the Chairman of Digitas and Razorfish.

Rishad serves as a board director or advisor to a host of firms including LoopMe, Journey, Growth Catalyst Partners, Dumbstruck, Shift Paradigm, Quilt. Ai and Qualsights.

Rishad is also the Chairman of the Tobaccowala Foundation which helps over 10,000+ people in India.

Rishad has an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School and a BS in Mathematics from the University of Bombay.

Robyn began her career as a Product Manager at Trilogy Software, where she built InsuranceOrder.com, later sold to Marsh & McLennan. That experience gave her a rare dual perspective: the discipline of productizing efficiency at scale and the firsthand reality of selling a business.

After years on the business side, she pivoted to law, earning her JD from UC Berkeley and practicing at Cooley LLP in venture fund formation and M&A, advising investors, founders, and operators.

Drawing on her dual perspective—operator and lawyer—Robyn recognized that M&A law was ripe for disruption. As a partner at Jones & Spross, she reimagined the deal process: delivering Big Law caliber execution with boutique-level pricing and efficiency, leveraging technology, repeatable playbooks, and global teams.

What began as a redesigned approach to M&A became a proof point in scale—75 acquisitions in 18 months for one client, with an average 30-day LOI-to-close and a 95% success rate. That success became Speed M&A™: a model built to close deals faster, more cost-effectively, and with greater certainty.

Today, Robyn advises hundreds of buyers, sellers, and PE platforms on everything from structuring to pipeline strategy, LOIs, and deal execution playbooks—proving that speed isn’t just a process, but a true competitive advantage in M&A.

Tyler Wanke invests on behalf of his family office with a focus on impactful venture investments within the life sciences.

Tyler is CEO & co-founder of MadSci (Madison Scientific, Inc.), a medical technology company developing smart implantable neurotech devices for hydrocephalus patients. He previously co-founded and serves on the board of Innoblative, medical technology company innovating therapeutic devices for breast cancer and beyond. He is also on the board of EDGe Surgical, Inc., an Orthopedic & Spine medtech venture.

He is adjunct professor at Northwestern University where he teaches medical entrepreneurship to the Kellogg School of Management, Feinberg School of Medicine, and McCormick School of Engineering.

He volunteers at Cures Within Reach (CWR), a non-profit dedicated to repurposing – testing already approved therapies for unsolved diseases. He completed an MD from Feinberg School of Medicine, MBA from Kellogg School of Management, a Masters of Engineering Management (MEM) / Masters of Science of Design Innovation (MSDI) from McCormick School of Engineering / Segal Design Institute, and a BS in Neurobiology from the University of Wisconsin – Madison.

Evan Chrapko is a serial tech entrepreneur best known for the $568 million exit of his company, DocSpace, in just 30 months.

Now, as the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Trust Science, Evan is harnessing AI to transform creditworthiness assessment, ensuring that deserving individuals gain access to fair financial opportunities.

His leadership is distinguished by a rare combination of technical expertise, financial acumen (CPA), and legal insight (JD from Columbia University). A lifetime member of the Henry Crown Fellowship in the Aspen Global Leadership Network and a member of YPO, Evan has been recognized alongside global visionaries like Bill Gates, Sir Richard Branson, and Elon Musk.

Committed to ethical business practices and long-term impact, Evan offers a unique proposition for family offices seeking both financial returns and responsible investing. With a proven ability to navigate complex challenges with speed and precision, he stands out as a compelling direct investee—deliberately keeping institutional funding off his cap table.

Mr. Putney is a founding managing partner and a principal of MNM Partners LLC since its inception in 2006. MNM Partners, LLC is a boutique real estate investment firm with discipline, deep market insights and proprietary deal flow which results in value-add, income opportunities for qualified, private investors Mr. Putney evaluates all multifamily and office asset offerings and continues to monitor property performance after closing. He works directly to organize and fund all MNM group investments in the Bay Area and is responsible for raising in excess of $80M through high net worth accredited investors. He has been a fiduciary for over 35 years successfully. He has lived in the Silicon Valley since 1978.

