CEO NEXUS CONFERENCE 2026
March 12, 2026 — Lake Mary, FL
Register for the 2026 Conference
The 2026 CEO Nexus Conference includes a full dinner buffet, a keynote presentation and an evening networking opportunity that includes specialty spirits and wine tasting.
Registration Rate is $475 plus 3% ($489.25)
Overview
The 2026 Conference will include a mix of member-driven presentations, panel discussions, business best practices, networking exercises, and select Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). This event is designed to provide new and practical information you can use to move your business forward and enhance your personal growth.
The event will take place at the Lake Mary Events Center on Thursday, March 12 from 9:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Based on member feedback, the 2026 conference will see several changes to better accommodate participants including a return to a Q1 event date, a one-day format, additional networking opportunities to encourage greater engagement among attendees and a new location with more space, improved sound, and convenient parking. We look forward to sharing more information soon.
To view sponsorship opportunities, click here.
To view the Lake Mary Events Center address and floor plan, click here.
To listen to a brief overview of what the 2026 conference will include, click here.
Audio - CEO Nexus 2026 Conference Overview
Agenda
Thursday, March 12, 2026*
| 8:00 AM | Registration | |
| 9:00 AM | Welcome | |
| 9:30 AM | Breakout Session #1 | |
| 10:30 AM | Breakout Session #2 | |
| 11:30 AM | Networking | |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch and Recognition | |
| 12:45 PM | Lunch Panel | “Business Owner’s Playbook” Paul Ma, Lead Portfolio Strategist Fidelity Institutional Asset Management |
| 2:15 PM | Scheduled Break | |
| 2:30 PM | Breakout Session #3 | |
| 3:30 PM | Breakout Session #4 | |
| 4:30 PM | Scheduled Break | |
| 5:00 PM | Dinner and Recognition | |
| 5:45 PM | Dinner Panel | “Applied AI: Real strategies, Real stories, Real results…” Loren Horsager, CEO Model Mind.ai |
| 7:15 PM | Session Recap | |
| 7:30 PM | Networking Under the Stars | Sampling Spirits and Wine on the Veranda – Beer/Bourbon/Specialty Spirits/Whiskey/Wine |
| 9:30 PM | Conference Ends |
Breakout Table Topics
The 2026 conference will address a broad range of business best practices. Each breakout table session will last one hour. Attendees may select one breakout table topic per session for a total of four sessions. Early-bird registrants will have the first opportunity to select their breakout table topics.
The opportunity to select breakout table topics will occur later, upon completion of the registration process. *
- To view the table topic room layout map, click here for floorplan PDF (or click preview image).
- To view the profiles of table topic presenters, see below (click on their name).
LEADERSHIP / MANAGEMENT
Manager Enablement: Turning Accidental Supervisors into Confident Leaders
Paul Cortissoz, CEO / Co-founder, HR Soul
Lauren Arevalo, Orlando Branch Mgr., AppleOne Employment Services
A Cohesive Executive Team: How to Ensure Your Team is Fully Aligned and Engaged
Laura Gallaher, Ph.D., CEO & Founder, Gallaher Edge
Unfolding Potential: Transforming Individual Impact into Team Power
Deb Dixson, Leadership Vision Consulting
The Importance of Performance Rhythms for Thriving Businesses and Thriving Lives
Lauren Hodges, CEO, Performance on Purpose
What Each Generation Expects of Your Business’ involvement in the Community (Gen X, Y, Z)
Mark Brewer, Ph.D., CEO, Central Florida Foundation
FINANCE
Access to Capital: Banking and Finance Options to Fuel the Growth of Your Business
Ralph Betancourt, President & CEO, First Colony Bank of Florida
Sean Filley, Newtek Lending
When Does a Fractional CFO Make Sense and How to Integrate with Existing Accounting Team
Russell Slappey, CEO, and Managing Partner, Nperspective
How to Turn OBBBA (One Big Beautiful Bill Act) Tax Changes into a Competitive Advantage
Geoffrey Gallo, ChFC, CExp, CVBA, Partner, H&CO
Mohamedraza Manji, CPA, Tax Supervisor, H&CO
Internal Controls: Is Your Business Vulnerable to Theft or Misleading Financials?
