Christen is the Senior Vice President, Client Relationship Development at Durham and Bates Agencies, Inc. An independent, Portland-based insurance brokerage firm, employee-owned with more than 40 Associates. Durham and Bates is honored to partner as an outsourced risk manager to the Northwest’s most admired companies, spanning a wide range of industries.
Christen cultivates and establishes team partnerships with business leaders, and works with companies throughout the year to deliver upon risk management objectives and Durham and Bates value, in accordance with partnership goals. Christen has concentrated her training and education in the practice of employee ownership, open book management and cultural engagement, and has been trained in the Great Game of Business discipline. Christen’s relationships with employee-owned companies both nationally and locally are especially meaningful and profoundly rewarding. She presents regularly to these audiences and loves sharing insights learned from this inspiring community.
Christen currently serves as President of The Association for Corporate Growth, an intimate group of Portland area business leaders who share a commitment to grow their businesses, grow their networks and themselves as leaders. Christen also serves on the Executive Committee of the Northwest ESOP Association; has been three times selected as an Austin Family Business Advisor, through Oregon State University’s Austin Family Business Program, the region’s most trusted educational business learning community serving many of the Northwest’s finest employee-owned companies. Christen has served also served as a member of the Boards of the Morrison Child and Family Services; The Morrison Foundation; The Children’s Cancer Association and currently serves on the Board of Directors for Durham and Bates Agencies, Inc. Bachelor of Arts, University of Rhode Island, 1993.
Brad Gevurtz is a Managing Director in the Investment Banking Group at D.A. Davidson & Co., focused on the technology sector. D.A. Davidson is an 85-year old, full service investment bank with offices in 24 states and 4 European countries and $50 billion in assets under management. Mr. Gevurtz has been with D.A. Davidson since 2005 and during his time with the firm has served as the Head of Investment Banking and as a member of the Board of Directors and of the Public Equity Commitment Committee. Prior to joining D.A. Davidson, Mr. Gevurtz worked for over 20 years on Wall Street as a senior investment banker at JP Morgan Chase, KeyBanc Capital Markets, and Broadview Int'l (now Jefferies).
Mr. Gevurtz has significant experience in M&A, public offerings, and private placements, and has advised some of the largest companies in the world (such as AT&T, GE, IBM, Toyota, and Verizon) on technology transactions. He is a current board member of his regional ACG, an investor in numerous private equity and venture capital funds, a former board member of Thinking Machines Corporation (a pioneer in parallel processing software), and a former member of the valuation committee of OVP Venture Partners. He has spoken at industry conferences and has been quoted in numerous publications about corporate finance and M&A issues.
Mr. Gevurtz has a B.A. with Distinction in Economics from Pomona College, a J.D. from the University of Oregon School of Law, and an M.B.A. with Honors in Finance and Accounting from Columbia University, where he was elected President of the top academic honor society.
Dave is a Shareholder with Geffen Mesher, a Portland based CPA firm been helping companies in the Pacific Northwest find continued success with accounting, tax and advisory services for 85 years. After 15 years in public accounting with a Big 4 firm, Dave started and led two successful consulting firms over the next 14 years before coming aboard. He also served as the VP of Finance and Controller for a rapidly growing manufacturer of technology products. His experience in public accounting, private industry and consulting combine to give him a unique perspective. As a Certified Fraud Examiner, Dave’s forensic accounting expertise helps companies develop stronger internal controls to help prevent and mitigate risks associated with occupational fraud.
LanguageLine Solutions (and its parent company, Teleperformance), is the largest language services company in the world by any measure. As President of LanguageLine’s Translation Division, Scott directs, administers and coordinates the activities of the Company in support of its mission, vision, values, goals, and objectives. He participates in all levels of the business, including development and execution of the strategic plan and supervision of the management team. He also provides direction to the business development, sales, marketing, operations, IT, and accounting departments, and has overall P&L responsibility.
Prior to joining LanguageLine in 2002, he held senior financial positions (CFO, Vice President, and Finance Director) for several large multinationals, including divisions of ConAgra, Inc., Finnforest, Johnson Matthey, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Scott served as PWC’s representative on the staff of the Congressionally-sponsored National Commission of Fraudulent Financial Reporting (the Treadway Commission) during 1986, and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Equal parts left and right brain, Kurt is an outlier in the design industry. Prior to founding Counterform in 2007, he worked in Chicago at a select group of respected design agencies. He has developed and managed a number of print and interactive communication programs that include annual reports, corporate identity programs, integrated marketing campaigns, packaging systems, publications, retail environments, signage systems, websites, and videos for a wide array of businesses, professional service firms, and organizations.
