Harry Kraemer, Jr. is an executive partner with Madison Dearborn Partners, a private equity firm based in Chicago, Illinois and a Clinical Professor of Leadership at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He has been named Kellogg School Professor of the Year for the Fulltime program as well as for the Executive MBA programs in Chicago, Miami and Hong Kong.
Harry is the author of four bestselling leadership books:
From Values to Action: The Four Principles of Values-Based Leadership
Becoming The Best: Build a World-Class Organization Through Values-Based Leadership
Your 168: Finding Purpose and Satisfaction in a Values-Based Life
Your Values-Based Legacy: Making a Difference at Every Age and Phase of Life
Harry’s classes include: Values-Based Leadership, Leading a Global Company, Corporate Governance and Mergers & Acquisitions. He is a regular contributing author for “Forbes”.
He is the former chairman and chief executive officer of Baxter International Inc., a $12 billion global healthcare company. He became Baxter’s chief executive officer in January 1999, and assumed the additional responsibility of chairman of Baxter’s board of directors in January 2000.
Harry joined Baxter in 1982 as director of corporate development. His twenty-three year career at Baxter included senior positions in both domestic and international operations. In 1993, he was named senior vice president and chief financial officer, responsible for financial operations, business development, global communications, and European operations. Over the next several years, he assumed additional responsibility for Baxter’s Renal and Medication Delivery businesses. He was elected to Baxter’s board of directors in 1995, and was named president of Baxter International Inc. in 1997.
Before joining Baxter, Harry worked for Bank of America in corporate banking and for Northwest Industries in planning and business development.
Harry is active in business, education, and civic affairs. He currently serves on the board of directors of Leidos Corporation, Option Care Health, and Performance Health, and on the board of trustees of Northwestern University, The Conference Board, Endeavor Health System, and the Archdiocese of Chicago Finance Committee and School Board.
He is a member of the Dean’s Global Advisory Board of Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. He is a member of the Council of CEOs, the Commercial Club of Chicago, and the Economics Club of Chicago. He is a past member of the Business Roundtable, the Business Council, and the Healthcare Leadership Council.
Harry graduated summa cum laude from Lawrence University of Wisconsin in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and economics. He received an MBA degree in finance and accounting from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management in 1979 and is a certified public accountant. For his outstanding leadership and service, he received the 1996 Schaffner Award from the Kellogg School of Management. Harry enjoys jogging, tennis, skiing, and reading, especially world civilization. Harry, his wife Julie, and their five children live in Wilmette, Illinois.
Bob Nardelli is the founder and CEO of XLR-8 LLC, an investment and consulting company, which he formed in 2012. He is also senior operating partner at CORE Industrial Partners and senior advisor to EY. Mr. Nardelli formerly served as advisor to Emigrant Bank and to the founder of Cerberus Capital Management L.P. (Cerberus), a private equity firm, and held several senior positions with Cerberus and Cerberus Operations and Advisory Company LLC from 2007 to 2015. Mr. Nardelli also serves as a director of several private equity firms.
He served as chairman and CEO of Chrysler LLC from 2007 until 2009, and served as chairman, president and CEO of The Home Depot Inc. from 2000 to 2007. Previously, Mr. Nardelli held several senior executive positions with General Electric Company.
Mr. Nardelli has over 50 years of global operating and financial experience, including with large publicly traded manufacturing companies.
Jim Canfield has had a life-long passion for leadership. Jim started his first business, a trucking business, at the age of 27 with his brother who was 24. Starting from one truck the first day, three years later they had 150 trucks, 250 employees in 17 locations around the southeast. They ultimately sold that company to their largest customer.
Jim went on to be part of a founding group of a company in the investment industry. The company served financial institutions eventually developing a niche in the credit union sector. Jim and his partners ended up building the largest firm serving credit unions off Wall Street. They sold that company to First Union Bank.
Still in his 30’s, Jim became the youngest chair ever hired by Vistage. He went on to run peer groups in his hometown of Memphis TN for almost 10 years. He was then asked to join the executive team of Vistage in San Diego. As Vistage’s first Chief Learning Officer, Jim was responsible for recruiting, hiring, and training all incoming chairs.
