ACG Chicago

What a Year It’s Been for ACG Chicago! As we wrap up an incredible year, we reflect on the impact we’ve made and the connections we’ve built. In 2024, ACG Chicago hosted 𝟐𝟗 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 that brought together over 𝟑,𝟓𝟎𝟎 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐞𝐬, powered by the passion and dedication of 𝟏𝟏 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎𝟎 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐬. From insightful panels to engaging networking opportunities, it’s been a year of growth, collaboration, and success. But the numbers only tell part of the story. It’s the connections we’ve made—across industries, business leaders, and M&A professionals—that truly define this year’s success. We’re already gearing up for an even bigger and better 2025. Check out our 2025 calendar of events and stay connected with us as we continue to empower businesses and foster relationships. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/gqHThwih Thank you to everyone who made this year amazing including our Chapter Sponsors! Platinum - Seyfarth Shaw LLP and Wipfli. Gold - Ascend Technologies, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen), Cohen & Co., CohnReznick LLP, Forvis Mazars, Hilco Global, Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC, Plante Moran, Polsinelli and Strategex . Silver - Armanino, Balmoral Advisors, BDO, Blank Rome LLP and Chartwell Financial Advisory, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, Houlihan Capital, Much Shelist, P.C., Sikich, and Ultimus LeverPoint Private Fund Solutions. #ACGChicago #BusinessGrowth #Networking

Celebrating the Success of the ACG Chicago Women’s Network! This year, the ACG Chicago Women’s Network hosted several successful breakfast meetups, thanks to the generosity of our amazing hosts. These intimate gatherings provided a welcoming space for our female members to connect, share experiences, and build meaningful relationships. A special thanks to our Women’s Network Chair, Amy Carnahan, for her outstanding leadership in organizing these events, Chie Nicholson and the rest of the Women's Network Committee, our guest speaker, Marianna Swallow, and of course to our generous 2024 hosts: Holland & Knight LLP RubinBrown LLP Cohen & Co L.E.K. Consulting Plante Moran Because of this year’s success, we’re excited to announce a new Women’s Network Sponsorship Opportunity for 2025! 📌 What’s Included: ✅ Host 4 breakfasts throughout the year ✅ Receive brand visibility at one spotlight event ✅ Logo placement on the ACG Chicago website Join us in fostering community, visibility, and meaningful engagement among women in the dealmaking community. 👉 For sponsorship details, reach out to sponsorships@acgchicago.org. Let’s continue building connections that matter! #ACGChicago #WomensNetwork #Community #Sponsorship

Unlock Targeted Exposure and High-Value Connections with an ACG Chicago Chapter Sponsorship! https://lnkd.in/ghT47gVs As a sponsor, you’ll gain exclusive access to a network of industry leaders and decision-makers, all while boosting your visibility in a cost-effective way. What sets our Chapter Sponsorships apart is the flexibility they offer—direct your sponsorship dollars to the events that matter most to your business. With 28 events throughout the year, you can choose the branding opportunities that align with your goals and maximize your impact. Don’t miss out on the chance to showcase your brand where it counts! 🔗 Explore sponsorship opportunities here: https://lnkd.in/ghT47gVs #ACG #ACGChicago #CorporateSponsorship

🍂 Happy Thanksgiving from ACG Chicago! 🍂 This season, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to the heart of our organization – 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬. Your engagement, dedication, and commitment to the M&A community are what make ACG Chicago such a vibrant and thriving network. A special thank you to our 𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐞 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬 who work tirelessly to curate exceptional programming and bring meaningful opportunities for connection and growth. Your leadership and passion make all the difference. We also want to extend our appreciation to 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬, whose generous support allows us to deliver the high-quality events, insights, and resources that fuel our community. Thank you for being a part of our journey. We look forward to continuing to grow, connect, and thrive together in the year ahead. Wishing you all a joyful and restful Thanksgiving!

🍷 A Taste of Napa on the 80th Floor of Willis Tower! 🍷 What an incredible evening celebrating the holiday season at our 2nd Annual Wine Tasting! A huge thank you to everyone who joined us to explore over 30 wine varietals and toast to the season with the best views of Chicago from the 80th floor of the Willis Tower. Thank you to Seyfarth Shaw LLP, who hosted the event in their stunning offices. We also appreciate all the sponsors who curated and served the wines that made this event unforgettable! A special hank you to all our sponsors: Balmoral Advisors Blank Rome LLP CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) Cohen & Company CohnReznick LLP Dinsmore & Shohl LLP Huron Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC Orrington Plaza - Evanston Paylocity Polsinelli RKON Seyfarth Shaw LLP Strategex Wipfli Miss this one? Stay up to date on our calendar of events: https://lnkd.in/g9FfCNr3 # ACG #ACGChicago #Networking

Congratulations Helana Robbins Huddleston CPA, CIRA, MBA! We're thrilled to see you continue to excel and inspire others. Grateful to have exceptional leaders like you!