Christine Noll-Rhan, CPA, Partner, Carr, Riggs & Ingram (Melbourne, FL)
How to Secure Non-dilutive Funding for Development of New Products and Services
Jack Henkel, Florida High tech Corridor
Jennifer McKinley, Program Director, Florida High Tech Corridor
OPERATIONS
Outgrow: A Proven Sales Accountability System for Winning Market Share and Revenue 15-30%
John King, Certified Outgrow Advisor and Expert EOS Implementer, Drive: Leadership and Management Coaching
Running on Facts, Not Feelings: Lessons from The Data Component of EOS /Traction
Dave Riley, Professional EOS Implementer, EOS Worldwide
STRATEGIC PLANNING / RISK MANAGEMENT
The Innovation Track: Why Good Companies Stop Growing—and How to Fix It
Tom O’Neal, Ph.D., Director of I-Corps, Professor, GrowFL Founder, University of Central Florida
Cyber Risk 2026: Trends, Threats, and Insurance Best Practices
Lacy Rex, Cyber Practice Leader, Oswald Companies
TECHNOLOGY
AI Agents: Building a CFO Agent for Your Business
Loren Horsager, CEO, Model Mind AI
Beyond the AI Hype: Building Your Strategic Technology Foundation First
John Ohlwiler, CEO, Sentry Technology Solutions
“Where’s the Leak?” — Finding Hidden IT Costs That Are Draining Your Bottom Line
Matt Rose, Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer, Tech Rage IT
Developing an AI Strategy to Improve Customer Retention and Operations for Your Business
Peter McAlindon, Ph.D., Entrepreneur in Residence, Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business
Jay Liebowitz, Ph.D., Founding Dir., Center for AI-EDGE, Rollins College
A CEO’s Tech Stack for Stress-Free Living
Erich Hanson, Founder & CEO, August Ash
HR / TALENT
The New Age of Outsourcing: How to Adapt to the Changing Labor Landscape
Steve Schad, Founder / CEO, Optima HR Solutions
Compensation Plans That Drive Better Employee Performance and Retention
Joe Raymond, Managing Partner, RVR Consulting Group
Team Building Analytics: Appling Behavioral and Cognitive Insights to Enhance Performance
Dolly Penland, CEO, Business Results
MARKETING / SALES / MEDIA
Navigating the New Normal: Winning Federal and International Contracts in a Complicated World
Brian Mills, Attorney, Maynard Nexsen
Mindi Hertzog, U.S. Commercial Service
How to Use Market Research to Find New Customers
Stephanie Kempton, President, Kempton Research
Tammie Sweet, Executive Director, GrowFL
How to Establish Repeatable and Predictable Sales Processes Key to Scaling a Business
Shannon Muniz, Founder & President, Strategic Sales Management
Customer Profiles: How to Capture and Map What Drives Buyer Behavior
Ken Theriot, CEO, TheRiot Agency
The AI Agent Playbook: How CEOs Build and Deploy Game Changing AI
Kai Isaac, CEO, Naura AI
LEGAL
The True Cost of an Exit: How Adjustments, Taxes, and Buyer Tricks Impact Your Net Price
Doug Starcher, Attorney / Managing Partner, M&A Practice Area, Nelson Mullins Law
Mergers & Acquisitions: Understanding the Elements and Process of a Successful Deal*
William Lowman, President, Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson, P.A.
Julia Dennis, Attorney / Partner, Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson, P.A.
YOUR OWNERSHIP JOURNEY™
The Buyer Showdown: Private Equity vs. Strategic—Which Deal Would You Take?
Christopher Swink, CEPA, SVP/Senior Wealth Management, Northern Trust
Rob Ashcroft, Managing Wealth Advisor, Northern Trust
How AI-Driven Wealth Strategies Help Business Owners Invest, Protect, and Preserve Wealth
Riad Shanawany, President & CEO, Myriad Capital
ESOPs as a Strategic Exit: Advisory Insights and Financing Solutions for Business Owners
Chris Cucci, CCIM, Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy Officer, Climate First Bank
Will Stewart, CEO, PCE Investment Bankers
Business Valuation: The One Number That Changes Everything
Michael Shepardson, Partner, PNP Advisory Services
Living the EOS Life: A CEO’s Perspective
Erich Hanson, Founder & CEO, August Ash
Lunch Panel Presentation
The Business Owners Playbook:
Wealth Management and Planning for a Better Exit and a Lasting Legacy
Keynote
Paul Ma — Fidelity Institutional, a division of Fidelity Investments – Paul is vice president and lead portfolio strategist offering investment insights, strategies, and solutions, as well as trading services to a wide range of wealth management firms and institutional investors. Fidelity Investments is a leading provider of investment management, retirement planning, portfolio guidance, brokerage, benefits outsourcing, and other financial products and services to institutions, financial intermediaries, and individuals. Mr. Ma earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from Harvard University and his Master of Technology and Policy degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He also holds the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) Series 7, 24, and 66 securities licenses and is a CFA® Charterholder.
Panelists
Riad Shanawany, CEO, Myriad Capital – Wealth Management
Regina Rabitaille, Partner, Nelson Mullins – Estate Planning
Michael Shepardson, Partner, PNP Advisory Services – Business Valuation
Moderator
Peter McAlindon, Ph.D., Entrepreneur in Residence, Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business
Dinner Panel Presentation
Applied AI: Real strategies, Real stories, Real results… Finally!
Panel Presentation, Discussion and Q&A
What does it look like when AI actually works inside a second-stage business? In the panel presentation “AI in Action: Turning Strategy into Results for Second-Stage Businesses”, Loren Horsager, CEO of Model Mind AI, sits down with Jay Lebowitz, John Ohwiler, and Mike Deneen to share real strategies and leadership lessons for making AI practical, strategic, and scalable. The panel will demonstrate how AI creates the biggest leverage, how leaders can set direction and build confidence across their teams, and how to avoid the common traps that derail adoption. You’ll leave with practical insights, examples you can borrow, and next steps you can implement immediately.
Panelists
Mike Deneen, Partner, Ingredient – Marketing and Digital Media
Jay Liebowitz, Ph.D., Founding Dir., Center for AI-EDGE, Rollins College – Digital Transformation
John Ohlwiler, CEO, Sentry Technology Solutions – Cyber Security
Moderator
Loren Horsager, CEO, Model Mind.ai
Networking Under the Stars
Hotels / Map
Event attendees have a range of options conveniently located in the area. We have assembled a short list of Hotels that are located near The Lake Mary Events Center.
