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Moderators
Joe Volman is a seasoned attorney with a 30-year career, specializing in middle-market mergers and acquisitions (M&A). As the co-chair of the Boston office, Joe is recognized for his strategic advisory roles and his ability to drive growth and maximize investment returns for his clients. His approach is creative and results-driven, utilizing his extensive network to help clients source deals and raise capital.
Joe excels in negotiating deals in a constructive and collaborative manner, which has built his reputation through referrals from past clients and leading companies. He offers comprehensive support in both buy- and sell-side transactions, including preparation for sales processes, tax structuring, and negotiating transaction documents. Joe is known for his commercial acumen and commitment, treating his clients’ businesses with the utmost care and striving to meet their wealth and liquidity goals.
Beyond M&A, Joe also represents entrepreneurs, startups, emerging companies, and venture capital/private equity funds across all fundraising and investment phases. His expertise extends to representing small and mid-cap public companies and investment banks, assisting with compliance, financings, and M&A deals.
Joe’s industry knowledge spans multiple sectors such as technology (including SaaS and FinTech), business services, consumer businesses, life sciences, manufacturing, healthcare, and more, making him a versatile and highly sought-after lawyer in the field.
Mr. Surrette began his career in public accounting in 1999 and joined KLR in 2001. Mr. Surrette chairs the firm’s Private Equity and Venture Capital Services Group and is also Chair of the firm’s Renewable Energy Services Group. He works closely with private equity and venture capital firms in meeting both back office and portfolio company needs.
He is experienced in assisting clients in evaluating investment opportunities as well as providing hands on experience during the pre and post transaction process. He has a wide range of audit and consulting experience with clients in a variety of industries including employee benefit plans, healthcare, private equity and venture capital, renewable energy, technology and technology-enabled service companies, manufacturing, distribution, and forensic accounting. He has also spent a significant amount of time assisting clients in in the evaluation of internal controls and on forensic accounting engagements.
Panelists
Mr. Grossman's 25 years' experience encompasses alternative finance and venture lending. Decathlon Capital Partners does 5 year term loans to high growth emerging technology and healthcare companies looking for non-dilutive capital with no financial covenants nor equity attached. Investing into companies with ($2MM)-$3MM in TTM EBITDA. Check sizes $1-$12MM.
Prior roles include leading unitranche lending to software companies for CIBC’s Innovation Banking platform, covering the US and Canada. Prior to CIBC, he was a Managing Director for White Oak Global Advisors responsible for originating, underwriting, and managing industry agnostic private debt with $10MM to funds. Mr. Grossman previously served as Managing Director and co-founder of the Later Stage / Lower Middle Market group at Hercules Technology Growth Capital (now Hercules Capital, Inc.), where he was responsible for all aspects of debt investing. Prior to Hercules, Mr. Grossman was Senior Vice President for Silicon Valley Bank, leading their Colorado and Arizona deal teams to provide venture debt, asset based lending and general banking products to the entrepreneurial community.
John has over 20 years of technology industry experience across roles in engineering and debt, equity, and M&A transactions. Prior to cofounding Armentum Partners, he worked at investment banks Seven Hills Partners, CIBC World Markets, and JP Morgan in New York, London, Toronto, and San Francisco. John is also a Licensed Professional Engineer. He received his Master of Business Administration from York University and his Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Mathematics from Queen’s University in Canada. John has two daughters and is an elite masters runner with West Valley Track Club and a world-ranked beer miler.
Empower Growth Capital makes growth stage equity investments in the business services, healthcare, consumer products, software, hardware and information technology industries, worldwide, with a preference for companies in the US. As non-control minority investors we are committed to honoring the mission and vision of our partner founders and view our investments as more than just the provision of capital.
Attendees
