What to expect. Event agenda.

Location: Sponsor Zone, Grand Ballroom East

Josh Levy is honored to be serving in his second term as Hollywood, Florida's mayor. Mayor Josh Levy enjoys working together with his colleagues on the Hollywood City Commission as they endeavor to make the City of Hollywood: South Florida’s TOP city to live, learn, work, invest, and play.

Francis X. Suarez is the 43rd Mayor of Miami. As the first Miami-born mayor, he is committed to building a Miami that lasts forever and that welcomes everyone. First elected with a mandate of 86 percent and then re-elected with a mandate of nearly 79 percent, Mayor Suarez has championed the integration of climate adaptive policies, Web 3.0 technology, and a free-market approach to government.

Deveron M. Gibbons has served as a strategic and tactical business leader and an advisor and counselor to governors, legislators, and members of Congress for more than 25 years. 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.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details: Hear from our panel of top company CEOs on where things stand for the industry in a post Covid world. What will happen in 2023 and predictions for the years ahead.

Moderator
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.

Panelists
Brad Smiedt is the Co-Founder and Chairman of The Fundworks, LLC, a software-enabled alternative lender, based in Los Angeles. He is also a Partner of Rivonia Road Capital, an alternative investment firm focused on the financial services industry.

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. Over the past 25 years, Vincent has been a leader in alternative financial services for both the consumer and commercial sectors.

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.

Justin Bakes has nearly 20 years of experience in the financial services industry and is dedicated to helping more small business owners reach their full potential. Justin started his career in investment banking at UBS Investment Bank and in mergers and acquisitions for a global public distribution company. It was this banking experience where Justin identified the underserved small business market, inspiring him to bring financial opportunity to this group.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details: There’s never been more going on as it relates to litigation in the industry - from RICO challenges in the SDNY to 1st amendment lawsuits in California. This panel has some of the best legal minds in the industry to have a lively discussion about how all of this could affect you and your business.

Moderator
Kate Fisher 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.

Panelists
Benjamin H. Brodsky is a founding shareholder of Brodsky Fotiu-Wojtowicz, PLLC. Prior to founding the firm, he practiced with a well-known litigation firm in South Florida, where he was a partner.

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

Scott M. Pearson focuses his practice on the defense of regulatory enforcement actions and class actions, other complex business litigation, and regulatory compliance counseling. Martindale-Hubbell rates Scott “at the highest level of professional excellence.” He has been called “a true expert in complex litigation and consumer class actions” and “a no-nonsense bulldog lawyer who is highly respected by his peers and the judiciary.” In March 2018, Scott was named a BTI Client Service All-Star for “delivering the absolute best client service” based on a national survey of in-house counsel.

Andrew Smith is a partner in the Washington DC office of Covington & Burling. He advises clients on retail financial services, data protection, advertising and consumer protection, technology, credit reporting, and e-commerce issues, and regularly represents clients before federal and state agencies—particularly the FTC and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)—in law enforcement and rulemaking proceedings.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details: Grab a bite and network in the Sponsor Zone.

Location: Sponsor Zone, Grand Ballroom East

Event Details:

Andy Barr has served as the U.S. Congressman for Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District since January of 2013.  Congressman Barr is a senior Member of the House Financial Services Committee (HFSC) and the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC). In 2020, Congressman Barr was also appointed to the House China Task Force, which was established to position the United States to confront the military, technological, economic and political threat of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).  Congressman Barr is a strong leader who upholds the Constitution and is a champion of conservative values.

Event Details: With laws passed several years ago finally being implemented to regulations that have come on the scene in the last twelve months, there’s never been a more challenging time to be a part of the industry from a compliance perspective. Hear from our incredible panel on what’s happened, what’s happening and what may be coming in the future.

Moderator
Deveron M. Gibbons has served as a strategic and tactical business leader and an advisor and counselor to governors, legislators, and members of Congress for more than 25 years. 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.

As Executive Director of the Revenue Based Finance Coalition, Gibbons leads the day-to-day operations of an organization whose members fund well over $100 billion dollars per year to help meet the needs of American entrepreneurs running small and medium-sized businesses. The Coalition works nationwide to educate policy leaders on issues related to Revenue Based Finance, an innovative finance option that helps small businesses secure access to capital, quickly providing financing to address immediate needs.