Kurt’s work has been internationally recognized by Graphis, Sappi: Ideas that Matter, Links Publishing, and STEP Inside Design, among others. He graduated from the University of Kansas with a Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication, and believes that smart design is the common thread that connects people and markets.
With his interests split fairly evenly between design and major league baseball, you'll most likely find him in a stadium seat clutching a well-oiled infield mitt, while studying the intricacies of scoreboard typography between innings.
Heidi Pozzo is a leadership and high-performance expert and author of Leading the High-Performing Company. She helps C-suite leaders and boards dramatically increase their organizations’ value. With more than 25 years of strategic, financial, and operational experience in her role as trusted advisor and expert, Heidi has a unique background that allows her to quickly grasp both the strategic and the operational. She helped engineer the turnaround of an $800-million organization, which Deutsche Bank analyst Mark Wilde called “the best turnaround case study we have seen in…25 years.” Portland Business Journal recognized Heidi’s work, naming her “CFO of the Year—Large Company.”
Michelle is a Business Development Executive in the Middle Market banking group serving Oregon and Southwest Washington. She has worked for JPMorgan Chase Bank and its predecessors since 2002. She develops relationships and provides financial solutions for businesses with revenues between $20 million and $500 million.
Prior to her current role, Michelle relocated to the Pacific Northwest from Chicago, IL in 2012 to lead the Treasury Services group where she provided custom cash management solutions to meet her client’s unique needs both domestically and globally.
Michelle’s customers have included manufacturers, distributors, service companies, food products, wood products, retailers and technology companies. Michelle has executed complex financial transactions including multi-bank syndications, asset-based structures, leveraged recapitalizations, working capital and term financing for private, public and private equity backed companies.
Michelle graduated from University of Illinois with a B.S. in Finance. Outside the Bank, Michelle is actively involved with the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
As the Founder and CEO of CFO.University, Steve Rosvold understands that innovative, responsible financial leadership is critical for success in any business today. Whether the goal is to grow exponentially or achieve stable profitability, this core function needs to be handled with intelligence, skill, and unwavering commitment. With over 30 years of experience in the corporate finance world, Steve has honed his ability to drive change, improve profitability, and ensure long-term financial health for businesses. He also operates KRM Business Solutions, a practice that equips companies with the finance knowledge, processes, systems, and tools they need for success. Achievements: CFO.University: • Created a global professional development platform for financial executives based on the Four Pillars of CFO success. • Developed a network of CFO-Centric thought leaders to lead worldwide growth and innovation in the CFO suite. • Improved the careers of thousands of finance executives by providing a CFO framework that builds value in their business and while growing their skills. KRM Business Solutions • Served 100s of clients in interim and part time CFO roles, advisory capacity to Boards/CEOs/CFO and mentor/teaching roles to senior executives. • Advisor to Private Equity and strategic buyers in M&A transactions Cargill • Held leadership roles, including Financial Manager, Administrative Manager, and Senior Financial Officer • Directed logistical, Financial, Accounting, and Risk Management functions for Cargill’s global energy business • Implemented innovative systems and procedures saved the company over $1 million annually ConAgra • CFO for ConAgra Malt, leading all Accounting, Finance, Treasury and Risk Management activities facilitated the creation and implementation of a strategic plan that improved earnings by $20 million between 1999 and 2002 • Secured $175 million in senior debt and $50 million in subordinate debt through global capital markets • Saved the company 25 percent in working capital through refining working Capital Management Systems Steve’s ability to not only manage financial and risk management functions but also creatively seek out solutions to improve profitability ensures clients have cost-effective access to top CFO thinking and best practices. In addition to his role as principle consultant for KRM, Steve is a partner with MR and Associates, LLC. Here, he provides integrated CFO and management services, including strategic planning, risk management, valuation, and more. His expertise and cross-industry experience has made Steve a sought-after speaker. He has guided audiences at Willamette University, Washington State University, Vancouver, Southwest Washington Human Resources Management Association, TKW's Annual Manufacturers Conference and the North Dakota Grain Dealers Association members through often-complex topics with ease, candor, and clarity. An Augsburg College, Minneapolis, graduate, Steve holds a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago. He is active in the community, acting as Executive Director for Southwest Washington Executive Manufacturer’s Forum and Tandem Ride Coordinator for the Washington State School for the Blind.