In 1997 he founded TAT Capital Partners, a Silicon Valley, CA. and Zurich Switzerland based venture capital firm raising 2 funds with AUM of $150M. He has served on the Board of Directors for ZF Micro Devices Inc., Surface Interface Inc. (acquired by FEI Company, NASDAQ: FEIC), Optcom Corporation, Scivac Corporation and nLine Inc. He continues to serve as a Band Member with the Band of Angels, Silicon Valley’s oldest seed funding organization. The Band is a formal group of more than 130 former and current high tech executives who are interested in investing their time and money into new, cutting edge, startup companies. The Band has seeded over 225 companies with 50 profitable M&A exits and 9 Nasdaq IPOs. Band members have founded companies such as Symantec, Logitech, and National Semiconductor and been senior executives at the likes of Sun Microsystems, Hewlett Packard, and Intuit.

In 1985 he founded Techsystems Inc. A company in the semiconductor and printed circuit board assembly industry. The company ultimately exceeded $30M in sales annually. Mr. Putney has founded and successfully exited several other businesses in the PCB assembly, electronic product and financial services industries returning well over 200% IRR.

Mr. Putney has been married for 45 years and has two adult children and five grandchildren.

Ambassador Aharoni is a sought-after public speaker. Over the years, he has delivered numerous lectures on the Middle East, Israel’s foreign relations, mass media, new media, the information revolution, public marketing, non-product branding, country positioning and nation branding at Yale School of Management, Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Johnson School of Management at Cornell University, Brandeis University, Emerson College, Wharton Business School, Columbia Business School, Haas School at UC Berkeley, UCLA, UC San Diego, San Diego State University, Colgate University, American University, Syracuse University’s Maxwell School, University of Connecticut, SUNY-Stony Brook, Northwestern University’s Kellogg School, University of Chicago’s Booth School, Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton, Hofstra University’s Zarb School of Business, Duke University’s Fuqua Business School, Foster School of Business at the University of Washington, Carnegie Mellon University, Rochester Institute of Technology, Tulsa University, Oklahoma State University and dozens of others around the country.

Aharoni has regularly appeared on national television and radio in the United States, and has frequently published articles in the national and the international media. In 2013, he was invited by Google to take part in their renowned speakers’ series Authors at Google.

Amy is Founder and CEO of Sky Partners, a Performance Coaching, Facilitation, and Advisory Firm. Amy has spent her career helping Families, CEOs and high-profile individuals navigate their most confidential and complex matters, including conflict within partnerships and family dynamics. Amy has worked with a myriad of notable CEOs, families and high-profile individuals struggling with their dynamic and unable to have effective and difficult conversation, and who are looking to resolve conflict, create return, develop purpose and live happy and successful lives. We help facilitate difficult conversations and allow space to talk through issues such as; wealth and control and a myriad of family governance issues to provide solutions that are mutually beneficial.

Amy is also a Leadership Coach for MIT Sloan School of Management and other notable institutions.

Amy has 30 years of experience in leadership, transformational change, negotiation and executive coaching across sectors. She has led client engagements ranging from large-scale mergers and acquisitions, organizational change, and cultural integrations. Amy holds a J.D. from New York Law School, Executive Coaching Certification from Columbia University and B.A. from University of New Hampshire.

Her past employers include J.P. Morgan, Union Bank of Switzerland, and U.S. Trust and many notable family dynasties. Amy has been a guest on CNN to discuss the topic of harassment in the workplace. She is a wellknown speaker on the topic of Family Dynamics, Performance Coaching and Acquisitions. She has volunteered extensively with children with disabilities and disease, is an avid sailor, hiker and marathon runner. She was also a short-term Fisherman and Ice Road Trucker.

Katherine C. Alexander is an assistant professor in the Department of Management at Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business.

Her current research interests include interpersonal mistreatment, destructive leadership, and the development of measurement tools for managerial researchers. Alexander’s research examines the dark side of leadership and its impact on employees and organizations.

Her work has led to the development of a measure of insubordination, which has sparked new research on insubordinate follower behaviors. She also conducts large-scale meta-analyses and systematic reviews to improve understanding of existing organizational behavior literature. Over the next three years, Alexander will be working on two large-scale grant initiatives dedicated to supporting small business owners in Chicagoland.

Christopher A. Sommer is a longtime business executive and family enterprise leader based in Springfield, Illinois, with decades of experience spanning energy, investments, operations, and strategic management. He currently serves in corporate strategy leadership at Sommer Asset Management while also leading [Harper Oil Co.] as Chief Executive Officer, continuing the growth and stewardship of one of the region’s longstanding privately held fuel and convenience retail businesses.

