February 2019 Corporate Executive Breakfast (See Attendance Requirements): Colorado M&A Markets Remain Strong, but will this Change?

Gino is a corporate finance attorney who specializes in middle market M&A/Private Equity transactions. Gino has acted as lead partner or primary transaction attorney on middle market or lower middle market transactions with aggregate transaction value in excess of $5 billion. He makes it a point to understand his client's top priorities in these transactions and, as a strategic partner, provides legal guidance grounded in business realities. Gino has advised clients and completed transactions in a variety of industries, with significant experience with consumer products, software and technology, healthcare, cable and telecommunications, financial services and manufacturing operation.

In addition to M&A transactions, Gino assists a number of companies with a variety of corporate matters including joint ventures, debt facilities, equity issuances, labor and employment matters, equity incentive arrangements and intellectual property matters. Gino previously served as chair of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck's Corporate & Business Department. Prior to joining Brownstein, Gino was a partner at Holme Roberts & Owen LLP.

Rob is a financial executive and entrepreneur with over 20 years of business experience. Since 2005, he has served as the Founding Partner at CREO Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm focused on the food space. Since its founding, CREO has closed on over 20 investments in the food and consumer industry and is currently investing out of its fourth dedicated fund.

In conjunction with CREO’s ownership of Flagship Food Group, a diversified food company, Rob served as CEO of Flagship from 2012 to 2018. Today, he remains executive chairman of the board, and oversees the strategic development of the business, is involved in key facets of product
development and marketing, and leads the company’s M&A efforts. During his tenure as CEO, Flagship doubled in size, having expanded operations from one to five production facilities and having gained exposure to international markets, including Europe. Under his leadership, Flagship’s 505 Southwestern® brand has become the country’s fastest growing nationally-distributed Hispanic food brand.

Eric is a co-founder and partner of Bow River Capital Partners responsible for leading investment transactions. Prior to forming Bow River Capital Partners, he worked with Mr. Richardson at B.E. Richardson Investments, where he was involved in the due diligence, financial analysis, and structuring of numerous operating company and real estate investment transactions, including the reorganization of a portfolio company into a publicly listed real estate investment trust.

Eric is the current Chairman of Ely and Associates Corp. and the former Chairman of Peak Power Engineering and AUC Holdings Corp. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for Junior Achievement Rocky Mountain, and formerly served on the boards of Denver Academy (Treasurer), and Leaders Challenge (Treasurer). Eric earned a B.S. in accounting at the University of Colorado Boulder and is a certified public accountant (inactive) in the state of Colorado.

Tony has more than 25 years of financial advisory services experience, including having managed investment & commercial banking transactions totaling over $4.0 billion. He has experience in a number of industries, including M&D, food & beverage, technology, telecom, media, retail, hospitality, construction, real estate, healthcare & insurance. Tony is a FINRA Registered Representative in Series 7, Series 24 and Series 63. He received his B.S. in marketing from Fairfield University, his MBA from Regis University and a Certificate Program for Advanced Study in Business – Corporate Finance ­ from Fordham University.