* Hotels are listed in order by proximity to the event location. Additional hotels are available in the area.
1 — Hilton Garden Inn Orlando North/Lake Mary (2.9mi)
hilton.com… | 705 Currency Circle, Lake Mary, FL 32746 | Google Directions
“We’re off I-4, in walking distance of restaurants, and three miles from Lake Mary Museum. The Central Florida Zoo is a 15-minute drive, and Orlando Sanford International Airport can be reached in nine miles. Enjoy our outdoor pool, restaurant, evening room service, and 24-hour convenience shop.”
Online Reservation — hilton.com/en/hotels/orllmgi-hilton-garden-inn-orlando-north-lake-mary/
Phone Reservation — 407.531.9900
2 — Courtyard by Marriott Lake Mary North (3.3mi)
marriott.com… | 135 International Parkway, Lake Mary, FL 32746 | Google Directions
“Stay focused, stay refreshed at Courtyard Orlando Lake Mary/North.Our contemporary hotel in Lake Mary, FL is designed to help you move forward. Unwind in spacious rooms with plush Marriott bedding, free Wi-Fi, large workspaces, and mini-fridges. Power up at The Bistro with healthy breakfast and dinner options, Starbucks® coffee, Keep your routine going at our 24/7 fitness center or cool off in the outdoor pool. Steps from top dining like FishBones and Giovanni’s, and just minutes from Boombah Sports Complex, Daytona Beach, and Seminole Towne Center. With flexible event venues and a convenient north Orlando location, Courtyard by Marriott Lake Mary North Orlando helps you make the most of every moment.”
Online Reservation — marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcolm-courtyard-orlando-lake-mary-north/overview/
Phone Reservation — 407.444.1000
3 — Hyatt Place Lake Mary-Orlando North (3.5mi)
hyatt.com… | 1255 South International Pkwy, Lake Mary, FL 32746 | Google Directions
“Enjoy yourself at Hyatt Place Lake Mary/Orlando-North. With 24/7 dining including free breakfast, an outdoor pool and easy access to attractions near our hotel, you can relax and explore on your own time. Visit Daytona Beach, Disney World®, Central Florida Zoo, Lake Mary Event Center and more during your stay at our hotel in Lake Mary, Florida, near Heathrow.”
Online Reservation — hyatt.com/hyatt-place/en-US/mcozl-hyatt-place-lake-mary-orlando-north
Phone Reservation — 407.995.5555
4 — Hampton Inn & Suites Lake Mary At Colonial Townpark (4.4mi)
hilton.com… | 850 Village Oak Ln, Lake Mary, FL 32746 | Google Directions
“We’re off I-4, 10 minutes from central Lake Mary. Colonial Townpark Shopping Center, bites at Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse or Dexter’s Lake Mary, and a local AmStar cinema are steps from our door. Orlando Sanford International Airport is 20 minutes away. Enjoy free hot breakfast, free WiFi, and our outdoor pool.”
Online Reservation — hilton.com/en/hotels/lkmhshx-hampton-suites-lake-mary-at-colonial-townpark/
Phone Reservation — 407.995.9000
5 — Orlando Marriott Lake Mary (4.7mi)
marriott.com… | 1501 International Pkwy, Lake Mary, FL 32746 | Google Directions
“Retreat to Orlando Marriott Lake Mary for a newly renovated hotel in a convenient location. Guests staying with us in the Lake Mary, FL, area have access to fun attractions in Orlando North. Recharge for the day ahead at 1501 Kitchen & Bar, M Club or The Market, our on-site dining with to-go options. Wellness amenities include an outdoor pool, whirlpool spa and all-new fitness center. For business travelers and groups celebrating a special event, our hotel near Orlando Lake Mary boasts one of the largest meeting spaces in Seminole County, FL, with more than 14,000 square feet of space including two outdoor terraces. Work and relax on the road using our laundry facilities. Our 307 newly renovated hotel rooms and suites in Orlando North offer hard floors, elegant bathrooms, 55-inch wall-mounted TVs, free self-parking and free Wi-Fi. Embark on a journey of change at Orlando Marriott Lake Mary.”
Online Reservation — marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcoml-orlando-marriott-lake-mary/overview/
Phone Reservation — 407.995.1100
6 — The Westin Lake Mary/Orlando North (4.9mi)
marriott.com… | 2974 International Pkwy, Lake Mary, FL 32746 | Google Directions
“Retreat to a signature blend of sophistication and rejuvenation at The Westin Lake Mary. Our hotel boasts an ideal location in an upscale suburban area with convenient access to top attractions, including the Central Florida Zoo, Downtown Sanford, Walt Disney World® and Universal Studios®. Unwind in our stylish rooms featuring luxury bedding, complimentary Wi-Fi and 55″ TVs. Enjoy fine dining at our on-site restaurant, Shula’s 347 Grill, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Head to our fitness studio for an energizing workout or take a refreshing swim in our outdoor swimming pool. Host an impressive business or social function in our elegant event venue. At Westin, we strive to develop unique programs that help you be at your very best.”
