SFNet's Emerging Leaders Summit, a dynamic conference designed to unite professionals with 6-15 years of experience in secured lending, is heading to the West Coast for the first time since its inception in 2018. The event will provide an opportunity to glean insights from seasoned titans who have navigated the intricacies of the field. Attendees can expect to engage in thought-provoking panels where industry luminaries will offer a unique perspective on both the industry and effective leadership.

The Summit also provides a platform to forge connections with industry peers, creating a network that can be pivotal as the next generation continues on its professional journey. 

The Summit will kick off on Wednesday, April 10 with a Hollywood Sign Hike from 11:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.  Attendees will have the option to hike around the Hollywood Reservoir, a hidden gem located close to Mount Lee. Numerous views of the famous Hollywood sign atop Mount Lee will appear on the 3.3-mile loop around the reservoir, which takes slightly over an hour to complete. Following the hike will be a picnic lunch at Lake Hollywood Park, which also boasts fantastic views of the Hollywood sign.

This hike has a separate fee of $25 and proceeds will benefit The Center in Hollywood, a California non-profit dedicated to ending the cycle of homelessness.

“The Emerging Leaders Summit is a great way to connect and build relationships with peers,” said Kathleen Parker, director of Business Development at HYPERAMS and SFNet YoPro Committee Chair. “The conference is structured not only to provide education panels, but opportunities to build relationships doing activities outside of education, such as our hike to the Hollywood sign. It also provides a unique opportunity to network with senior professionals that are attending the roundtable session prior to the conference.”

SFNet’s Bank CEO Roundtable Session will be held on the first day of the Summit from 1:30 p.m.-5 p.m. This invitation-only event will bring together industry CEOs to discuss topics such as attracting, developing, and retaining top talent and navigating the regulatory and legislative environment – including Basel III Endgame

The Emerging Leaders Summit will welcome Keynote Speaker Vanessa Dew, an entrepreneur, coach, investor and co-founder of Health-Ade, one of the world’s most successful kombucha brands. Named Entrepreneur of the Year by USC Marshall School of Business, she mentors up-and-coming founders. Having been recognized in world-renowned publications like Forbes and Glamour, she was named one of the Gold House A100 List of most impactful Asians. 

The title of Dew's talk will be ‘Partnering with Doers—The Secret to Building Big Value’.

"Founders and CEO’s are tackling big decisions everyday and building a successful partnership with them is vital," Dew explained. Health-Ade not only had a culture that was second to none and had grit in spades, but we also had people and partners that ran through walls for the business and that is what made the difference to ultimately grow to over 50,000 stores and ~$300M retail sales today."

Following the keynote, there will be an opening reception sponsored by and hosted at Blank Rome LLP. Attendees will participate in a dine-around event, dining in groups at various restaurants, including Javier’s of Century City and La Dolce Vita in Beverly Hills.

On Thursday, April 11, following breakfast, will be the first panel of the Emerging Leaders Summit, Evolution of Inclusivity. This panel will explore the dynamic landscape of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), examining recent developments, current status, and future outlook in both the U.S. and Europe. Attendees will gain valuable insights into prioritized areas and emerging challenges for cultivating inclusive work environments.

Nneoma Maduike, Partner, Otterbourg P.C., will serve as Moderator. Panelists will include Gammie Chung, VP, team leader, Republic Business Credit; Diona Rogers, partner, Thompson Coburn LLP; Sabrina Singh, senior vice president, Bank of America; and Boudewijn Smit, senior associate, NautaDutilh.

“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is a continuously evolving practice,” said Chung. “By learning from progress and confronting challenges, we can continue to build inclusive environments that empower all."

After the panel will be an attendee ice breaker followed by Industry Titans Tell War Stories from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.  A panel of seasoned experts in secured finance will gather to share war stories, recount the trials and triumphs of navigating asset-based lending, and offer invaluable insight on how to succeed in the face of challenges.

The Moderator will be Michael Lipkin, CEO, Assembled Brands, and panelists will include Caryn Alexander, Sr. Managing Director, Head of ABL Portfolio Management, Webster Bank; Supremna Cole, SVP, Loan Portfolio Manager, Wells Fargo Capital Finance; Bruce Denby, Managing Director/Group Head, CIBC and Larry Flick, Partner, Blank Rome LLP.  

“When you are in the trenches with people, you develop different relationships and when you’re working a transaction out, you sometimes build lifelong relationships with the people involved,” said Flick. “They are not always your clients; they might be turnaround professionals. The close friendships and client relations that I have really came out of solving a tough problem or getting out of a tough spot. It’s all part of relationship building and problem solving. It is important for those in this demographic to develop those relationships internally and externally.”

The Distress Warning Signs and Navigating Crisis panel will discuss learning to recognize early indicators of business distress and how to equip yourself with tools to navigate crises effectively.

Jonathan Zucker, managing director, head of Capital Advisory, Intrepid Investment Bankers, will serve as Moderator.  Panelists will consist of Jordan Henrich, Business Development, Western Region, Gordon Brothers; Vahan Khodanian, associate, Buchalter; Carlos Medina, SVP, Business Development, Bank of America Business Capital, and Nick Mungor, managing director, Novo Advisors.

“This panel will offer a view from the frontlines of what leading financiers and advisors to challenged companies are seeing right now, and what they expect around the corner,” Zucker explained. “Our panelists are working with businesses facing covenant breaches, liquidity constraints, and secular headwinds; hear tips on how borrowers, lenders, and counsel work to protect key stakeholders.”

A networking break, sponsored by Rouse Appraisals and RB Global will follow before the final panel of the Summit, Getting Deals Done, with Moderator Shadi Enos Jahangir, partner, Blank Rome LLP and Panelists: Jason Anish, president & CEO, Austin Financial Services, Inc.; Emily H. Carroll, sr. vice president & regional underwriting manager, PNC Business Credit; Kevin O'Malley, partner, Black Rome LLP and David Phillips, senior VP, Far West Capital.

“In Getting Deals Done, panelists will discuss what it takes to close a transaction in 2024,” said Anish. “Panelists representing roles in business development, senior management, underwriting and legal will join together to discuss a deal from soup to nuts, including overcoming internal and external challenges and learning from mistakes.”

There is still time to register. For more information please click here.