Panelists
Lindsey Rohan is Deputy General Counsel to BasePoint Capital LLC. Previously, Lindsey served as general counsel to several startups in the Alternative Finance Space, helping shape best practices amongst the alternative finance community. Lindsey is a founding member and current President of the Alternative Finance Bar Association (“AFBA”), an industry side attorney resource for recent case law, regulations, and market trends.

Keith Ellis serves as Vice President for Legal & Compliance at Expansion Capital Group. Keith started his career as Minority Counsel (Republican) of the Committee on Banking Finance and Urban Affairs of the U.S. House of Representatives. He then served as the Legislative Counsel and Chief Lobbyist for the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, where he was the liaison with the National Conference of State Legislators. Keith served as the State Bank Commissioner of the State of Delaware, under Governors Castle and Carper.

Kate Fisher 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.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details: Daymond John's 5 Shark Points: Fundamentals for Success in Business and Life

Daymond John has been a phenomenally successful businessperson for over 25 years. Along his entrepreneurial journey, through his many successes as well as failures, he has learned a few things about getting the best out of business and life. He believes the keys to his success include establishing the right mindset and following a few fundamental principles, which he calls his five "S.H.A.R.K points.”

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details: Technology continues to rewrite the rules for how we manage our businesses - while at the same time we’re faced with increased amounts of fraud and challenges on data security. Hear from our panel on how you can stay one step ahead in a constantly evolving environment for our industry.

Moderator

Shane Mahabir is the Founder and President of Funder Intel, a resource, content, and community platform for the business finance industry. Funder Intel offers visitors a way to learn more about the industry, connect with others, find more providers and vendors, keep up with the latest news and trends, grow their brand, and more.

Panelists

Herk Christie is the Chief Operating Officer at Expansion Capital Group (ECG), a firm taking pride in providing fast and innovative financial solutions for the small business community. Mr. Christie has been with ECG since 2016 and is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in both consumer and small business lending.

Joe Lieberman began his legal career at Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP where he represented Credit Suisse, Wells Fargo Securities, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, and others in many complex structured transactions. Mr. Lieberman’s current legal practice is focused on creditor representation, which includes funders, factors, and lenders in distressed transactions and related litigation. In addition, Mr. Lieberman is the co-founder and Managing Director of the K20 Fund, an early-stage technology fund.

Alex Shvarts is the founder and CEO of Fundkite, established in 2015. Alex has over 30 years of experience in the finance, technology, fintech, marketing, and consumer brands industries. Fundkite, a direct funder, recently relocated its headquarters from New York to Miami.

David Snitkof leads the analytics business at Ocrolus. He is a technology entrepreneur and data/analytics leader with a successful track record of developing analytical systems, teams, and businesses from the ground up. He was most recently Head of Analytics and Data Strategy at Kabbage, where he led a high-performance, global analytics organization and developed new data products during a phase of rapid growth and expansion.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details: With inflation at a 40-year high and the steepest & fastest Fed rate tightening cycle in history, the capital markets are in a state of flux, creating both challenges and opportunities for everyone in the industry - whether it comes to securing a credit facility, executing securitizations or looking at M&A opportunities. This panel is made up of some of the people closest to what’s happening both today and in the years to come.

Moderator
Solomon Lax served as Chief Executive Officer at Pearl Capital Business Funding, LLC. since 2015. His 15 years of experience as a venture capitalist and investment banker include bridge and venture debt financing, restructuring, distressed company investment, and mergers and acquisitions. Sol was a general partner of CS Capital Partners LLC, an early stage venture fund, and a board member of several portfolio companies.

Panelists

Bruce Kropschot is one of the first asked to join the advisory board and he has been active since September 6, 2000. He was named Leasing Person of the Year for 2015. Bruce Kropschot has been active in the equipment leasing industry since 1972 and has been a senior executive of three large leasing companies. In 1986 he founded Kropschot Financial Services, a firm he developed into the leading provider of merger and acquisition advisory services for equipment leasing companies.

Eric Schnieder 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.

Bruce Miller joined Stephens in 2004 and co-heads the firm’s global Specialty Finance investment banking group. Bruce and his team advise public and private commercial and consumer finance companies on M&A transactions, equity and debt capital markets transactions, and other strategic advisory assignments.

