Solve your firm's biggest problems
The Private Funds CFO Network’s Chicago Roundup on June 6 is a one-of-a-kind event designed to solve your most pressing problems.
The Roundup will connect you with senior finance and operations executives for intimate roundtable discussions that will provide actionable outcomes for your firm. Attendees can exchange ideas and gain actionable advice to ensure they are prepared for upcoming regulations and trends.
Bring your team of senior executives and save | CPE credits available
Collaborate with peers in conversational sessions
Roundtable discussions
Participate in 30-minute interactive, peer-driven conversations, facilitated by two industry experts, on various topics facing the GP finance and operations communities. Throughout the day, facilitators will rotate tables to ensure all delegates participate in each roundtable discussion.
Interactive panel discussions
More interactive than traditional panel discussions, these sessions start with a 10-minute panel discussion followed by a 20-minute interactive Q&A session where attendees can interact with each other and directly voice their thoughts on some of the most pressing topics.
Closed-door think tanks
Designed to facilitate candid discussions, these closed-door sessions target the issues and challenges impacting firms. Attendees can benchmark ideas and share best practices to help you gain solutions for common concerns facing your office.
2024 agenda highlights
This year’s agenda was built through consultation with influential finance and operations leaders in private equity and venture capital. The topics covered provide relevant information to impact processes and practices within firms, such as:
- Examining and navigating the responsibilities of the CFO
- Adhering to the current compliance and regulatory environments
- Adopting innovative and efficient technologies
- Addressing the complexities of carried interest
- Managing firmwide data
- Working and aligning with next-generation talent
- Tackling valuation methods and protocols
- And much more…
This year's advisory board
2023 attendees included:
What our attendees say about CFO Roundups
Jeremy Thurber
Rose Park Advisors
The CFO Roundup was a great opportunity to meet other peers and discuss the relevant topics that are top of mind. This collaborative environment is very helpful…
Scott Farden
Nonantum Capital Partners
Content was strong. The most valuable portion of the event was the time spent with peers. We are able to share challenges and solutions in an effective and thou…
Clara Chang
DCVC
I liked the format of the various breakout sessions which allows delegates and participants to exchange ideas and share best practices in different subject matt…
Jeremy Thurber
Rose Park Advisors
The CFO Roundup was a great opportunity to meet other peers and discuss the relevant topics that are top of mind. This collaborative environment is very helpful so that we can improve the quality of our finance, operations, and compliance functions at our firms.
2024 agenda
Download the latest agenda to get a glimpse of what the Roundup will look like. If you are interested in a speaking role, please contact Nikki Gale at nikki.g@pei.group.
View agenda page
Agenda
Day 1 - Thursday 6th
Breakfast
08:00 - 08:50
Registration & breakfast
08:00 - 08:30
Private Funds CFO Network Membership Breakfast Circles
Aileen Keaney,
Aaron Simkovich,
Joshua Cherry-Seto
Delegates will enjoy pre-conference breakfast meetings based on membership circle involvement.
Women
Facilitator:
Aileen Keaney, Chief Financial Officer, Ethos Capital
Emerging Managers
Facilitator:
Aaron Simkovich, Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer, Maranon Capital, L.P.
Venture Capital
Facilitator:
Josh Cherry-Seto, Partner & CFO, StartUp Health
Welcome
08:50 - 09:00
PEI welcome & chairperson's welcome
Blake Bennett
Chairperson:
Blake Bennett, Partner, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Revelstoke Capital Partners
Blake Bennett
Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Revelstoke Capital Partners
Read bio
Keynote panel
09:00 - 09:40
Keynote panel: View from the top: insights from influential private equity CFOs
Blake Bennett,
Monica Kelsey,
Mike Kurlander,
Roy E. Sroka ,
Doug VanDegrift
- How have priorities changed since first stepping into the role?
- CFOs holding a more strategic role in firm-wide initiatives
- Approaching leadership in today’s working environment
- From technical to personal – what skills are valued and required for today’s CFO?
- Modernizing the role: how do CFOs stay ahead of the trends?
- Advice to future leaders: how can junior or mid-level back/middle office staff prepare themselves for the C-suite?