The Winds of M&A Are Shifting – Insights from the Midwest Capital Connection    At ACG Chicago’s 25th Annual Midwest Capital Connection, industry leaders gathered to discuss the current state and future of the M&A market, shedding light on the evolving landscape and what’s ahead for 2025.    Key takeaways from the panels:   Deal Volume & Momentum: According to Becca Schlagenhauf, Principal at Baird Capital, the market has seen a recent uptick, with multiple new opportunities under letter of intent, signaling a resurgence in dealmaking.   The Role of Earnouts: Michael Norton of Houlihan Capital highlighted that 80% of deals now involve some form of contingent consideration, and the increasing complexity of earnouts is reshaping how buyers and sellers approach transactions.   Artificial Intelligence in 2025: Jason Molesworth of Accelerated Innovation Group forecasted that #AI will play a pivotal role in driving top-line growth and business valuation, with AI becoming a key driver for businesses that deploy it strategically.   Other insights included discussions on the pressure for #PrivateEquity firms to deploy capital, as well as predictions for a more active 2025 as businesses seek new ways to monetize, innovate, and thrive in an evolving market. Special thanks to Germaine Harris for organizing the panels, our panelsts and to Ascend Technologies for sponsoring the panels.

Recap! ACG Chicago’s Fall M&D Symposium: Family Business & Investment Priorities in M&A Thank you to our sponsor Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners and everyone who joined us for an insightful afternoon discussing the nuances of managing transactions in family-owned versus private equity-owned businesses. Hosted by the ACG Chicago Manufacturing and Distribution Committee, this session provided valuable perspectives from industry leaders. Key Speakers Included: • Jude Rake, JDR Growth Partners, LLC • Cathy Carroll, MBA, PCC, Legacy Onward, Inc. . • Jim Parmelee, Hamilton Robinson Capital Partners • Helana Robbins Huddleston CPA, CIRA, MBA, CohnReznick LLP • Omar Diaz, Balmoral Advisors • Charlie Denison, Shorehill Capital LLC • Jay Winkler, Brave Lion Group • Justin Norman, Alcrete • Barnet Rogers, RFO Securities We appreciate your insights and expertise in navigating these critical areas of M&A strategy. 📅 Save the date for our upcoming events and continue to expand your industry knowledge. https://lnkd.in/g9FfCNr3 #ACGChicago #FamilyBusiness #PrivateEquity

What an incredible experience at the 𝟐𝟓𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐝𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧! A huge thank you to our Experience Sponsors who helped elevate the event, from networking sessions to memorable receptions. We couldn’t have done it without your support! From closing cocktails to custom lanyards, coffee breaks, and more—𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐧: Shoe Shine and Time Clock Sponsor: Wipfli  Coffee Sponsor: Houlihan Capital Lanyard Sponsor: Fundamental Income Whiskey Bar at Opening Reception: CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen)  Charging Station: Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC Lunch Sponsor: Trivest Partners  Notepads Sponsor: Stout  Pens Sponsor: Balmoral Advisors  Lounge Sponsor: Ankura Content Sponsor: Ascend Technologies  Closing Cocktail Reception Sponsors: Blank Rome LLP, CohnReznick LLP, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP We appreciate your continued partnership and dedication to making this event a success. Looking forward to the next one! Missed out on this year’s event? Be sure to stay connected for more ACG Chicago opportunities: https://lnkd.in/g9FfCNr3 #ACGChicago #MidwestCapitalConnection #Networking #CorporateGrowth

❄️ Join Us for ACG Chicago’s Holiday Party! ❄️ Celebrate the season with us at our 2nd Annual Holiday Wine Tasting! Mingle with colleagues, make new connections, and toast to a successful year—all while enjoying the best views of Chicago. This is your chance to relax, network, and kick off the holiday season with friends across the deal-making community! The event is open to investment bankers, private equity professionals and members only. Special thanks to our wine sponsors: Balmoral Advisors Blank Rome LLP CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) Cohen & Company CohnReznick LLP Dinsmore & Shohl LLP Huron Levenfeld Pearlstein, LLC The Orrington Plaza Paylocity Polsinelli RKON Seyfarth Shaw LLP Strategex Wipfli November 19, 2024 | 5:00 PM - 7:30 PM 233 S Wacker Dr, Chicago, IL 60606 🎟️ Reserve your spot now and make this holiday season one to remember! https://lnkd.in/ergvXnYc #ACG #ACGChicago #Networking