| 08:00 – 08:45 AM | Networking Breakfast |
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| 08:45 – 09:00 AM | Opening Remarks |
| Denny Chared, Founder & CEO, DC Finance |
| Robert A. Romanoff, Past Managing Partner, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC – Conference Moderator |
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| 09:00 – 09:45 AM | Why Culture Drives Everything – Business, Philanthropy and Even Family |
| Al Strikas, Managing Director – Investments, Merrill Lynch – Moderator |
| Carol Lavin Bernick, The Lavin Family Foundation; Former Executive Chairwoman, Alberto Culver Company |
| Alberto Culver soared competing against industry giants Procter & Gamble, Unilever and L’Oréal, surging ahead with the fastest growing hair care brands. Even before corporate culture became a widely recognized priority, Harvard Business Review took notice and covered the company’s transformative cultural shift and resultant profitability. Discover Carol’s pivotal role in steering the culture change made at Alberto Culver, and how she has since woven those invaluable experiences into her philanthropy, board positions, and her family’s core values, too. |
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| 09:45 – 09:55 AM | Private Aviation: The Viable Alternative to Whole and Fractional Aircraft Ownership |
| John Castellano, Global Jet Card Director, Air Charter Service Inc. |
| With 20 years of experience in the private aviation industry, John has seen it all. From the 2008 market crash to the bull and bust approach of new companies promising a non-viable digital only experience. Now in his new role, John is taking on the establishment brands by building a customer first Jet Card program. |
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| 09:55 – 10:05 AM | Building a Holding Company to Address a Major Gap in the Private Equity Market |
| Sam Yagan, CEO, Fifth Star Inc |
| Over the last seventy years, private equity firms have grown to focus on almost every segment of the market, including deploying over half a trillion dollars a year in technology. However, virtually every firm focuses on verticals within the enterprise and b2b sectors, with less than 20% of the dollars going to consumer technology companies. With decades of experience building and leading exactly these consumer businesses, including SparkNotes, OkCupid, Match, Tinder, ShopRunner, SpotHero, and Grindr – as well as critical years working at IAC, Barry Diller’s holding company – Sam has launched Fifth Star to acquire and operate lower-middle-market consumer technology companies. |
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| 10:05 – 10:15 AM | The Future of Vacationing |
| Mike Marburg, Founder & CEO, Simply Shenandoah |
| Over 2/3s of Americans suffer from chronic conditions, creating unprecedented mental and physical health challenges. An innovative “self-care” paradigm is emerging to complement the reactive healthcare model, establishing Wellness Tourism as the hottest trend in hospitality. Simply Shenandoah is developing a ~$175M, 120-room destination (just 90 minutes from Washington, D.C.) on 640 acres to deliver transformation and vacation in a way that serves the greater good. |
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| 10:15 – 10:35 AM | Shining a Light on the Mental Health of Youth in High-Net-Worth Families |
| Caren Yanis, Philanthropic Advisor & Teacher, Croland Consulting Philanthropic Advising – Moderator |
| Sabrina Gracias, Founder, Ortus Foundation |
| Dr. Lance Garrison, Pediatric Psychologist and Dean, The Chicago School |
| Rebecca O. Bagley, President & CEO, The Kennedy Forum |
| Youth and young adults are increasingly at risk of suicidal ideation, and this hits UHNW families particularly hard. We’ll talk about the causes and symptoms – some that are counter intuitive. |
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| 10:35 – 11:05 AM | Coffee Break |
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| 11:05 – 11:25 AM | Technology Entrepreneurship in Chicago: The Founders Driving Tomorrow’s Economic Growth |
| Sam Yagan, CEO, Fifth Star Inc – Moderator |
| Brooke Skinner Ricketts, President & Co-Founder, Beyond Barriers; Growth Generator; DE&I Warrior |
| Mark Lawrence, Founder, SpotHero |
| Andy Dunn, Entrepreneur, Author & Investor |
| Manish Singh, Co-Founder & CEO, memQ |
| Chicago has long paled in comparison to the coasts’ entrepreneurial hubs, with fewer successful companies and less institutional capital available. Some of Chicago’s most impressive founders will share their views of the future and how local families can engage, support, and profit from the increasing importance of technology to our economy. |
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| 11:25 – 11:35 AM | Rethinking Your Approach to Insurance |
