Want to know what it feels like to be part of the best conference organized for the small business finance industry, by the small business finance industry? You’re in luck! We’ve got a sneak peek into what you can expect by gathering in 2024 with fellow funders, brokers, industry thought leaders and policy makers alike for Funders Forum + Brokers Expo 2024.
The answer is simple; the future. The future of small business is the backbone of America.
Funders Forum was first held in 2018 and the spirit from that flagship event remains as strong as ever. Now Funder’s Forum + Brokers Expo has evolved into the most unique conference in its field, supporting the very heart of America, our small business community and the funders and brokers that help them thrive. Each attendee not only has the opportunity to network with like minded individuals, they have a chance to engage with the brains behind today’s small business funding policies and regulations. Most importantly, the proceeds from the weekend go toward the funding community itself to continue fighting for policies that will help make a difference for our funders, brokers, and especially the small business owners impacted by the funding community.
Scott Crockett is the founder and CEO of Everest Business Funding. He is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in the finance industry. Mr. Crockett’s track record includes raising more than $500 million in capital and creating thousands of jobs. Scott has founded, built, and managed several finance companies in the consumer and commercial finance sectors.
Dan Gans is the founder and managing principal of Polaris Consulting, LLC. Under Dan’s stewardship, Polaris Government Relations has quickly become one of the most in demand boutique lobbying firms in Washington. Dan in an expert in fintech policy and works closely with the House Financial Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs.
For more than 25 years, Deveron M. Gibbons has served as a strategic and tactical business leader and an advisor and counselor to governors, legislators, and members of Congress. He has also established himself as a creative force helping to shape the next generation of leaders, serving on the boards of trustees of two institutions of higher learning in his native Florida.
Funders Forum + Brokers Expo welcomes small business financers from across the country to Fort Lauderdale to learn from and network with some of the nation’s top small business industry thought leaders and policy makers.
This two-day program will provide you with the tools, strategies and best practices you need to successfully compete in today’s rapidly changing business environment.
A limited number of sponsorship opportunities are available. For sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities, contact info@thefundersforumbrokerexpo.com as soon as you can.
The Broker ticket option is exclusively available for those who are employed by a business financing Broker/ISO that is not a bank or those who are independent sales agents.
This option is not available to those who are employed by a direct lender or direct funder.
The Non-Broker option is available for interested parties that do not match the Broker ticket criteria.
Coming Soon
Engaging and impactful content is only as strong as the venue it is presented in, that is why Funders Forum + Brokers Expo creates a full top notch experience down to the very last detail. Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood is home to over a dozen award winning restaurants and bars, and expansive serene pool and endless entertainment opportunities. So don’t choose between an impactful conference and a get away, choose both with our event.
Former Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush
Karl Rove, an iconic political strategist and one of the most sought-after political pundits of our time, is best known for his provocative and robust knowledge of major political issues.
Rove served as Senior Advisor to President George W. Bush from 2000–2007 and Deputy Chief of Staff from 2004–2007. At the White House, he oversaw the Offices of Strategic Initiatives, Political Affairs, Public Liaison, and Intergovernmental Affairs and was Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy, coordinating the White House policy-making process. He was the architect of President Bush’s 2008 and 2004 White House victories.
Before the White House, he ran Rove + Co. a Texas based public affairs firm that consulted on over 75 GOP campaigns for Senator, Governor, Congress and statewide offices in 24 states.
Rove was described by author and columnist Michael Barone as “…unique…no Presidential appointee has ever had such a strong influence on politics and policy, and none is likely to do so again anytime soon.” Washington Post Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter David Broder wrote that Rove was a master political strategist whose “game has always been long term…and he plays it with an intensity and attention to detail that few can match.” Conservative editor and columnist Fred Barnes, called him “the greatest political mind of his generation and probably of any generation… He knows history, understands the moods of the public and is a visionary on matters of public policy.”
Mr. Rove writes a weekly op-ed for the Wall Street Journal, appears frequently on the Fox News Channel, and is the author of the New York Times bestseller Courage and Consequence. His latest book is The Triumph of William McKinley.
A Colorado native, Rove lives in Austin, Texas where he teaches at the University of Texas and serves on the Texas State History Museum and McDonald Observatory boards.
An entrepreneur in every sense of the word, Daymond John has come a long way from taking out a $100,000 mortgage on his mother’s house and moving his business operation into its basement. John is CEO and Founder of FUBU, a much-celebrated global lifestyle brand, and a pioneer in the fashion industry with over $6 billion in product sales world-wide.
The son of a United Nations ILO official, Kevin O’Leary had the opportunity to be educated in Cambodia, Cyprus, Tunisia, Ethiopia, France and Switzerland. Kevin attended the University of Waterloo in 1977, receiving an honors bachelor’s degree in environmental studies and psychology. In 1980, he received his MBA from Ivey Business School.