The Sommer family has built a multigenerational business platform with roots in fuel distribution, retail operations, real estate, and private investments. The family previously operated Harper on the Way convenience stores across more than 30 communities before transitioning into broader investment and asset management activities. Their long-term business success also enabled the establishment of the Sommer Family Fund, a philanthropic initiative focused on education, opportunity creation, and community impact throughout Illinois.

Beyond his corporate leadership, Sommer has held senior finance and operational roles for major institutions over the course of his career, including the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois, where he oversaw finance, budgeting, reporting, and property management operations. He has also served in advisory capacities with Phillips 66 and participated in executive education programs through Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

Known for combining disciplined financial leadership with long-term strategic thinking, Sommer represents the type of multigenerational operator focused on business continuity, asset stewardship, and community-driven legacy building.

Kevin Costello is a senior executive and multigenerational leader behind Home Run Inn Pizza, one of Chicago’s most iconic family-owned food brands. As Vice Chairman of the Board for the Perrino Group and Home Run Inn Pizza, he helps oversee the continued growth and long-term strategy of a business that has become nationally recognized for both its restaurant operations and frozen pizza platform.

Costello has spent decades helping scale the Home Run Inn brand from a respected Chicago institution into a nationally distributed consumer brand carried by major retailers across the United States. Prior to becoming Vice Chairman, he served as Vice President of Sales & Finance, where he led pricing strategy, budgeting, key account management, and corporate growth initiatives during an important expansion period for the company.

Home Run Inn remains a privately held family enterprise founded in the 1940s by the Perrino family and is widely regarded as one of the most successful legacy food brands to emerge from Chicago. Under the leadership of the Costello and Perrino families, the company has expanded its restaurant footprint while building a dominant frozen pizza business distributed nationwide.

Known for combining operational discipline with long-term brand stewardship, Costello represents the next generation of leadership helping preserve and grow a multigenerational family-owned platform rooted in entrepreneurship, consumer loyalty, and strategic expansion.

Longtime investor and entrepreneur Ronald Diamond is the Founder and Chairman of Diamond Wealth. He represents over 100 Family Offices ranging in size from $250 million to $30 billion. Diamond Wealth invests in private markets (private equity, venture capital, and real estate). In addition, Diamond Wealth has divisions that focus on philanthropy, wealth transfer, investment banking, social impact, and governance.

Ron Diamond serves on the Advisory Board of 10 privately held companies and acts as Chairman for 4 of them. Ronald is also the Chair of two TIGER 21 chapters in Chicago.
​A frequent speaker at Family Office and Alternative Investment Conferences, Diamond has spoken at over 100 conferences across the globe. Mr. Diamond is also the Founder of Family Office World — (www.familyofficeworldpodcast.com) a podcast whose mission is to educate the market about Family Offices.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Diamond founded Pinnacle Capital — a $250 million hedge fund that outperformed the S & P index 10 out of 10 years — before ultimately selling his company to an international investment firm. Previously, Diamond served as a Senior Managing Director at Bear Stearns. He began his career as an analyst at Drexel Burnham Lambert.

Deeply committed to giving back, Diamond is an active philanthropist and civic leader. He serves as the Chairman of the Advisory Board of JSC and currently sits on the Board at the JCC and JUF.
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Diamond studied at Northwestern University, graduating Magna Cum Laude and earning his degree in Economics.

With over 25 years of experience in private equity, investment banking, lending and family office leadership I currently serve as the President of Financial Investments Corporation (FIC). At FIC, a multi-faceted private investment firm and family office, I oversee operations and align strategies to drive growth and collaboration among stakeholders.

My work with FIC builds on my ongoing role as Partner at Concentric Equity Partners (an FIC affiliate), where I focus on direct private equity investments and serve on the investment committee. In this role, I oversee investments across the private markets in North America and Asia.

Bob Venable is President and CEO of Miami Corporation Management, LLC, a multi-generation family office founded in 1917 and based in Chicago. Prior to Miami Corporation, Bob was President of Charter Manufacturing, a $2 billion, family-owned manufacturer of steel and iron products. Bob also spent 17 years with Baird, where he was a Managing Director and a member of Baird’s board of directors and executive committee. Bob was raised on a family farm in Wisconsin and remains involved in the ownership and leadership of the farm, which is now in its fourth generation.

Bob is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and received his MBA from the University of Chicago. He is also a CFA charter holder.

Bob is a member of the board and executive committee of Kids First Chicago and a board member and chair of Badger Advocates, which is affiliated with the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also a member of the Commercial Club and the Economic Club of Chicago.

Bob and his wife Ellen have three grown children.