| Prabal Lakhanpal, Senior Vice President , Spring Consulting Group |
| This Presentation Will Focus on how family offices can change the way they look at insurance purchasing and create efficiencies for every facet of insurance buying. This strategy not only allows organizations to come together but completely changes the dynamic of insurance transactions in favor of the insureds. |
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| 11:35 – 11:45 AM | A New Standard of Care in the Deadly Disease of Colorectal Cancer |
| Jonathan Northrup, CEO, Stingray Therapeutics Inc. |
| If you are diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer, you odds are 87% dead in 5 years from this disease. We are starting a phase 1-2 clinical trial to show that these odds can dramatically be improved with a new regimen in immune oncology utilizing our new drug. Enthusiasm for this trial is amazing, and we have received $14M non-dilutive to support it. We are looking for investors touched by colorectal cancer to help us support this effort to dramatically change the standard of care in colorectal cancer. |
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| 11:45 – 11:55 AM | A Score to Settle – Behind the Scenes with Credit Bureau 2.0 and its Award Winning, ESG-Forward Mission that Rights a $Multi-Trillion Wrong |
| Evan Chrapko, CPA, CA, JD, Founder, Chairman & CEO, Trust Science |
| This lecture will cover “credit invisibles” or “hidden prime” borrowers. These borrowers suffer under-banking or outright financial exclusion. The $multi-billion, established credit scoring industry does not have incentives to address inclusivity, and Trust Science® is now disrupting this industry. This creates very real, very human opportunities for marginalized people to join the modern economy. |
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| 11:55 – 12:15 PM | Nocor |
| Phil Neuman, Founder, Nocor |
| Please join serial entrepreneur Phil Neuman as he introduces his new fund NOCOR which excels in strategically acquiring and liquidating premium “non-correlated” assets like fine art, wine, and luxury watches, among other unique investments. The fund is currently seeking investment through a private placement of short-term to long-term notes, offering extremely competitive rates and terms that adapt to market conditions. |
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| 12:15 – 12:35 PM | The Sun That Rises Also Sets |
| Suzanne L. Shier, Of Counsel, Trusts & Estates, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC |
| Steven L. Kriz, Partner, Trusts & Estates, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC |
| The December 31, 2025, sunset of many of the provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act which impacts private clients is quickly approaching. Who will the sunset affect and how will it affect them? What can we do to navigate the uncertainty of the 2024 election year and the simultaneous rollout of the Corporate Transparency Act, followed by the anticipated reversion to lower gift, estate, and generation-skipping transfer tax exclusions and shifts in tax rates and deductions for individuals and businesses? This presentation will provide practical insights and strategies in advising clients and managing practices in the upcoming season of transition. |
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| 12:35 – 12:55 PM | Strategic Alliances and Defense: Eric Lynn’s Pentagon Insights |
| Eric Lynn, Former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense; CEO, 1949 Capital |
| Eric Lynn, former Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Defense, discusses his role in shaping U.S. – Middle East policies and the U.S. Defense relationships in the region, including the US-Israel Defense relationship. He will highlight the cooperative success of Joint Counter-Missile systems and the development of the Iron Dome. |
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| 12:55 – 01:55 PM | Lunch |
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| 01:55 – 02:00 PM | Introduction to the Family Office Circle |
| Denny Chared, Founder & CEO |
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| 02:00 – 02:10 PM | Betr: Disrupting Legacy Sports Gaming & Media |
| Joey Levy, Founder & CEO, Betr Holdings Inc. |
| An overview presentation on Betr, a sports gaming and media company that aims to enhance the consumption of sports. Betr Gaming is solving the problem with the traditional sports betting industry today – complex and intimidating user interfaces – by creating a unique, simplified UI and UX that caters to the casual sports fans that represent 95% of the addressable market. Betr Media has quickly become one of the largest sports media brands in the U.S. and has developed strong brand awareness and affinity through original content, giving Betr Gaming an unfair customer acquisition advantage. |