Online Reservation — marriott.com/en-us/hotels/mcowl-the-westin-lake-mary-orlando-north/overview/
Phone Reservation — 407.531.3555
CEO Nexus Facilitator Team
The CEO Nexus program utilizes the PeerSpectives® Roundtable process created by the Edward Lowe Foundation. Each roundtable brings together 10 to 15 qualified entrepreneurs ten times each year for collaborative problem-solving sessions that address issues important to their companies. Our team serves major markets across Florida, including Orlando, Tampa, Melbourne, Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, and Sarasota.
The CEO Nexus Facilitator Team is listed below:
Paul Cortissoz
CEO / Co-founder, HR Soul Consulting
Paul is the CEO and Co-Founder of HR Soul Consulting, a nationally recognized HR consulting firm honored with the Inc Magazine Power Partner Award for four consecutive years and the Tampa Bay Times “Best of the Best” Award for three years. With 30 years of cross-industry HR experience, he has held senior roles at Heineken USA, Columbia University, Yellow Pages, Gap Inc., and Liberty Mutual. Paul specializes in organizational development, talent management, and leadership development, delivering HR solutions tied to measurable business results. He holds a B.A. from York University, a postgraduate diploma in HR Management from Seneca College, and certifications including SPHR and a DEI certificate from the University of South Florida.
Laura Gallaher
CEO & Founder, Gallaher Edge
Dr. Laura Gallaher is a professional speaker and organizational psychologist who inspires driven self-starters to transform their relationship with themselves and accomplish more than ever. She combines insights on radical self-acceptance with humor to create a unique connection with her audience. Despite being a national best-selling author, Dr. Laura stands out from the typical “academic” personality of her PhD peers. Her notable achievements include being hired by NASA to reshape organizational culture after the Columbia accident, leading significant changes in performance management at Disney, and inspiring Yahoo’s global teams to pursue transformation from within.
Deb Dixson
Senior Advisor – Leadership Vision Consulting; President – DJ Dixson Consulting
Deb Dixson is a senior executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience across business, IT, information security, and risk management. During her 14 years at Best Buy, she was recognized as a visionary leader, founding the company’s first Information Security organization.
Prior to retiring in 2018 as Senior Vice President, Global Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), she built a unified comprehensive Enterprise Risk and Compliance organization, merging previously disparate risk teams and providing clearer insight for executive leadership and the Board.
Deb is known as a highly effective people leader with a strong track record of building high-performing, engaged teams. She credits much of her leadership development success to her work with Dr. Linda & Brian Schubring of Leadership Vision Consulting and currently serves as a Senior Advisor. She also wrote the foreword to their national best-selling book Unfolded: Lessons in Transformation from an Origami Crane.
Lauren Hodges
Owner, Performance on Purpose, LLC
Lauren Hodges, Ed.D. is an expert in human performance sciences, an award winning learning designer, author, and owner of Performance on Purpose, a global training and coaching company focused on the intersections of leadership and human performance. She lives in Satellite Beach, FL with her husband and two teenage boys.
Mark Brewer, CAP
President & CEO, Central Florida Foundation
Mark Brewer is the President/CEO of Central Florida Foundation, the region’s community foundation. Mark joined the Foundation in 2000 and has worked with hundreds of individuals, families, and corporations to establish philanthropy plans, endowments, funding strategies, and planned gifts. He frequently advises private and corporate foundation grant makers across the region and plays a public policy advisory role on strategy and advisory boards around the state of Florida and has served in a leadership role in national and community initiatives.
Mark holds a bachelor’s degree in business, a master’s degree in Public Administration with a specialty in Nonprofit Management and is a Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy®. His graduate studies include work in policy and law at Walden University.
Ralph Betancourt
President & CEO, First Colony Bank of Florida
With over 35 years of commercial banking experience, Ralph Betancourt is a banking veteran in the Central Florida area. Ralph is President & CEO of First Colony Bank of Florida which opened its doors in Maitland in 2008 as a true community bank with local shareholders, local board and local decision making. With 20 employees and $300 million in assets, First Colony Bank specializes in working with small businesses, professionals and real estate investors throughout Central Florida.
Prior to joining First Colony Bank in 2018, Ralph was the Market President for Sunshine Bank (f/k/a Florida Bank of Commerce) in downtown Orlando where he managed a team of commercial bankers. Ralph spent the first 17 years of his banking career in commercial banking with Southeast Bank / First Union / Wachovia Bank before joining Florida Capital Bank in 2005 as the Commercial Bank Executive of Central Florida. Ralph earned his B.S. in Finance at the University of Florida.
Russell Slappey
CEO, Nperspective CFO & Strategic Services
Russell is the founder/CEO and Managing Partner of Nperspective, and is responsible for overseeing the firm and all of the companies divisions. He combines over 20 years of experience in Accounting, Information Systems and Taxation. He takes a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves approach in working with business owners.
In this presentation we will discuss the job duties and differences between the CFO, controller & CPA in running the daily business. We will also explore what needs to be prepared to get ready for a transition of the business. Further, we will discuss understanding the role of a CFO in a transition related to forecasting.
Christine Noll-Rhan
Partner, Carr, Riggs & Ingram
Christine Noll-Rhan is a Florida CPA and an audit partner with Carr, Riggs & Ingram, LLC and has over 20 years of experience. She received her bachelor’s in accounting from Penn State University and her master’s degree from Florida Atlantic University. She is the partner in charge of the Melbourne office for Carr, Riggs & Ingram. She specialized in attest services (audit, reviews, agreed upon procedures) as well as consulting clients on best practices to keep their assets safe.