Jim went on to be to be president and CEO of another peer group company also based in the San
Diego area. Jim has trained over 500 chairs to build, lead and facilitate peer groups.
Next Jim authored the book, CEO Tools 2.0: How to Think, Lead and Manage like a CEO. Jim began to speak for Vistage and in six years did almost 500 presentations on CEO Tools for Vistage. During this time, Jim was named Speaker of the Year three times, for Vistage in Canada, for Vistage UK and for Vistage Worldwide.
Jim is now a part of Class VI Partners as part of the Class VI Pathfinder program. His new program, the Value Creation Formula, will challenge us to find new ways to build a more valuable, and more salable company.
Andy Harris is a proven M&A leader, CEO, active board member, and passionate advisor with 30 years of leadership experience who thrives to deliver results through M&A. As President, North American Strategies of STS Capital, Andy offers consulting to our clients and team on M&A deals while providing his expert guidance through all phases of the transaction process. In addition to performing the responsibilities of a Managing Director, Andy is responsible for expanding engagements with key strategic partners in North America to build enduring relationships for STS.
Within his career as CEO and as M&A advisor, Andy has personally led over 30 M&A transactions, which range from strategic acquisitions of privately-held companies and corporate carve-outs to selling to strategic buyers. His deal experience ranges from $20M to $670M, with total value exceeding $1.5B. He has helped many business owners achieve between 40% to 100% premiums over market value for their business by helping them find the right strategic buyer.
Andy is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), which is a global leadership community of chief executives and business owners. He participates as a key facilitator at YPO’s annual three-day M&A Playbook symposium where he shares his thought leadership as an industry expert.
Prior to joining STS Capital, Andy was President and CEO of Accella Performance Materials from 2012-2017. He led Accella to grow in revenue by 6x and profit by 8x under 5 years through organic and acquisitive growth (14 acquisitions), culminating in a strategic sale to the Carlisle Companies.
Veena Lakkundi is Senior Vice President, Strategy and Corporate Development at Rockwell Automation (NYSE: ROK), a $9 billion global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. Veena was most recently Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer of 3M Company (NYSE: MMM), a $32 billion global conglomerate operating in the consumer, safety and industrial, transportation and electronics, and health care businesses where she spent 28 years.
Over her career, Veena ascended to key leadership positions across 3M, before assuming her current role in November 2021. In her current role, she works with the executive leadership team to define Rockwell’s strategic vision and growth plans, and leads all strategic planning and inorganic development activities across the company. Veena is currently the President of ROK Star Ventures Ltd., which is the corporate venture arm of Rockwell Automation.
Previously, she was Vice President of 3M’s Industrial Adhesives and Tapes division, leading the $2.7 billion global industrial markets business with 5000+ employees from 2019 to 2020. She turned six quarters of negative revenue growth to positive in the first quarter of 2020 by driving active portfolio management, geographic diversification, manufacturing efficiency and agile product commercialization. In 2021, at 3M, she took on the additional role of interim leader of the Technology and Transformation Services organization, which includes information technology, digital strategy, and business transformation.
From 2017 to 2019, she held the position of Vice President, Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. In this role, she developed and led the enterprise ethics and compliance strategy, and she built credibility with the board and executive team by raising the standards of 3M’s ethics program. Ethisphere has consistently named 3M to its World’s Most Ethical Companies list from 2014 to 2022.
She served as Global Business Director of the Industrial Business group from 2015 to 2017, leading the $650 million global Specialty Solutions tape business and delivering profitable growth, exceeding macroeconomic indicators.
Veena was previously Managing Director of 3M Indonesia, leading the region’s business growth from 2012 to 2015. She served as Global Business Director of 3M’s $1.3 billion Automotive division, and she was Marketing Operations Manager and Business Leader at 3M Separation and Purification from 2007 to 2011. She was the Industrial Business organization’s Business Development Manager in India, from 2005 to 2007, where she led the development and execution of a 10X accelerated growth plan.
She previously held the position of Marketing Manager, and she became a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt from 2001 to 2003. From 1996 to 2000, she served in several sales and technical roles in 3M’s Abrasive Systems division. She began her career at 3M in 1993 as a Product Engineer in the Personal Care business in Canada.