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| 02:10 – 02:20 PM | Flex Super App |
| Zaid Rahman, CEO & Co-Founder, Flexbase Technologies, Inc. |
| Flex is a finance platform for business owners — reimagining every single aspect of the financial workflow and financial services for any entrepreneur. |
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| 02:20 – 02:40 PM | Health, Wellness & Longevity: the Environment & Human Health |
| Stewart Flink, Investor, Author & Consultant – Moderator |
| Dr. James Gawenis, CEO & Founder, Evolution Hydrogen Group, LLC and Co-Founder, Sweetwater Labs |
| Thomas H. Nodine, Founder & CEO, Human Life Expectancy, Inc. |
| This discussion will be focused on green hydrogen, scarcity of clean freshwater, and the science of epigenetics, and how these three topics intersect to create an end solution to the environment and raise the bar for longevity. |
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| 02:40 – 03:00 PM | How to Create a Family Legacy with Sustainable Values |
| Ronald S. Diamond, Chairman & CEO, Diamond Wealth; Family Office & Chicago Chair, TIGER 21 – Moderator |
| Aaron Rudberg, Entrepreneur & Institutional Investor |
| Michael E. Flannery, Senior Advisor, Duchossois Capital Management |
| Dr. Matt Allen, John L. Ward Clinical Professor of Family Enterprise; Executive Director, John L Ward Center for Family Enterprises |
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| 03:00 – 03:20 PM | The Clock is Ticking – How One Family Office is Planning for Tax Law Changes |
| Robert A. Romanoff, Past Managing Partner, Levenfeld Pearlstein LLC – Moderator |
| Gillian Nagler, Vice President, Trust Services, Briar Hall LLC |
| Family offices have less than 19 months to develop, design and implement strategies to respond to scheduled changes in the federal income and transfer tax laws. Many family offices have not yet developed an action plan and may end up missing opportunities to implement tax planning strategies that align with their clients’ goals and objectives. This fireside chat will focus on steps being taken by one of Chicago’s legacy family offices to not be left flat-footed. |
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| 03:20 – 03:40 PM | Coffee Break |
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| 03:40 – 04:00 PM | Building Your Family Office through Active Leadership and Advising |
| David Homan, CEO, Orchestrated Connecting – Moderator |
| Tyler Wanke, MD,MBA,MEM/MSDI, Investor, Entrepreneur & Professor |
| Daniel Schmidt, Co-Owner & Chief Strategy Officer, Demand IQ |
| Adam Heller, Managing Partner, Oakwood Circle Ventures |
| Next/generation leaders face the challenge of maintaining and expanding the legacy of their family while innovating with new investments and areas of focus. Join us to discuss the passions of active allocators as they not only innovate but also step in the lead, advise, and build networks around their portfolios in life sciences, energy, and health. |
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| 04:00 – 04:20 PM | Pursuing Harmony Inside and Outside of the Family Business |
| Dean Michael Behnam, Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago – Moderator |
| Jessica Ashley Garmon, COO & Chief General Counsel, The Will Group |
| Matt Nielsen, Managing Director Europe, Nielsen-Massey Vanillas |
| Mary Buddig, Real Estate Attorney |
| How can we strengthen our family system so that those working inside and outside the business feel included? Join us to hear how the panelists’ families came together to share resources (tax/legal/estate planning) while moving toward a more streamlined model for the future. Together, we’ll talk about the role family education and generational transition play and how families can move toward clarity and consensus (or at least address conflict!). |
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| 04:20 – 04:40 PM | Empowering Lives and Inspiring Change: A Dynamic Alliance |
| Ankita Narula, Vice President, Akshaya Patra USA – Moderator |
| Nita Sardana, VP Community Outreach & Corporate Giving, Innova Solutions; Chief Impact Officer, Innova Foundation |
| Shivani Sardana Vohra, Co-founder, The Innova Foundation; Group VP of Business Finance in Talent Solutions, Innova Solutions |
| Experience the transformative impact of the dynamic alliance between the Innova Foundation and Akshaya Patra. With a focus on collaborative philanthropy, innovative technology, and sustainable solutions, this partnership is dedicated to addressing global challenges such as hunger and poverty. Through joint efforts, the Innova Foundation and Akshaya Patra aim to create a brighter, more equitable future for communities worldwide. Join us in making a meaningful impact and fostering positive change on a global scale. |