James Intermont is a Managing Director at Atalaya Capital Management LP, focused on private asset-backed investments in the Consumer and Commercial specialty finance space. Prior to joining Atalaya, he was a Vice President at Ares Management, and an Associate at Jefferies. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin – Madison in 2009.

Peter 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.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Detail: Enjoy our happy hour in the Sponsor Zone where we will serve light bites and cocktails

Location: Sponsor Zone, Grand Ballroom East

Event Detail: Hop aboard and cruise the Intracoastal Waterway aboard the Grand Princess. Departing from the Diplomat Landing at 6:45 PM and returning at 8:15 PM.

Location: Diplomat Landing

Location: Sponsor Zone, Grand Ballroom East

Event Details: Hard Landing? Soft Landing? Something unexpected? Any way you cut it, we’re living through very unique times – hear from our panelists and how they’re thinking about the current market cycle and how best to position yourself for what’s coming next.

Moderator
Geoffrey Adams has provided heroic services to organizations running the gamut of industries, types, and sizes for 24 years. He is the owner of a boutique CPA firm, Verve Consulting, LLC, which helps organizations to create value and solve problems. He is also an Associate Lecturer in the Accounting Department in the College of Business at Florida State University.

Panelists
Paul O. Lopez, a director for Tripp Scott, has served as the law firm’s chief operating officer since 2017, and has chaired the firm’s Litigation Department since 2010. Mr. Lopez has a national litigation and trial practice and regularly argues before federal and state courts on behalf of his various nationwide and local clients.

David Goldin 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 is Head of Originations at Lender Capital Partners (LCP) –Lender Capital Partners provides capital to commercial funding companies, particularly in the merchant cash advance / alternative business loan space in the form of credit facilities, forward flow / whole loan purchase programs and participations / syndications.

Shawn Smith is chairman and CEO of Dedicated Financial GBC. When Shawn founded the company in 2015, his vision was to create a new kind of commercial loan portfolio management company, combining both a new model of connecting on a personal level with those in financial trouble and a new corporate philanthropy model. Under his leadership, the company has grown by 50% or more every year since its inception.

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.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details: What a unique opportunity for us to hear from Jim Granat who is leading the largest SME finance company in the country, On Deck Capital. Hear what Jim thinks about the current environment, industry trends and what’s ahead in the coming years – will include time for audience Q&A.

Jim Granat is a Senior Vice President at Enova and Co-Head of 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. He holds his BA in accounting and finance from Arizona State University. While at ASU, Jim was a member of the golf team, and he later played professionally.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details: Congressman Byron Donalds has a background in financial services prior to serving in Congress. Now, as a member, he now serves on the House Financial Services Committee and specifically on the Sub Committee for Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy. Hear his thoughts on the financial services industry and where small and medium sized businesses play their important role in our economy.

Byron Donalds is committed to serving and giving back to the community that gave him so much. He has served Southwest Florida in many ways, including previously serving on the Board of Trustees for Florida Southwestern State College after being appointed by then-Governor Rick Scott. Byron continues to volunteer in his church as a youth leader and a mentor. He also enjoys volunteering as a coach in youth football and basketball leagues.

Congressman Byron Donalds lives in Naples, Florida, with his wife, Erika, and their three sons: Damon, Darin, and Mason. Byron has spent his entire adult life serving others, whether it be through volunteering, business, or leadership. He is committed to representing Florida's 19th Congressional District's conservative values in Washington DC to ensure a stronger Florida and a stronger nation.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details: Get the latest from a panel of political pros working actively to enact pro-industry legislation across the country and hear their thoughts on how best to position the industry for the political environment that lays ahead.

Moderator
Dan Gans is the founder and managing principal of Polaris Consulting, LLC. Before establishing Polaris, Dan managed the Telecommunications, Technology and Energy practice at a top 20 lobbying firm in Washington, D.C. for three years. 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.

Panelists
Rachel Schreiber helps lead CATALYST’s multistate government affairs practice nationally and leads the firm’s Texas office. After two decades navigating government from the municipal to the federal level, Rachael has a unique blend of private and public sector experience making her an effective advocate and strategist.

Andrew Duke serves as the Executive Director to the Online Lenders Alliance (OLA). Andrew comes to OLA with more than 22 years of experience in government with a decade in financial services policy – most recently leading the Consumer Education and External Affairs division at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Prior to the Bureau, Andrew served as Chief of Staff to three different members of Congress, including House Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling.