Jack Henkel
Senior Cluster Manager & FL FAST Program Manager, Florida High Tech Corridor
Jack Henkel serves high tech companies across 23 counties of Central Florida as the Senior Cluster Manager of the Cenfluence initiative at the Florida High Tech Corridor. In addition, Jack is the Program Manager for the Corridor’s FL FAST (Federal & State Technology Partnership Program), an SBA funded program to build capacity and awareness across the state of Florida for entrepreneurs pursuing SBIR/STTR funding for research and development. Across 20 years in the Central Florida innovation ecosystem Jack has worked with more than 1,000 deep-tech entrepreneurs who have raised more $200 million in R&D and growth capital.
Jennifer McKinley
Program Director, Florida High Tech Corridor
Jennifer McKinley serves as the Program Director for the Florida High Tech Corridor’s Matching Grants Research Program (MGRP) at the University of Central Florida. She oversees strategic funding initiatives that advance university research toward commercialization, strengthen industry partnerships, and support development of a technology-focused workforce.
She began her career at Lucent Technologies, collaborating with manufacturing engineers and Bell Labs researchers on semiconductor process innovation. She later co-founded two technology companies focused on materials characterization and infrared optical products, and most recently served in UCF’s Office of Technology Transfer, evaluating intellectual property and supporting early-stage commercialization.
She holds a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from UCF and is pursuing an Executive MBA at Rollins College.
John King
Certified Outgrow Advisor and Expert EOS Implementer, Drive: Leadership and Management Coaching
John King helps entrepreneurial leadership teams unlock their full potential by driving predictable, proactive growth. He equips salespeople and other customer-facing team members to confidently reach out, build meaningful relationships, and generate consistent, organic growth.
John doesn’t just teach the Outgrow methodology—he lives it. Over the past five years, he’s scaled his own coaching business using the same tools and mindset he now brings to his clients. An Expert EOS Implementer with more than 600 full-day sessions delivered, John brings a rare blend of real-world sales experience, operational rigor, and a deep understanding for the entrepreneurial journey.
Whether he’s working with sales teams, leadership teams, or other customer facing team members, John’s mission is simple: help good people do great work, and grow with purpose.
Dave Riley
Professional EOS Implementer, EOS Worldwide
Dave Riley is a former founder and operator who knows firsthand what it feels like to be stuck inside a business you helped build. He spent years wrestling with people issues, accountability gaps, and a vision that never quite translated into traction.
His first exit worked on paper, but it didn’t feel like success. That experience reshaped how Dave thinks about leadership, clarity, and freedom. In his next chapter as an operator, he acquired, merged, grew, and exited two companies over four years, this time with structure, discipline, and a leadership system that matched the reality of running a business.
Today, Dave works with founders and leadership teams as a Professional EOS Implementer®, helping CEOs replace chaos with clarity and effort with execution. His work is grounded in real operating experience, not theory, and focused on helping leaders build businesses that work for them, not because of them.
Thomas O’Neal
Director of I-Corps, Professor, GrowFL Founder, UCF
Dr. O’Neal is a Professor of Industrial Engineering and Management Systems and has served as the Associate Vice President for Research and Commercialization at UCF. He is the founder of the UCF Business Incubation Program (UCFBIP), Founder of the Florida Economic Gardening Institute (GrowFL), and is the Director of I-Corps at UCF, Florida’s first I-Corps site. He is also President of the UCF Chapter of the National Academy of Inventors.
His pioneering work in business incubation and entrepreneurial ecosystems has helped build Central Florida’s innovation-based economy. Dr. O’Neal’s international recognition as an expert in research, engineering, technology transfer, business incubation, and economic development has led to presentations and instructional engagements on five continents. He has presented or taught at 20 international conferences, 41 national conferences, and approximately 200 conferences throughout the State of Florida.
With over 15 years of insurance experience focused exclusively on executive risk coverage areas, Lacy’s cybersecurity expertise has earned her international speaking engagements and panel opportunities. She actively engages with insurance carriers to create new coverages and manuscript forms. Driving customized, innovative policy language and providing tailored consulting services across multiple industry segments, Lacy is an innovator in the cyber insurance space.
Lacy integrates her product and market knowledge to find solutions to client issues.She also works closely with insurance companies to draft policy enhancements, providing innovative solutions to local, national, and international companies.As the pace of Cyber incidents continues to soar, Lacy is at the forefront of protecting her clients’ largest and most valuable assets.
Loren Horsager
CEO, Model Mind AI
Loren Horsager is a tech entrepreneur and the dynamic force behind Model Mind AI, where he serves as the Founder and CEO. Drawing upon 30 years of extensive experience leading software development firms, Loren envisioned a world where AI could be harnessed to propel growth-oriented organizations forward. This led to the creation of Model Mind AI, providing hands-on, interactive training by our team of AI experts on tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft Copilot.
Loren’s career spans across various industries, from Fortune 500 banks to nimble small and mid-sized companies. His innovative spirit is reflected in the many successful products he has developed and startups he has grown over the years.