After briefly working at Nabisco Brands, he pursued a career in television production and became a founding partner in Special Event Television, which produced programming such as “The Original Six,” “Don Cherry’s Grapevine” and “Bobby Orr and the Hockey Legends.”
In 1986, Kevin co-founded SoftKey Software, the first software company to apply the principles of consumer goods marketing to the software industry. In January of 1994, SoftKey became a catalyst of consolidation in the software industry, raising over $1 billion in a series of debt and equity financings, completing the first transborder three-way pooling, and merging with Spinnaker Software and WordStar International. In 1995, SoftKey acquired Compton’s New Media and The Learning Company. In 1996, SoftKey completed the acquisition of Minnesota Educational Computer Company. In 1997-1998, SoftKey acquired Creative Wonders, Mindscape and Broderbund, making it the world leader in the development of educational, reference and home productivity software. This also made it the world’s second-largest consumer software company, with annual sales of over $800 million, 2,000 employees and subsidiaries in 15 countries. In 1996, SoftKey became The Learning Company. In May of 1999, The Mattel Toy Company acquired The Learning Company for $4.2 billion.
In July of 2007, Kevin became a founding SPAC investor and director of Stream Global Services Inc., focused on the growing outsourcing business services market.
Kevin is the chairman of O’Shares ETF Investments and Beanstox, an automated internet-based investment advisory service. He holds investments in more than 30 private venture companies. He is a member of Boston’s 120-year-old Hamilton Trust, the oldest investment club in the U.S. He is a contributor to CNBC, ABC News and “Good Morning,” and he is an entrepreneur/investor co-host for the Discovery Channel’s “Project Earth” series. Kevin is also an investor/host of ABC Television’s four-time Emmy Award-winning venture capital reality programs “Shark Tank” and “Beyond the Tank,” produced by MGM/Sony/ABC.
Kevin is an active photographer, watch collector and guitarist. He’s also the author of three No. 1 best-selling books.
Bill Gallagher has been the President of CFGMS since its inception in 2015. Prior to that, Bill was the Chief Credit Officer of CapFlow Funding, CFGMS’s factoring sister company, since 2009. Bill has held various senior-level Capital Markets and Investment Banking positions in the Institutional Fixed Income divisions of Lehman Brothers, and Barclays Capital.
Kate is a partner in Hudson Cook, LLP’s Maryland office and co-chair of the firm’s Business Funding practice group. Her practice focuses on the areas of Consumer Financial Services and Small Business Financing. Kate represents banks, finance companies, private equity and investment bank investors, merchant cash advance companies, and small business lenders establishing new programs and products, and conducts due diligence and compliance reviews of consumer lending and business financing portfolios.
Vincent Ney is the President and CEO of Expansion Capital Group (ECG), a small business lending firm specializing in innovative financial services for the small businesses community.
Scott Crockett is the founder and CEO of Everest Business Funding. He is a seasoned professional with 20 years of experience in the finance industry. Mr. Crockett’s track record includes raising more than $500 million in capital and creating thousands of jobs. Scott has founded, built, and managed several finance companies in the consumer and commercial finance sectors.
David is a proven entrepreneur and a “founding father” of the alternative financing / merchant cash advance industry to small businesses which he was one of the original entrants by starting AmeriMerchant in 2002 (which was later rebranded in 2015 to Capify globally).
David A. Picon is a seasoned litigator who has tried dozens of cases in various tribunals for financial services firms and public and private companies. David represents clients in complex commercial disputes in a wide range of matters, including complex securities issues, commodities and derivatives-related disputes, fraudulent transfer actions, alleged Ponzi schemes, and contract and employment-related disputes.
Jim Granat is a President of Small Business Lending and SVP at OnDeck, America’s largest online small business lender. In his role, he is responsible for bringing easy-to-access working capital to more small businesses in the U.S. as well as driving strategic partnerships. With a decade of experience in online marketplaces and lending in both the consumer and small business industries, Jim previously served as President at Lendio and as Chief Operating Officer at FDI Management.
Mr. Schneider is the CEO of BasePoint Capital, a leading player in structured direct lending that has extended over $7.4B in committed financings since 2011. He also serves as the CEO and CIO of BasePoint Advisors, a registered investment advisory affiliate. Prior to BasePoint, Eric focused on structured products initiatives at both Omega Advisors and Morgan Stanley.
Justin Bakes is the Co-founder and CEO of Forward Financing, a fintech company headquartered in Boston providing fast, flexible working capital to small businesses nationwide. Justin has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and is dedicated to helping more small business owners reach their full potential. Since 2012, Forward has provided over $1.9 billion in funding to more than 45,000 small businesses.
Mr. McNierney is an Executive Managing Director of Brean Capital and a member of the firm’s Operating Committee. Mr. McNierney previously was President & Chief Operating Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Gleacher & Company, Inc. Prior to that, he was CEO and Head of Investment Banking for Broadpoint, the predecessor of Gleacher & Company.
