Value Creation Forum

Previously known as the Operating Partners Forum, join us for an exclusive afternoon of insights and connection designed for operating partners. This event will feature a keynote presentation, panel discussion and one dedicated hour for roundtable discussion. End the day at the Opening Night Reception when all attendees come together for two hours of networking.

AGENDA
Subject to Modifications

2:00 PM - 2:15 PM: Networking & Registration

2:15 PM - 2:20 PM: Welcome & Opening Remarks

2:20 PM - 3:00 PM: Keynote: 12 Is the New 5: Reinventing Value Creation for the New Era of Private Equity

The math of private equity has fundamentally changed. With higher financing costs, less leverage, and limited multiple expansion, delivering attractive returns now requires significantly greater operational performance. Return levels that once required 5% annual EBITDA growth may now demand 12%.

For mid-market private equity firms, this raises the stakes for value creation and puts operating partners at the center of the investment thesis. But winning in this environment requires more than doubling down on the traditional playbook. This session will explore how leading firms are rethinking value creation, from identifying greater upside during diligence and accelerating commercial and operational improvements to harnessing AI and building repeatable capabilities that deliver results across the portfolio. We'll examine what it takes to move from incremental improvement to transformational performance and what operating partners must do differently to win in this new era.

BRIAN

KMET

Senior Partner, Global Head of

PE Portfolio Company Value Creation

Bain & Co.

HANNAH

SCHREAGER

Private Equity

Partnership Manager

Carta

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM: Roundtables

3:45 PM - 4:00 PM: Break

4:00 PM - 4:40 PM: Panel 1: Value Creation Through Technology Modernization

AI is expected to solve the world's problems, but the question is how? Private equity operators are struggling with how to take AI on. This session will address what are the best use cases for AI and how operators can implement the technology to help everyday portfolio companies without breaking the bank. Additionally, this session will discuss what underlying data is needed to make AI do it's work.

DAVE

DEFELICE
Principal and Portfolio

Operations Lead
Stone-Goff Partners

STEVE

LINCOLN
Vice President of

Sales, Mid Market & International
ZoomInfo

LEONARD

NUARA
Founding Partner
Flatiron Law Group

SOUVICK

PAUL
Principal, Technology

and Innovation
Frazier Healthcare

Partners

EMILY

STEEN
AI Solutions Developer
Thrive
Moderator

4:40 PM - 5:20 PM: Panel 2: Winning with Talent: Building Leadership Teams That Drive Returns
Great management teams create great exits. This session examines executive recruiting, incentive compensation, succession planning, organizational design, and how operating partners work alongside CEOs.

JOE

GWOZDZ
Operating Partner
Edison Partners

BENJAMIN

HUMPHREYS
Operating Partner
Monomoy

MARC

JOURLAIT
Operating Partner
The Riverside Company

DAVID
NEIKRUG
CEO
Optimatum Solutions

MATT

WEISS

Partner

Ciridae

Moderator

5:20 PM - 6:00 PM: Panel 3: Choosing the Right Operating Partner for Value Creation

Private equity firms increasingly rely on operating partners to drive value creation across their portfolio, but there is growing debate over what type of operating talent creates the greatest impact. Is the functional specialist who can transform finance, sales, technology, or operations more valuable, or is the seasoned generalist who can work alongside a CEO and influence the broader business strategy? This discussion will explore why firms choose different models, how they determine the right operating partner for a portfolio company, and whether there is a clear winner.