Learn How To Successfully Pitch a Business and Meet the Next Generation of San Diego Business Leaders
About the ACG Cup:
The ACG Cup is a case study competition where MBA students from local schools are given an opportunity to present valuation, capital markets and M&A strategic advice to a panel of seasoned professionals within the San Diego ACG community. One team from each school will advance to the regional competition to be held in Los Angeles on February 10, 2010.
Participating Schools:
• University of San Diego, School of Business Administration
• Rady School of Management, University of California, San Diego
• College of Business Administration, San Diego State University
Great Opportunity to:
• Spot your next MBA intern
• Get the inside scoop on how investment bankers pitch a company
• Network with other ACG members
Panel of Judges for the San Diego ACG Cup:
Wade Hansen, Managing Director of Cabrillo Advisors, LLC
Wade founded Cabrillo Advisors, LLC and its predecessor, MHT Partners, in 2001 to serve clients on matters of M&A and business valuations. Cabrillo works with nearly 100 high tech, life science and family owned businesses each year. Wade was previously a founding Principal at Dell Ventures in Austin, Texas, where he coordinated strategic partnerships and equity investments in the software, health care and internet services sectors. Prior to joining Dell Ventures, Wade spent four years with McKinsey & Company, focused on serving clients on "growth through M&A" in the Dallas and Silicon Valley offices. Wade has an MBA with distinction from Northwestern’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business, a BS in Accounting summa cum laude from San Diego State University, and is a licensed CPA.
David Michaels, Founder & Managing Director, SagePoint Advisors
Prior to founding SagePoint Advisors in 2008, David Michaels was a Co-Founder, Partner and Managing Director at Montgomery & Co., a leading investment bank focused on serving emerging-growth technology companies and their venture backers. Mr. Michaels co-founded Montgomery’s investment banking business in 1996 as the lead banker and played an instrumental role in building the business to over $50 million in revenues and 80 employees. Mr. Michaels launched Montgomery’s San Diego office in 2003. Mr. Michaels also ran the firm’s Communications and Digital Media Technology practice areas for several years prior to his departure. Prior to co-founding Montgomery’s investment banking business, Mr. Michaels managed strategic consulting assignments for the firm including market entry analysis, acquisition search studies and strategic portfolio assessments. Prior to joining Montgomery in 1994, Mr. Michaels held various investment banking positions including a position within Bankers Trust Corporate Finance Department, where he helped execute merger and acquisition assignments such as sale mandates and valuation analyses. Prior to that, Mr. Michaels worked as a structural engineer at General Dynamics, where he assisted on the Advanced Tactical Fighter program. Mr. Michaels received an M.B.A. with an emphasis in marketing and entrepreneurship from the Anderson School of Management at UCLA and holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.
Lynn Sommer, Vice President, Houlihan Lokey
Ms. Sommer is a Vice President in Houlihan Lokey’s Los Angeles office. As a member of the Financial Advisory Services business, she focuses on transaction opinions for special committees and boards of directors, as well as on strategic alternative assessments and valuations for public and private companies. Before joining Houlihan Lokey, Ms. Sommer served as a valuation and mergers and acquisitions advisor at PricewaterhouseCoopers in New York and London. Ms. Sommer is a member of the Board of Directors for the Los Angeles chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and the president of the Colgate University Alumni Association of Southern California. Ms. Sommer graduated cum laude with a B.A. in economics from Colgate University and received her M.B.A. in finance and accounting from New York University’s Stern School of Business. She is registered with FINRA as a General Securities Representative (Series 7 and 63).
Chair
Stephen R. LaSala, Corporate Partner at Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP
Mr. LaSala is a partner in the Del Mar office of Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP and has a corporate transactional and general business advisory practice, with emphasis in private financings, public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, securities law compliance, corporate governance and matters relating to the formation and structure of business entities. Mr. LaSala represents companies ranging from newly-formed emerging growth companies to well-established publicly traded companies and private equity firms. Mr. LaSala received his J.D. from Fordham University in 1997 and his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Boston College in 1994.