Holding a B.S. in Economics from the University of Minnesota, Loren combines his robust technical acumen with economic insights to develop solutions that not only cater to technological needs, but also consider the broader economic impacts.
John Ohlwiler
CEO, Sentry Technology Solutions
John Ohlwiler is the Founder and CEO of Sentry Technology Solutions, a managed IT services provider helping businesses across 30 states turn technology into a competitive advantage. After serving as CIO at a large healthcare company, John founded Sentry in 2014 to bridge the gap between technology complexity and strategic business outcomes. Under his leadership, Sentry earned #857 on the 2025 Inc. 5000 with 493% growth and was named a GrowFL Florida Company to watch. What sets Sentry apart is their proprietary Technology Maturity Model—a framework that helps businesses know exactly where they are and provides a clear technology roadmap from foundational IT to meaningful AI adoption with measurable ROI. A published Forbes Technology Council member, John helps fellow CEOs cut through the AI hype to focus on what delivers results today.
Matt Rose
Co-Founder and Chief Experience Officer, Tech Rage IT
Matt Rose is the co-founder and Chief Experience Officer at Tech Rage IT, an award-winning IT managed services provider. He has served in roles including consultant and virtual CIO, supporting organizations from local businesses to Forbes Global 200 companies.
Matt is a recognized technology leader featured in the Orlando Business Journal, MSP Success, and ChannelPro SMB, and is a frequent technology expert for Fox 35 Orlando. Under his leadership, Tech Rage IT has earned honors including Florida Company to Watch by GrowFL, Top Technology Company in Central Florida, Business of the Year by the Seminole Business Awards, a two-time NextGen 101 winner, a 2025 MSP to Watch, and placement on the CRN MSP 500 list.
Matt regularly speaks on cybersecurity, leadership, and emerging technology trends. He holds degrees in Information Science and Cybersecurity, is PMP certified, and serves as Co-Chair of the East Central Chapter of GrowFL.
Peter McAlindon, Ph.D.
Entrepreneur in Residence, Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business
Peter McAlindon, Ph.D., is the Entrepreneur in Residence at the Rollins College Crummer Graduate School of Business.
Areas of expertise and courses taught include entrepreneurship (start-up ventures), commercializing NASA technology, angel investing and early-stage funding, human-computer interaction, product design and development, and research methods and statistics.
Dr. McAlindon is a co-founder of venVelo, an Orlando-based business accelerator and seed capital fund. He is also the inventor of the orbiTouch Keyless Keyboard, a keyboard designed for individuals lacking the finger or hand dexterity to use a traditional keyboard or mouse.
Erich Hanson
Founder & CEO, August Ash
Erich Hanson is the Founder and CEO of August Ash, a web development and digital marketing firm with over 25 years of experience in creating innovative digital solutions for businesses. Since 2012, Erich has leveraged EOS to drive the company’s growth. He’s an active member of CEO Nexus and splits his time between Minnesota and Florida.
Steve Schad
Founder / CEO, Optima HR Solutions
Steve Schad is CEO of Optima HR Solutions, a Minnesota-based HR outsourcing and advisory firm helping small and mid-sized companies build modern, scalable people operations without carrying full internal departments.
He works with founders, CEOs, and executive teams facing growth, labor constraints, rising compliance demands, and pressure to do more with leaner teams. His focus is organization design, talent strategy, and practical operations that clarify what must remain core, what can be externalized, and how to build resilient and cost-effective operating models.
Optima serves as a fractional HR department, pairing strategic leadership with execution across HR operations, compliance, workforce planning, and HR technology. Steve has advised organizations across multiple industries.
Steve will share how today’s economic and labor landscape is reshaping staffing models and how companies can use outsourcing strategically to strengthen focus, execution, and long-term growth.
Joe Raymond
Managing Partner, RVR Consulting Group
Joe is the Managing Partner of RVR Consulting Group Holdings, helping small to mid-market companies maximize potential throughout their lifecycle. A proven leader in launching, growing, and exiting businesses, he also co-founded CECO.org and serves on multiple community boards supporting motor disabilities.
Dolly Penland
President & CEO, Business Results
Business Results helps companies improve their bottom line by addressing their most valuable resource: their people. We have helped a wide range of companies dramatically improve their results. We help you reach your goals by giving you the knowledge and tools to be more effective. Let us help you exceed your goals.
As Human Capital Strategists, we teach clients how to optimize their talent by aligning their business strategy with their people strategy for optimal Business Results. We teach leaders on how to use the PI® and CATIL® Talent Optimization data to design, hire and inspire successful teams.
We believe that the effectiveness of consulting or training effort can be greatly enhanced by the support your people receive afterward. We will give you the tools and help you develop the effective support systems that turn words into actions and actions into new and effective habits. We give you all the help you need to reach your business goals.
Brian Mills
Shareholder, Maynard Nexsen PC
Brian is a member of Maynard Nexsen’s Government Solutions Group, a dedicated inter-disciplinary team of legal professionals providing client support and representation before multiple levels of government and at every stage of the procurement process.
A native Floridian, Brian has spent over 20 years advising clients through all types of business matters and complex transactions related to entity formation, corporate transactions, mergers, acquisitions, corporate governance, and private equity and debt financings, outsourcing, strategic alliance, and teaming arrangements, consulting and service agreements. Brian’s clients span a broad range of industries, having a particular concentration in the technology, manufacturing, and commercial space and launch markets.
