We are excited to announce a Case Study approach as the basis for our 2017 monthly programs. Join us along the exciting path of "HiTech Service Co", as the owners seek to grow and best prepare their company for a successful exit. We will all work together to best understand the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats of HiTech, and to help the owners discover strategic solutions to achieve their objectives.

Our 2017 program is designed to increase participatory involvement with member round-table and panel discussions. Why should you participate? Many reasons, but for starters:

• Demonstrate what you bring to the table as you share your expertise
  
• Spot potential partners among the membership as they display their niche knowledge
  
• Learn some of the more obscure intricacies around exit-issues that apply well beyond our HiTech case study example
  
• Get to know members more deeply
  

Roll-up your sleeves and exercise your mind alongside your colleagues and friends!

You have to do your part as well. Please print the Case Study, read it, and bring a copy to our next meetings on February 8th Downtown, and/or February 15th Oak Brook. Be prepared to discuss HiTech’s challenges and opportunities. From this discussion we will create six topics for our 2017 meetings that are relevant and of interest to you. We will also assemble a list of panelist volunteers for the six monthly meetings topics at these February meetings.

Click here for the Case Study.

We are looking for volunteers for our operating committees for events.

The descriptions are:

Communications Committee: Promotes the organization, its events and the good work of the various committees. The committee also partners with members of the XPX Chicago chapter to advance efforts in public and media relations, digital marketing and social media. Contact: Spencer Maus, Chair: smaus@spencer-connect.com,  Laura Yunger, Vice Chair - lyunger@saltaresolutions.com; Athan Demakos, Vice Chair - athan.demakos@gmail.com

Membership Committee: Develops membership policies, including deciding when initial free membership ends, cost of membership, firm memberships, and is responsible for increasing membership and running membership recruitment drives. Contact: Kevin Davey, Co-Chair: kevin.davey@nm.com or Roberto Garcia, Co-Chair - Roberto.Garcia@insperity.com

Program Planning Committee: Plans content, format and location for monthly membership meetings, and develops periodic special events or programs. Contact: Michael Karmin, Co-Chair: mkarmin@stratwealth.com or Peter Holton, Co-Chair -  peter@caberhill.com

Sponsorship / Outreach Committee: Sets sponsorship policies and solicits general and event sponsorships along with outreach to potential association alliance partners. Contact: Clare Golla, Co-Chair:  clare.golla@bernstein.com or Nancy Fallon-Houle, Co-Chair -  nfallon@velocitylaw.com

Power of Three Committee: Develops and runs Power of Three program, a more substantial networking experience for members who wish to participate. Contact Christopher Manick: Christopher.Manick@busey.com

Owners’ Academy Committee: Develops and runs the Owners’ Academy program, a program aimed at business owners to provide valuable content useful to them and/or peer experiences on particular topics relevant to running, growing, or selling a business. Contact Bob Greisman: rgreisman@integratedgrowthadvisors.com

Young Professional Committee:  The Young Professional Committee focuses on developing methods and programming to reach out to young professionals looking to further develop their business and leadership skills. Examples of programming includes mentoring with senior level professionals; committee leadership opportunities; networking; and social events, to name a few.  For more information contact Chair Max Katzbeck: mkatzbeck@jkrug.com or Joel Niekamp, Vice Chair: jniekamp@reedyindustries.com.

This is what it entails:

Most committee meetings will be conducted by telephone, and that participation will not be too time burdensome; perhaps only an hour or so a month, although some months could be a little more, and others less. There will be 3-5 members per committee, although we are not limiting the size if many wish to participate. Membership is a good way, without too much time expended, to get to know other XPX members better, and to have a role in the leadership of the organization.  Click here for additional information of each committee.

If you are interested, please contact Angie Ellis if you are interested at angie@exitplanningexchange.com.

The Exit Planning Exchange is a multi-disciplinary professional organization aimed at providing education and networking opportunities to those who serve private company owners. XPX members help owners build sustainable businesses and help them plan and execute successful exits.

Our members include bankers, investment bankers, lawyers, accountants, wealth advisors, management consultants, valuation experts, executive coaches, and insurance professionals. Our culture is one of cooperation and sharing of both knowledge and business.

XPX was founded nine years ago in Boston, and has grown with chapters in New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Washington, D.C., Philadelphia, and now Chicago.

Our first event was on Wednesday September 14, from 7:30 am- 9:00 am at the Gleacher Center at 450 North Cityfront Plaza, next to the NBC Tower, and near the Tribune Building.

The featured speaker was Bruce Leech, Executive Director at DePaul University’s Coleman Entrepreneurship Center. And there will be ample networking opportunities for you to meet other professionals serving private companies, as well as to learn about XPX.

CHAPTER LAUNCH COMMITTEE