She is a board director and member of the audit and nominating and governance committees for Trinity Industries (NYSE: TRN) and Claroty, which empowers organizations to secure cyber-physical systems across industrial (OT), healthcare (IoMT), and enterprise (IoT) environments. At Rockwell Automation, she serves on the Rockwell Automation Charitable Corporation Board (RACC). A passionate advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion, Veena is the executive sponsor for the Cultures Connected employee resource group that is focused on creating an inclusive environment for diverse field-based employees and Lean In Circle facilitator for high potential women. She previously served on the board of the 3M Foundation.
Veena graduated from Western University (Canada) in 1993 with bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and chemical engineering. In January 2024, she completed the CFO certification program at Columbia University.
As a certified exit planning advisor, Vincent is not just a founder and president of Prometis Partners, but a dedicated partner in your success. His career began in 1989 and has been focused on providing wealth management services to businesses and individuals. After two successful decades with Lincoln Financial Group, Vincent’s confidence in his experience led him to sell his shares and build his firm, Prometis Partners. His true passion lies in working closely with business owners on exit planning strategies, a testament to his dedication to your success. He brings his extensive experience and enthusiasm for finding solutions to each new challenge, ensuring that your exit planning journey is guided by the best in the field.
Vincent’s commitment to continuous learning and professional development is not just a testament to his dedication, but a reflection of his commitment to delivering optimal solutions to business owners. This commitment is evident in his extensive list of certifications and designations. He has successfully completed advanced education through the Exit Planning Institute, Value Builder program, Pinnacle Equity Solutions, and the Business Enterprise Institute and Institute for Success. These courses have equipped him with the knowledge and skills to help business owners increase the value of their business and successfully transition out. Vincent is a Certified Business Exit Consultant (CBEC®), Certified Exit Planning Advisor (CEPA®), CVGA® Certified Value Growth Advisor, and a Certified DISC+ Coach (CDVC®). These designations reflect his educational background, leadership skills, and strong commitment to delivering optimal solutions to business owners.
Vincent’s true gift lies in his ability to motivate and guide, providing his clients with the necessary long-term impetus to reach their goals. Vincent’s process is not just a plan, but a well-thought-out and properly executed strategy that considers all factors, all interested parties, and the personal goals of the owners. This strategy is designed to accommodate the business, its shareholders, and potential buyers, providing reassurance and support throughout the transition process. He has been an active member of the Exit Planning Institute (EPI) since 2012 and has subsequently been inducted into the circle of excellence. The EPI provides comprehensive practice development tools, education, and ongoing support networks to business owner advisors. Vincent is also the founding president of the EPI West Michigan Chapter which provides education to professionals and business owners on value acceleration and transition planning, further demonstrating his commitment to supporting and guiding others.
Additionally, Vincent shares his experience and positive outlook with others as a national speaker on exit planning. He also leads round-table discussion groups with business owners to explore the issues that they face selling or transferring their companies and to determine how to best approach their individual situations. He is adept at motivating a team or organization to work together to meet group goals and works well under pressure and with time constraints.
Mr. May is the Founder and Managing Partner of CORE and is responsible for overseeing all activities of the firm including investment sourcing and valuation, transaction structuring, the securing of acquisition financing, and fundraising.
Before founding CORE, he spent 18 years working on transactions with several private equity sponsors principally with The Blackstone Group and H.I.G. Capital. He currently serves on the boards of the following CORE portfolio companies:
Fathom, Saylite, Cohere, Kelvix, Cadrex, 3DXTech, GEM, Century Box, and Aviation Concepts.
Mr. May graduated with Honors from East Carolina University with a business degree. He currently serves on the ECU Foundation Board of Directors including its Executive Committee and is Chair of the Investment Committee. He is also Co-Founder and
Former Chairman of the Board for Imerman Angels, a 501 (c)(3) Chicago based cancer support organization. He is also an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), a member of The Economic Club of Chicago, and obtained his Level I Sommelier accreditation from The International Sommelier Guild.
Mr. McCuiston joined the firm in 2023 and is a Director. He assists clients with mergers and acquisitions, financings, and capital structure related projects.
