Chauffeur Driven Media Vault - 2019 Austin Retreat

M&A Day, Part #2: The Nuts & Bolts of Making It Happen

Part two of our M&A content will dive deep into valuating your business and the most common obstacles many face during a buy-out. Ask any operator experienced in M&A to describe the single biggest headache they experience during a negotiation, and they will more than likely say it’s an overly inflated valuation by the seller. During this session, our speakers will tell you how to gauge a fair determination of a business’ worth in its current market, so that when it comes time to sell, you’ll have a smooth transaction that’s beneficial to both parties.

Overview: These sessions will cover the all-important topic of valuating your business and the economic and legal hurdles faced during a buy-out. We have an all-star panel of experts with recent experience in M&A, including leading business consultant Andi Gray of Strategy Leaders, attorneys Marlene Bartolo from the Bartolo Law Group and Drew Morris from Nachmias Morris & Alt, as well as firsthand experience from industry insiders like Leros Point to Point COO Michael Basso, Windy City Limousine & Bus CEO George Jacobs, and Broadway Elite Worldwide President & COO Jason Sharenow. You will leave these sessions with a full understanding of the ins and outs of M&A.


M&A Day, Part #1: Getting Prepared for the Deal

It’s no secret that luxury ground transportation as we know it is shrinking, due both to natural attrition and the competition from disruptors. And with many in the industry aging, it’s high time that operators of all stages in life give serious thought to preparing an exit strategy. With these trends in mind, we’ve devoted our Tuesday education segments to the increasingly relevant topic of mergers & acquisitions. Our morning session will provide insight as to why you should be looking to sell as well as all the necessary preparation required and the pitfalls to avoid. Regardless of whether you’re years or even decades away from exiting the biz, this session will offer a valuable roadmap of where the industry is going, and some of the roadblocks you can avoid along the way.

Overview: These sessions will cover the all-important topic of valuating your business and the economic and legal hurdles faced during a buy-out. We have an all-star panel of experts with recent experience in M&A, including leading business consultant Andi Gray of Strategy Leaders, attorneys Marlene Bartolo from the Bartolo Law Group and Drew Morris from Nachmias Morris & Alt, as well as firsthand experience from industry insiders like Leros Point to Point COO Michael Basso, Windy City Limousine & Bus CEO George Jacobs, and Broadway Elite Worldwide President & COO Jason Sharenow. You will leave these sessions with a full understanding of the ins and outs of M&A.


Reading the Signs to Be a Better Negotiator

Believe it or not, being an effectual business negotiator requires skills that owe more to Sherlock Holmes than, say, Dale Carnegie. The ability to interpret the mannerisms, tone of voice, or involuntary personal tics of an associate or sales prospect will help you gain the upper hand in managing employees and finalizing a deal in your favor. This session will help you identify what cues to read and what to ignore when working with clients, vendors, affiliates, and employees. The presentation will show how to use these “detective” skills to better read people during face-to-face conversations, email, and phone calls, and also provide you with the lowdown on understanding your own emotional intelligence. Are you as emotionally intelligent as you think or do you need to change your approach when reading other people?

Presented by: Dr. Jennifer Beer, award-winning professor at the University of Texas


Lead Smarter By Letting Go

As a business grows, it becomes increasingly difficult for an owner/operator to effectively focus on growth while juggling the many day-to-day responsibilities of a luxury ground transportation company. This session will equip you to be a more effective and efficient leader and give you tools to build a smarter and more-engaged team around you. By being deliberate about where you spend your time and energy, you can develop your team to be more engaged, entrusted, and accountable for the results your business needs today and in the future. Leading smarter by letting go requires you to know WHY you must let go, WHAT you must let go of, WHO you must let go to, and WHEN the right time to let go is. By the end of this session, you will have the answers to all four questions for your own business.

Presented by: Dean Ash, Co-Founder of 360 Consulting and Jolynda Ash, SVP of Human Resources for Gold’s Gym