Moderator:
Blake Bennett, Partner, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Revelstoke Capital Partners
Panelists:
Monica Kelsey, Chief Financial Officer, Antares Capital
Mike Kurlander, Partner & Chief Financial Officer, Adams Street Partners
Roy Sroka, Partner, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Wynnchurch Capital
Doug VanDegrift, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Linden Capital Partners
Blake Bennett
Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Revelstoke Capital Partners
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Roy E. Sroka
Partner, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Wynnchurch Capital, LLC
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Doug VanDegrift
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Linden Capital Partners
Read bio
Roundtable discussions
09:45 - 03:15
Roundtable discussions
Julie Bender,
Ryan Castle,
Christy Lukach,
Tracey Hagelin,
Steven King,
Jennifer Naylor,
Stephen Coats,
Peter Haskopoulos,
Shanna Otto,
James Kwan,
Brad West,
Karla Lombardi, CPA,
Bradley Smith,
Shari Huisman,
Derek Shanahan,
Gladys Cordova,
Jesse Cole
Roundtable 1 | Tackling cyber risks in private markets
- Remaining proactive as new risks and attack methods arise
- What are actionable steps firms can take?
- Tailoring training programs and policies to be in line with current threats
- Portfolio company prominence: top concerns regarding the level of transparency and lack of visibility between GPs and their investments
- Insurance inquires
- Types of cyber insurance and coverage plans to best protect firms
- What should firms spend on acquiring an acceptable level of cyber insurance?
Facilitators:
Julie Bender, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Frontenac
Ryan Castle, CEO & Founder, Conduit Security
Roundtable 2 | Adhering to an intense compliance landscape
- Undertaking current regulatory priorities
- New Private Funds Rules
- How are firms updating their reporting cycles?
- Off-channel communication obstacles: how are firms approaching this?
- A culture of compliance: building a proper compliance program to match your firm criteria (i.e., AUM, strategy and years of operation)
- Is the multititle (CFO/CCO) professional here to stay?
- Utilizing outside counsel and other types of providers to support the uptick in regulatory work
Facilitator:
Christy Lukach, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Brightstar Capital Partners
Roundtable 3 | How are innovative technologies shaping the industry?
- Adopting AI
- Is there enough of a roadmap for successful implementation?
- What is artificial intelligence currently being used for in the back/middle offices?
- Buy-in beliefs: showcasing the value and need for modern tools to across the firm
- Ensuring you have successful processes and appropriate measures in place before introducing new or advanced tools (i.e., data collection, information sharing, internal procedures, and exhausting your existing tools)
- Challenges with embracing and sourcing integrated or multi-purpose solutions
- Ensuring that your programs and applications enhance one another
Facilitators:
Tracey Hagelin, Senior Sales Director, Hazeltree
Steven King, US Director of Client Success, Hazeltree
Jennifer Naylor, Chief Financial Officer, Sandbox Industries
Roundtable 4 | Adapting to an everchanging workforce
- Setting expectations between senior and junior staff
- Ongoing challenges with hybrid/remote working models as newer generations have greater presence
- Aligning job functions and employee growth to reduce attrition for the back and front offices
- Creating loyalty by building operational structures at firms
- Coping with skills gaps between various generations and teams
- Succession planning: how is leadership ensuring that their firms are going to be left in the best hands?
- Balancing the allocation of internal and external functions
Facilitators:
Stephen Coats, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Petra Funds Group
Peter Haskopoulos, Co-Founder & Managing Partner, Petra Funds Group
Shanna Otto, Chief Financial Officer, Promus Holdings
Roundtable 5 | Reshaping data management and reporting practices
- Determining the best methods for storage and reporting for the firm
- Ensuring data is viable in order to obtain reliable information
- Ongoing efforts to collect data for more detailed levels of reporting (i.e., ESG KPIs and key metrics from individual portfolio companies)
- Template temptation
- Are reporting templates helpful to GPs?
- With ongoing regulatory concerns, will they need to be revised?
Facilitators:
James Kwan, Director, Commercial Strategy for
Software Solutions, S&P Global Market
Intelligence
Brad West, Partner, Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel, Pritzker Private Capital
Roundtable 6 | Unmasking the intricacies of carried interest
- Broaching regulatory and tax concerns?
