POD, standing for Professionals Opening Doors, is a unique networking initiative designed to help members of ACG SF leverage their membership more effectively. As an exclusive benefit, PODs are small networking groups created with the express intention of helping members establish deeper relationships and refer business.
Here's how a POD works:
- One or two members sponsor the POD.
- 8 to 10 other members join the POD.
- Members meet regularly to build relationships, exchange industry knowledge, and share new business leads.
Over time, as participants find value and develop strong relationships, they branch out into their own PODs. This allows the flow of business to continue and increases the number of potential referral partners.
ACG SF plays a crucial role in this process by providing introductions, structure, and tools for members who wish to create or join a POD. The most successful PODs are those that meet frequently and consistently with the clear intent and purpose of conducting business, sharing leads, and leveraging each other’s contacts and business expertise. Many PODs remain intact for several years to foster greater depth and breadth with each member.
Current Listing of PODs (please contact the POD Lead with questions):
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Asia-Pacific POD: Christina Bui
E: christina@kylan.ventures
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Career POD: Jonathan Hoyt
E: jhoyt@dhrglobal.com
Open to members interested in career growth and leadership development.
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CDO/Strategic Buyer POD: Ryan Kuhn
E: rkuhn@kuhncap.com
Open to corporate development officers (CDOs) or other corporate executives who participate in their company’s strategic planning, initiate M&A transactions, and support post-close target integration.
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Cigar POD: Ed Grenville
E: egrenville@inspirelawgroup.com
For our members who love to connect over a fine cigar.
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Cycling POD: TBD
E: acgsanfrancisco@acg.org
For our cycling enthusiasts who love to connect over a good Bay Area ride.
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Data Privacy/Date Governance POD: Kevin Harrison
E: k4harrison@gmail.com
Data Governance is a key step in becoming a truly Data Informed enterprise. Good data Governance ensures the data used is reliable, valid, complete, timely, available to those with a legitimate need for and authority to access it; while also, protecting confidentiality, security and reducing redundant data collection and storage. This POD will discuss different approaches to Data Governance, and discuss the use of Tools, Processes and People to achieve maximum ROI based on an enterprise's maturity level.
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East Bay Business Development POD: Bob Worthington
E: bworthington@hardestyllc.com
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FinTech POD: Leigh Wasson
E: leigh.wasson@bnymellon.com
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Food & Beverage POD: Sam Dibble
E: sam.dibble@bakerbotts.com
This POD is for company founders, capital sources, industry experts and M&A service providers with expertise in the F&B industry. Members will discuss and share knowledge as to industry trends, challenges and product innovations.
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Golf POD: Dylan Malot
E: dylan.malot@bernstein.com
Members of our Golf POD take turns throughout the year hosting rounds at their clubs around the Bay Area.
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Healthcare POD: TBD
E: acgsanfrancisco@acg.org
Focuses on the employee experience: From employee data, cultural integration and change management, don’t forget the human side of the merger. Helping carve-outs, spinoffs and wholly owned subsidiaries manage the government compliance, benefits and employee relations side of the M&A equation in both the U.S and Internationally.
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Human Capital POD: Candace Morton
E: candace.morton@insperity.com
Focuses on the employee experience: From employee data, cultural integration and change management, don’t forget the human side of the merger. Helping carve-outs, spinoffs and wholly owned subsidiaries manage the government compliance, benefits and employee relations side of the M&A equation in both the U.S and Internationally.
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International POD: Gary Chang / Steven Minchen
E: gary.chang@gmail.com / doitsteve@yahoo.com
Focuses on the International Business relationships in our M&A Community. Members with organizations or clients that do business overseas will most benefit from this POD, and find it to be a great resource.
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MarTech POD: Nicole DeMeo
E: nicole@outfront.solutions
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Ownership Transition POD: Jon Rubens / Terry Hill
E: rubens@mosconelaw.com / THill@bpmcpa.com
A decade of quantitative easing and $Trillions of investable capital have supercharged the environment for Ownership Transitions. If you are a professional with functional expertise in helping shareholders and their companies through sell-side M&A, corporate carve-outs, and public company readiness, we would like to consider you to join the ACG San Francisco Ownership Transition POD.
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Private Equity POD: TBD
E: acgsanfrancisco@acg.org
Members focused on servicing PE firms and their portfolios, with a goal to share market intelligence, what each Member is seeing in their market & trends, as well as sharing ideas and opportunities.
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Ski POD: Dylan Malot
E: dylan.malot@bernstein.com
This POD connects in Tahoe and beyond. If you love to ski and make deals, this is a great POD to join.
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Venture Capital POD: Christina Bui
E: christina@kylan.ventures
Focuses on venture capital, angel investors, and emerging growth companies that are backed by VCs.
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Women in Business (WIB) POD: Sabrina Ritchie
E: acgsanfrancisco@acg.org
Intended to create opportunities for our ACG Women to network, engage and develop both personally and professionally, in an environment that offers opportunities for inclusion, business development and career growth.
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Young ACG: Anthony Hyjer
E: anthony.hyjer@insperity.com
Young ACG is a network for 40 and under for friendship, business development and career growth.
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For more information about PODs, or if you are interested in starting your own, please contact:
Lori Bell
CSuite Financial Partners
Managing Partner - Private Equity
lbell@csuitefp.com
(949) 533-9007