Lauren is an Executive Director in the Middle Market banking group serving Oregon and Southwest Washington. She has worked for JPMorgan Chase since 2013, and is originally from Eugene, Oregon. She develops relationships and provides financial solutions for businesses with revenues between $20 million and $500 million.
Lauren’s customers include manufacturers, distributors, service companies, food and beverage, wood products, retailers, and heavy duty equipment companies. Prior to her current role, Lauren was part of JPMorgan Chase’s Management Associate Program, a two year management training initiative. She lived in Chicago, New York, and London while completing a series of six-month rotations across the firm’s different business lines.
Before joining JPMorgan Chase, Lauren spent six years expanding access to finance for the poor in Latin America, Asia, and Africa. She worked on mobile phone banking and value chain finance projects for the US Agency for International Development, and also spent a year in Venezuela with a microfinance organization.
Lauren has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Stanford University. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis, backpacking, cooking Ethiopian food, and traveling.
Olivia is a Senior Associate at Chartwell Financial Advisory, Inc. Chartwell is a national leader in financial advisory, corporate finance, transaction opinions, and valuation - serving the unique needs of middle market companies. Olivia has substantial experience with Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and providing independent financial advisory services to ESOP Trustees and other corporate fiduciaries. She also has experience with general corporate planning, shareholder liquidity alternatives, and fairness opinions. Throughout her career, Olivia has worked with a diverse demographic of companies. In particular, she has significant experience valuing companies in the architectural and engineering market. Olivia is an active member of The ESOP Association and is a current board member of ACG's Portland chapter. She is a registered representative with Chartwell affiliate, CCS Transactions, LLC and holds FINRA Series 63 and 79 licenses. Olivia received her Bachelor of Arts degree in finance from the University of St. Thomas. She received an MBA with an emphasis in finance and investments, from the University of St. Thomas Opus College of Business.
Shelley Cooper joined Xenium in October 2010 as a Client Development Manager. Shelley brings to Xenium over 20 years of experience with outstanding companies in Portland, including five years in the staffing/recruitment industry with Boly/Welch and AppleOne, four years managing promotional and partner marketing programs for Hollywood Entertainment, seven years in Marketing and Sales for Willamette Dental Group and three years as a Workers’ Comp auditor with SAIF Corporation.
Shelley holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business with an emphasis in Marketing from Portland State University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, as well as extended family and friends traveling, cooking and rehabbing homes in the Portland area.
As Director of Business Development, Gina Kaveny strives to understand how Geffen Mesher can better serve its clients as a whole. This means taking the time to understand their unique business needs and how the firm’s accountants can serve as advocates and trusted business advisors. Gina has built a robust referral network of lawyers, bankers, lenders and other service providers in order to offer a holistic approach to solving clients’ problems, beyond their tax and accounting needs. She promotes partnerships through educational outreach and collaborative leadership. She is a customer service champion, who embodies “white glove” handling of client accounts and acts as a rapid-response trouble shooter. Gina is actively involved in several associations, including serving on the board of ACG Portland, where she hosts monthly networking happy hours and networking with bankers and financial professionals as a member of the Risk Management Association. As a native Oregonian and Portland business owner, Gina has a personal interest in ensuring that local businesses succeed. She and her husband started an industrial laundry company in 2006 in order to provide more personalized service to an old industry. They operate locally in Beaverton, and have grown the business to employ more than 30 people in the area. She and her husband are “foodies” who enjoying checking out local restaurants after the lines die down.
Nick is a Principal and Account Executive in the Commercial Department for Parker, Smith & Feek in Portland, Oregon. He specializes in working with Pacific Northwest organizations with difficult, high hazard exposures, and has significant experience in placement of insurance programs for both mid-sized and large multinational companies. He has substantial experience negotiating complex contractual insurance requirements, as well as developing and implementing innovative risk management and insurance solutions for clients within the construction, manufacturing, real estate, technology, and food & beverage industries.
Prior to joining Parker, Smith & Feek in August of 2016, Nick spent 14 years working for an international insurance broker in three of their U.S. offices (Seattle, New York, and Portland). Nick studied finance at the University of Washington and is heavily involved in the Portland community. He sits on the Executive Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters Columbia Northwest Chapter (Portland, OR), the Trail Blazers Board of Professionals, and volunteers for DECA, which includes serving as both area and state judges for their high school business/marketing competitions.