- Setting up a fair and equitable carry program (fund level or deal by deal)
- Finding the best allocation methods (i.e., American vs. European waterfall)
- Determining eligibility for employee participation
- Breaking down various vesting structures
- Utilizing waivers across ownership pools
- Communicating carried interest to employees
- Is carried interest a necessary compensation incentive for younger talent?
Facilitator:
Karla Lombardi, Controller, InCommercial
Bradley Smith, Tax Director, Pritzker
Roundtable 7 | Readying your firm for fundraising
- Adapting to a newer fundraising timeline
- What resources need to be applied?
- Demonstrating their advantages and potential outcomes to the greater team and LPs
- Implementing new fund types and cash sources as the market evolves
- Demonstrating their advantages and potential outcomes to the greater team and LPs
- Working in tandem with your IR team
- How do finance and operations teams continue to add value to the fundraising process?
- Working in tandem with your IR team
Facilitators:
Shari Huisman , Senior Director, Chief Accounting Officer, Thoma Bravo
Derek Shanahan, Director of Strategic
Partnerships, Juniper Square
Roundtable 8 | How are CFOs handling valuations in today’s market?
- Managing external factors that influence valuations (SEC, LPs, auditors, etc.)
- Collaborating across various internal teams in order to strive for accuracy and flexibility
- How frequently are firms updating their valuations policies?
- How are firms performing back testing?
- Shaping methodologies to match the current economy
- Are firms enlisting external advisors or performing valuations internally?
Facilitators:
Jesse Cole, SVP – Head of Private Markets Products, State Street
Gladys Cordova, Principal/Chief Financial Officer/Chief Compliance Officer, BPOC
Julie Bender
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Frontenac Company
Read bio
Christy Lukach
Chief Compliance Officer and Managing Director, Finance, Brightstar Capital Partners
Read bio
James Kwan
Director, Commercial Strategy for Private Markets, S&P Global Market Intelligence
Read bio
09:45 - 11:15
Rotations 1-3
Roundtable discussions are 30-minute interactive, peer-driven conversations, facilitated by two industry experts, on various topics facing the GP finance and operations communities. Throughout the day, session facilitators will rotate to different tables to ensure attendees participate in each roundtable discussion.
11:15 - 11:45
Networking Break
11:45 - 13:15
Rotations 4-6
Roundtable discussions are 30-minute interactive, peer-driven conversations, facilitated by two industry experts, on various topics facing the GP finance and operations communities. Throughout the day, session facilitators will rotate to different tables to ensure attendees participate in each roundtable discussion.
13:15 - 14:15
Networking Lunch Break
14:15 - 15:15
Rotations 7-8
Roundtable discussions are 30-minute interactive, peer-driven conversations, facilitated by two industry experts, on various topics facing the GP finance and operations communities. Throughout the day, session facilitators will rotate to different tables to ensure attendees participate in each roundtable discussion.
Interactive panels with peer-to-peer workshops
15:20 - 16:05
Track A | Determining attainable approaches to scaling firms
Matt Schick,
LeAnn Kilarski,
Steve Mlynar,
Matt Norris
More interactive than traditional panel discussions, these sessions start with a 20-minute panel discussion followed by a 25-minute interactive Q&A session where attendees can interact with each other and directly voice their thoughts on some of the most pressing topics.
- Exploring the CFO’s role in firm-wide growth
- The importance for team-wide collaboration and sharing as firms expand
- Leveraging in-house data as a tool for expansion
- Considerations for growth based on various parameters (number of funds, AUM, strategies, industries, etc.)
- Approaches to structuring teams for expansion
- Building the best technology stack to carry firms forward
Moderator:
Matt Shick, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Entrepreneurial Equity Partners
Panelists:
LeAnn Kilarski, Chief Operating Officer, Entrepreneurial Equity Partners
Steve Mlynar, Chief Financial Officer, Stonepeak
Matt Norris, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, The Edgewater Funds
15:20 - 16:05
Track B | Fortifying relationships with LPs post-fundraise
Kyle Thomas,
John Hamilton,
Marcy Marshall,
Isaac Strulowitz
More interactive than traditional panel discussions, these sessions start with a 20-minute panel discussion followed by a 25-minute interactive Q&A session where attendees can interact with each other and directly voice their thoughts on some of the most pressing topics.
- The increase of LP communication for finance and operations teams
- How are teams responding to evolving requests and needs of their investors while simultaneously attending to other tasks?