Mr. McCuiston was most recently the CFO of EOS Worldwide, a high growth, private equity backed franchisor that serves more than 170,000 entrepreneurial companies around the world via the tools and concepts that make up the Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®).
Prior to his role at EOS®, Mr. McCuiston was a co-founder and partner at The Firefly Group, a lower middle market investment firm headquartered in Indianapolis, IN. Mr. McCuiston previously worked for a Carmel, Indiana-based family office and in corporate development for Indiana University Health. He began his career in Indiana’s Office of Management and Budget during the administration of former Governor Mitch Daniels.
Mr. McCuiston, a native of Newburgh, Indiana, received his MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University where he was a Dean’s Fellow. He received his BA from Indiana University’s College of Arts & Sciences.
Patrick Taylor is an accomplished executive in the global industrial and technology sectors, recognized for his transformative leadership and strategic vision. Most recently, Mr. Taylor served as President and Chief Executive Officer of TH Holdings, a diversified industrial manufacturing company specializing in highly engineered hydraulic, electrical, controls and service solutions for the mobile, industrial, infrastructure and oil and gas industries. He held this position from 2016 until the successful divestiture of the company in January 2025, returning greater than 5X MOIC to the shareholders.
During his tenure at TH Holdings, Mr. Taylor spearheaded a period of unprecedented growth, driving revenue and profitability increases of over 300%. He was instrumental in expanding the company’s technology portfolio, global presence, and shareholder value, notably by integrating Texas Hydraulics, Hydromotion, PHC, and Oilgear.
Prior to being named CEO of TH Holdings, Mr. Taylor served as President of Viking Pump and Wright Flow Technologies at IDEX Corporation, where he held global P&L responsibility across seven international locations and was a board member for both companies. His extensive international experience also includes leadership roles at Rockwell Automation, Meritor (Heritage Rockwell) and Belden Corporation, with a focus on strategy, operations and commercial excellence.
Mr. Taylor earned a B.S. in Manufacturing Engineering from Western Carolina University. With over 30 years of experience, he is known for his commitment to delivering industry-leading value to customers, employees, shareholders and communities worldwide.
Jonathan Sherrill is a seasoned business strategist with over 27 years of experience in the steel building component manufacturing industry. As President of Gulf Coast Supply, he led the company to significant growth and industry recognition. In 2018, he founded Quicken Steel, which he successfully scaled and exited.
Currently, Jonathan offers CEO coaching services and invests in business ventures. As a member of YPO, he is dedicated to helping business owners achieve their goals and prepare for successful exits.
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1:00 - 5:00 pm
Over 70% of Executives Surveyed Agree: Many Strategic Planning Efforts Lack Systematic Approach Tips for Enhancing Your Strategic Planning Process
Executives expressed frustration with their current strategic planning process. Issues include:
Steve Rutan and Denise Harrison have put together an afternoon workshop that will provide the tools you need to address these concerns. They have worked with hundreds of executives to develop a systematic approach that will enable your team to make better decisions during strategic planning. Steve and Denise will walk you through exercises for prioritizing your lists and steps that will reset and reinvigorate your process. This will be a hands-on workshop that will enable you to think about your business as you use the tools that are being presented. If you are ready for a Strategic Planning tune-up, select this workshop in your registration form. The additional fee of $695 will be added to your total.
2:00 - 5:00 pm
Female leaders face the same issues all leaders do, but they often face additional challenges too. In this peer session, we will facilitate a discussion of best practices and how to overcome common barriers to help women leaders be more effective within and outside their organizations.
Limited space available.
10:30 - 5:00 pm
General’s Retreat at Hermitage Golf Course
Sponsored by UBS
General’s Retreat, built in 1986 with architect Gary Roger Baird, has been voted the “Best Golf Course in Nashville” and is a “must play” when visiting the Nashville, Tennessee area. With the beautiful setting along the Cumberland River, golfers of all capabilities will thoroughly enjoy the golf, scenery and hospitality.
The golf outing fee includes transportation to and from the hotel, greens/cart fees, use of practice facilities, and boxed lunch. The bus will leave the hotel at 10:30 am for a noon shotgun start and return to the hotel after the cocktail reception following the completion of the round.