SFNet's Independent Finance Roundtable (IFR) will be held April 18-20, 2023, at The Gwen in Chicago, IL. SFNet’s in-person Independent Finance Roundtable brings together senior-level executives from non-bank, independent SFNet member companies in a small setting. Attendees gather to discuss key industry topics that affect their business while enjoying time to network.

The IFR will kick off with an Opening Reception Upstairs at the Gwen Terrace on Tuesday, April 18. Immediately following, attendees will attend group dinners of their choosing.

The following day begins with breakfast and networking followed by Keynote Speaker Jeff Hyland, former partner at CR3 Partners, LLC.  Hyland has 30 years in the restructuring industry, providing interim CEO and management consulting services. He focuses on sales growth, operational improvements, M&A, and finance. Before CR3, he was the CEO and director of a publicly traded consumer products company.

Terry Keating, CEO, Access Capital, Inc. will serve as moderator.

“We are in the midst of trying times defined by the significant disruptions and headwinds in today’s economy,” Hyland said. “We are in a unique period of inflation, rising interest rates, labor shortages, consequences of COVID-19 restrictions, potential new banking regulations, infrastructure pains, a slowing M&A market, domestic political discord, and global geo-political tensions. Through my lens of three decades of restructuring experience and recently leading three private lenders, it’s clear that lenders must be careful with targeted growth strategies and portfolio monitoring techniques. There will be winners and losers in the lending landscape, and we want each IFR attendee to walk away with the competitive advantage of actionable ideas.”

After speaking, Hyland will facilitate a roundtable discussion, focusing on turnaround, to further explore the topic. These discussions will explore the evolving role of the business development professional, looking at different techniques and approaches, KPIs for financial institutions, how to engage a workforce in today's market, setting CRO parameters and how to manage the CRO and what to expect and not expect from an experienced CRO or turnaround consultant at a borrower.

A brief coffee break will follow before the next Roundtable Discussion on Best Practices begins. Topics will include underwriting, credit research, operations, IT, deal monitoring and strategic planning.

Robyn Stone Barrett, SVP, managing director, Oxford Commercial Finance and Bryan Ballowe, managing partner, TradeCap Partners will serve as facilitators of the Best Practices Roundtable.

“This is a great time to hear how other lenders handle issues and come away with new ideas to improve or streamline processes,” Barrett said.

Following a lunch break will be theDebt Capital Markets panel.Panelists will discuss a variety of topics, including:the balance sheet of senior, sub, mess and equity,the bank M&A market and debt financing.

Steven Samson, president, MidCap Business Credit, LLC will serve as Moderator and Panelists will include Jonathan Knauss, managing director, Raymond James, and Tim Stute, managing director and head of Specialty Finance, Hovde Group.

"Attendees at our Debt Capital panel can expect to hear the latest market color on who is providing senior debt and mezzanine funding to finance companies, and at what terms, particularly in this new period of banking instability.," said Stute. "Plus, we will cover how the M&A market for finance companies is evolving during this time of market upheaval."

After re-fueling at an afternoon coffee break, the Tech Roundtable Discussion will kick off with panelists Neil Brodsky, chief legal officer, Vion Investments, Cole Harmonson, CEO, Dare Capital and Ryan Jaskiewicz, CEO, 12five Capital, LLC.

Wednesday will conclude with a dinner, sponsored by Wells Fargo.

On Thursday, April 20, following breakfast, will be an interactive discussion among attendees on Marketing/Branding with a particular focus on social media strategies.

A roundtable discussion on Disclosures, Regulations and Licensing will follow, featuring the chair and vice chair of SFNet's Advocacy Committee. Panelists will include Hamid Namazie, partner, McGuireWoods LLP and Jonathan Helfat, partner, Otterbourg P.C.   Namazie and Helfat will provide a glimpse of the hard work that the SFNet has been doing over the last four-plus years to make sure the new disclosure requirements popping up in various states have a limited impact on our members.

“SFNet members who are lending to small businesses will want to attend this and learn how the new disclosure requirements impact them,” Namazie said.

There will be a grab and go lunch after and, later that evening, an informal outing for the Cubs vs. Dodgers game at Wrigley Field. This "pay your own way" event is being organized by several IFR attendees.

Those attending IFR can connect with other attendees in the official SFNet IFR LinkedIn group. Schedule meetings, chat, share ideas and make plans to join fellow attendees for the Cubs vs. Dodgers game, Thursday, April 20th at Wrigley Field.