- Conveying ongoing fiduciary responsibilities to your investors (i.e., reporting and due diligence) from the back/middle office
- What are firms doing to increase levels of touchpoints (formally and informally)?
- Developing more formalized approaches and tactics to working with investors across the firm
- Using services/programs like aggregation services to assist firms with maintaining existing relationships
Moderator:
Kyle Thomas, Chief Financial Officer, Prospect
Partners
Panelists:
John Hamilton, Chief Operating Officer, Turning Rock Partners
Marcy Marshall, Chief Financial Officer, Arboretum Ventures
Isaac Strulowitz, Partner and Chief Financial Officer, CoVenture Management
Networking break
16:05 - 16:20
Networking break
Think Tanks
16:20 - 17:05
Think tank A (GP only) | Examining approaches to outsourcing
MaryJane Pempek
Designed to facilitate candid discussions, these closed-door sessions target the issues and challenges impacting firms. Attendees can benchmark ideas and share best practices to help you gain solutions for common concerns facing your office.
- What services/tasks are taking internal teams and roles the most time?
- Relationship responsibilities
- Developing a good repour with your providers
- Coordinating internal and external priorities
- What does it take to have a successful implementation?
- Overseeing the process of ending relationships with partners and beginning new ones
- Facing regulatory concerns regarding third-party providers?
- Is co-sourcing another optimal solution to assist with back/middle office responsibilities?
Facilitator:
MaryJane Pempek, Partner, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Twin Bridge Capital Partners
16:20 - 17:05
Think Tank B (GP only) | Managing your management company
Andrew W. Petri
Designed to facilitate candid discussions, these closed-door sessions target the issues and challenges impacting firms. Attendees can benchmark ideas and share best practices to help you gain solutions for common concerns facing your office.
- Aligning firm revenue while addressing various expenses
- How are firms getting equity in the door?
- Staying relevant: Implementing newer fund/cash methods (NAV loans/sublines, GP facilities, secondaries fund facilities, etc.)
- Understanding the impacts of fund mechanics and terms
- Paying your employees: how are salaries corresponding to today’s market?
- Budgeting for various services and software as workloads increase
Facilitator:
Andrew Petri, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Pfingsten Partners
Andrew W. Petri
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Pfingsten Partners, L.L.C.
Read bio
End of conference
17:05 - 18:30
Cocktail reception and end of roundup
Pre-Event Resources
Speakers
Contact Nikki Gale nikki.g@pei.group for speaking opportunities in 2024.
Julie Bender
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Frontenac Company
Connect with a community of CFOs, COOs and senior finance executives
The Private Funds CFO conferences enable providers to highlight their unique expertise to private equity’s most influential network of c-suite decision-makers. Sponsorship gives you:
- VIP access
- Thought-leadership opportunities
- High-profile branding
- And much more …
For more information on available sponsorship opportunities please contact Josh Stoller at joshua.s@pei.group.
Where CFOs, COOs and CCOs connect, learn and grow
Drive success through the Network
The Private Funds CFO Network provides senior finance, operations, and compliance professionals in private markets an exclusive hub to connect, learn, and grow year-round.
By joining the Network, you’ll gain access to a community of peers actively seeking solutions to shared challenges, along with our year-round series of networking events, regular peer meetups, and monthly meetings led by industry experts, providing opportunities to earn CPE credits.
Got questions? Our membership team is here to help!
The Roundup is included in the membership, alongside:
Monthly meetings
From risk management to AI and automation, members can catch up on timely topics every month with peers.
Member Circles
Connect with like-minded peers in your field, such as Women, Emerging Managers, Venture Capital and more.
Executive Coaching
The Network offers five free hours of virtual executive coaching with our vetted coaches.
Think Tanks
Extend the in-depth discussion of monthly meetings, or ad-hoc topics need to be discussed.
In-person meetups
Local members gather regularly to catch up and connect.
Earn CPE credits
The Network offers 20+ CPE credits throughout the year.
Current members include:
Over 300 members are actively building valuable relationships and sharing their challenges with peers.
Venue and hotel
JW Marriott Chicago
151 W Adams St,
Chicago, IL 60603
All conference sessions will take place at the JW Marriott Chicago.
We’ve reserved a room block for attendees. Please book your room by Friday, May 24.