Mindi Hertzog
Senior International Trade Specialist, U.S. Commercial Service
Mindi Hertzog is a Senior International Trade Specialist at the U.S. Commercial Service. She spent 2015-2018 in Brazil serving as a Diplomat and has an extensive career in both government and the private sector. She has an Executive MBA from UCLA, and a BS in Biology from Cedar Crest College.
Discover which international markets offer the best opportunities for your products and services. Learn effective strategies for marketing your offerings globally, and understand how your organization can export without having to leave Florida. Gain insights into export compliance, financing, and more.
Stephanie Kempton
CEO & President, Kempton Research
Stephanie has more than 30 years of marketing and communications experience. Her research and planning expertise has directly contributed to enhanced business performance for a wide range of brands and businesses. She has obtained her Principal Certification from the Insights Association.
I will be speaking to a one page document that will outline types of market research to find new customers, what these market research sources are, how to use them to find new customers and and how to obtain them from research providers in the market.
Tammie Sweet
Executive Director, GrowFL
Tammie Sweet has a long history of work experience in economic, community, and business development. She currently serves as the Executive Director of GrowFL. In this role, she is passionate about empowering Florida businesses to achieve their full potential. GrowFL is a nonprofit organization dedicated to accelerating the growth of Florida’s second-stage companies. Tammie has held several leadership roles in economic development over the last 30 years, including serving as President and CEO of the Economic Development Council of Collier County and as a Past Chair of the Florida Economic Development Council.
Shannon Muniz
Founder & President, Strategic Sales Management / Sales Xceleration
Shannon is a seasoned sales leader who partners with small and medium-sized businesses as their Fractional VP of Sales, helping them build sustainable revenue growth and prepare for their next chapter – whether that’s scaling, investment, or exit. With 25+ years in enterprise technology sales and her own successful startup exit (Novatus to Conga in 2016), she brings both Fortune 500 expertise and founder experience to growing companies.
Since founding Strategic Sales Management in 2019, Shannon has guided more than 50 companies through sales transformations across technology, manufacturing, healthcare, construction, and professional services sectors. Her approach focuses on building lasting value through the right people, proven processes, and sustainable systems that buyers and investors seek.
Kenneth Theriot
CEO, TheRiot Agency
Kenneth Theriot is the CEO of TheRiot Agency and a graduate of the University of South Florida, with more than 20 years of experience in strategic brand marketing, revenue operations, and digital transformation.
Since founding TRA in 2015, Kenneth has grown the firm into a technology-first brand marketing and RevOps agency that helps organizations maximize their top-line and enterprise value to maximize organizational value. TRA integrates research-driven strategy, creative, and revenue operations to align brand, demand, customer experience, UX, and digital innovation with scalable revenue systems.
Kenneth believes a brand is more than a logo and has built a multidisciplinary team delivering data-driven results. He is a member of the Forbes Agency Council, where he regularly contributes thought leadership on emerging trends in marketing, technology, and growth. He also serves on the Board of GrowFL, supporting second-stage companies across Florida.
Doug Starcher
Managing Partner, Nelson Mullins
Doug Starcher serves as the Managing Partner of the Orlando office of Nelson Mullins and is head of the Florida M&A Team. Doug has been recognized by the M&A Advisor in New York as the Seller’s Attorney on the 2015 Technology Deal of the Year over $250 million and again in 2018 on the Financials Deal of the Year. In addition to his Mergers and Acquisitions practice, Doug serves as outside general counsel for entrepreneurs and growth companies. He regularly counsels clients as a trusted advisor with regard to organizational structuring, capitalization, contracts, technology licensing, and business strategy.
William Lowman
President, Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson, P.A.
Bill Lowman is a founder and president of ShuffieldLowman with decades of experience guiding clients through complex mergers and acquisitions. His practice also includes succession and tax planning for high-net-worth individuals, families with closely held businesses, estate planning, securities, executive compensation planning, and general tax law.
In the M&A space, Bill prepares clients with pre-transaction planning, from both a personal estate and business perspective. He helps clients navigate buy-side and sell-side transactions with a seamless, relationship-driven approach supported by a trusted network of investment bankers, accountants, financial planners, wealth managers, and other key advisors. He is a frequent speaker on pre-transaction planning and the M&A process.
Bill advises companies across all industries, from family-owned enterprises to many of Central Florida’s Top Golden 100 Companies, on the legal and strategic aspects of their business operations.
Julia Dennis
Partner, Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson, P.A.
Julia Dennis is an M&A attorney with extensive experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, corporate restructurings, recapitalizations, private capital raises, and securities law matters. Her practice also includes intellectual property and technology transactions, commercial contracts, and general corporate counseling.
Julia represents a diverse client base across a broad range of industries that are founder-led startups, family-owned businesses, public companies, and private equity-sponsored portfolio companies. She regularly guides founder-owned and management-run businesses through first-time exit transactions and advises private equity-backed companies on platform and add-on acquisitions.
Her transactional work includes joint ventures, minority investments, employee incentive plans, and complex corporate restructurings. Julia also counsels clients on copyright and trademark matters and negotiates licensing, SaaS, and other key commercial agreements.