Josh Navuatney is a partner at SBL Strategies and focuses on financial services lobbying amongst other areas. He has worked as an advisor for multiple U.S. Senators and Governors on both the political and official side for over 10 years. Joshua served as a senior advisor for former U.S. Senator and Ranking Member of the Banking Committee Pat Toomey.

Brian Simons, Founder and Managing Partner at Hollis Public Affairs, works closely with clients from across the board in health care, financial services, infrastructure, tourism, technology, education and Native American tribes to identify, develop, and capture opportunities, as well as providing legislative and regulatory guidance. He brings decades of experience in shepherding and overseeing public and private projects that impact capital and social infrastructure ranging from medium-to-large-scale economic development deals.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details:

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.

As Executive Director of the Revenue Based Finance Coalition, Gibbons leads the day-to-day operations of an organization whose members fund well over $100 billion dollars per year to help meet the needs of American entrepreneurs running small and medium-sized businesses. The Coalition works nationwide to educate policy leaders on issues related to Revenue Based Finance, an innovative finance option that helps small businesses secure access to capital, quickly providing financing to address immediate needs.

Location: Grand Ballroom West

Event Details: Hear from leading fintech attorneys about emerging legal issues including potential legal challenges to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Dodd-Frank 1071 Rule, the Federal Trade Commission’s focus on “junk fees,” potential legal challenges to commercial financing disclosure laws and arbitration.

CLE CREDIT APPROVED IN FL,NY,CA AND DE

CLE APPLICATIONS ARE PENDING APPROVAL IN NJ, OR and OH
Areas of Professional Practice: 2 hours (120 minutes)

Scott Pearson focuses his practice on the defense of regulatory enforcement actions and class actions, other complex business litigation, and regulatory compliance counseling. Martindale-Hubbell rates Scott “at the highest level of professional excellence.” He has been called “a true expert in complex litigation and consumer class actions” and “a no-nonsense bulldog lawyer who is highly respected by his peers and the judiciary.” In March 2018, Scott was named a BTI Client Service All-Star for “delivering the absolute best client service” based on a national survey of in-house counsel.

Andrew Smith is a partner in the Washington DC office of Covington & Burling. He advises clients on retail financial services, data protection, advertising and consumer protection, technology, credit reporting, and e-commerce issues, and regularly represents clients before federal and state agencies—particularly the FTC and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)—in law enforcement and rulemaking proceedings.

Kate Fisher 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.

Event Details: Join a panel of top attorneys to discuss revenue-based financing and the legal support for a paradigm shift. This panel also discusses legal trends in litigation funding and the impact of regulatory developments.

CLE CREDIT APPROVED IN FL,NY,CA AND DE

CLE APPLICATIONS ARE PENDING APPROVAL IN NJ,OR and OH
Areas of Professional Practice: 2 hours (120 minutes)

Latif Zama is a partner in the firm’s Maryland office. He works closely with financial services providers at various stages of growth to develop, maintain and expand nationwide consumer and commercial credit and funding programs. On behalf of investor clients, Latif engages in due diligence of financial service providers, including fintech firms, bank partnership platforms, small business lenders, sales finance companies and legal funding companies. Latif advises legal funding companies on compliance with state and federal law, including issues related to licensing, documentation and recharacterization. He also counsels clients on choice of law issues.

Robert (“Bob”) Gage is a partner in Hudson Cook’s Michigan office. Bob’s practice focuses on a wide range of issues affecting consumer and commercial financial services. He frequently speaks and writes on issues affecting consumer and commercial financial services. In the consumer financial services industry, Bob advises clients on matters relating to licensing, disclosure, servicing, e-commerce, privacy and compliance management. He also assists licensed lenders and finance companies respond to regulatory examinations. Though he concentrates on automobile finance and leasing, he has significant experience with other types of consumer finance program.

Lindsey Rohan is Deputy General Counsel to BasePoint Capital LLC. Previously, Lindsey served as general counsel to several startups in the Alternative Finance Space, helping shape best practices amongst the alternative finance community. Lindsey is a founding member and current President of the Alternative Finance Bar Association (“AFBA”), an industry side attorney resource for recent case law, regulations, and market trends.