Christopher Swink, CEPA
SVP/Senior Wealth Management, Northern Trust
Christopher Swink is a Certified Exit Planning Advisor and Senior Wealth Strategist at Northern Trust. He has more than 28 years of experience advising business owners and multigenerational families. He focuses on exit preparation, tax mitigation, liquidity planning, and the financial and personal transitions that come with stepping away from a business.
Christopher works with families on legacy planning and governance, helping them clarify values, strengthen communication, and build decision making structures that last. He and his Northern Trust team integrate investment management, estate strategies, risk oversight, and family guidance into one coordinated plan. His approach is grounded in thoughtful questions and clear conversations that help clients align their wealth with the future they want for their families.
Rob Ashcroft
Managing Wealth Advisor
Rob Ashcroft is Director of Business Owner Consulting in Northern Trust’s Advisory Services Group. He works closely with owners of privately held companies, helping them develop liquidity and succession plans. He helps clients assess their options in the context of prevailing market conditions, industry trends and the personal needs and preferences of the owners. He helps clients understand what potential buyers may demand and expect, as well as how to prepare their companies for the smoothest possible sale process. He can support owners as they select a suitable investment bank or M&A advisor.
Chris Cucci
EVP, Chief Strategy Officer, Climate First Bank
Chris Cucci has spent his banking career, spanning over two decades, in the Central Florida market where he’s had the opportunity to finance transactions across the nation. He serves as EVP, Chief Strategy Officer at Climate First Bank where he leads strategic initiatives and oversees the bank’s lending in mission-aligned sectors including commercial solar, ESOP finance, and more. Cucci also serves as Senior Advisor at OneEthos, fintech affiliate to Climate First Bank, where he supports efforts to provide mission-based technology solutions to community finance partners nationwide. Active in the community, he serves on the board of directors for CCIM Central District and as board Chair for Osceola Community Health Services. His prior experience includes commercial banking and leadership roles at South State Bank, Wells Fargo, and JPMorgan Chase. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida.
Will Stewart
Managing Director, PCE Investment Bankers
Will Stewart, a partner at PCE and head of the firm’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) practice, is regarded as an expert in the ESOP community. He is a frequent speaker, panelist, and presenter at ESOP-focused conferences and events and has closed more than $3 billion of ESOP transactions.
What is an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) and does it fit for me and my Company? The presenters include an ESOP advisor with experience leading companies through transactions and a business owner who has recently been through an ESOP transaction.
Will Wellons
President, Wellons Communications
Will is a skilled strategic public relations professional who has worked with a broad spectrum of clients, including those in design, hospitality, attractions, real estate and finance. He has vast experience in all facets of public relations; including media relations, investor relations, and crisis management.
Social media continues to change by the day. Companies have to be consistent and up to date on the best practices for social media or their sales and reputation will suffer. We will have a discussion on how to stay ahead of the social media trends.
Michael Shepardson
Partner, PNP Advisory Services
Michael Shepardson, MBA, CEPA is a corporate finance executive with 30+ years of experience across M&A, capital raising, real estate, private equity, and turnarounds. As Founder of PNP Advisory Services, he serves as a fractional CFO/COO—building investor-grade forecasts and models, leading sell-side processes, running diligence, and negotiating financing and restructurings to maximize enterprise value and close transactions. He brings operator credibility from eight years as CEO of PACA Foods, and institutional deal experience from senior roles at Trustreet Properties and GE Capital’s Franchise Finance platform, where he led teams of 100+ and helped execute over $3B of retail asset transactions while driving ~$300M of new business annually in a challenging market. He received both his BA & MBA from the University of Notre Dame and also studied at the London Business School.
Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson, P.A.
Orlando, FL
ShuffieldLowman is a full-service, 55-attorney law firm with five Central Florida offices in Orlando, DeLand, Port Orange, Tavares, and Lake Nona. The firm provides legal counsel across a broad range of practice areas, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate law, estate planning and probate, guardianship and elder law, real estate, commercial and civil litigation, and fiduciary litigation.
The firm’s M&A team advises buyers, sellers, founders, and investors on transactions ranging from $1 million to $500 million in total enterprise value across a wide range of industries. Attorneys take a nimble, team-based approach, custom-fitting deal teams to deliver efficient, seamless execution from due diligence through closing and post-closing matters. Working closely with trusted investment bankers, accountants, financial planners, wealth managers, and other advisors, ShuffieldLowman is committed to client success and driven by results.
Handouts / Materials (View / Download)
William Lowman
President, Shuffield, Lowman & Wilson, P.A.
Bill Lowman is a founder and president of ShuffieldLowman with decades of experience guiding clients through complex mergers and acquisitions. His practice also includes succession and tax planning for high-net-worth individuals, families with closely held businesses, estate planning, securities, executive compensation planning, and general tax law.
In the M&A space, Bill prepares clients with pre-transaction planning, from both a personal estate and business perspective. He helps clients navigate buy-side and sell-side transactions with a seamless, relationship-driven approach supported by a trusted network of investment bankers, accountants, financial planners, wealth managers, and other key advisors. He is a frequent speaker on pre-transaction planning and the M&A process.
Bill advises companies across all industries, from family-owned enterprises to many of Central Florida’s Top Golden 100 Companies, on the legal and strategic aspects of their business operations.


































