CFO
Network
West Coast Forum
20 - 21 September 2023,
Marriott Union Square, San Francisco, CA
Shape the future for private fund CFOs and COOs
The Private Funds CFO Network’s West Coast Forum returns to San Francisco this September 20-21.
The Forum will connect you with private funds finance and operational leaders on the West Coast to discuss key topics that impact CFO and COO roles and build valuable relationships.
Buy your Private Funds CFO Network membership today and join us at the West Coast Forum this September.
Bring your team of senior executives and save | CPE credits available
Why West Coast Forum?
Expand your network with West Coast peers
Connect with the elite crowd of private fund CFOs and COOs in designated networking sessions and small group meetings to discuss common challenges and best solutions that help improve finance and operations efficiency.
Understand what matters most to your role
Gain actionable insight at sessions targeted to your firm size and role. Join senior finance and operations professionals to explore the best solutions that talk directly to your unique circumstances.
Year-round intelligence and networking
Secure your Private Funds CFO Network membership to attend the West Coast Forum and stay connected year-round with peers you meet at the conference. Learn more.
2023 agenda highlights
The 2023 agenda was built through consultation with influential leaders within the private equity CFO & COO community. The topics covered provide relevant information to impact processes and practices within firms, such as:
- Maintaining LP relationships: how to fundraise when you’re not fundraising
- Assembling a robust technology infrastructure
- The dynamic challenges of fund finance amidst bank turmoil and a high interest rate environment
- How to seize opportunities when the labor market opens up
- Managing through growth & scaling firm operations
2023 Featured speakers
2022 attendees included:
What our attendees say about the West Coast Forum
Kristine O'Connor
Franklin Park
The Forum is consistently the best conference for finance professionals in the private equity industry! Meaningful content, knowledgeable speakers and ample net…
Joseph Riley
Psilos Group
This is the premier event for CFOs and COOs in private equity. I love the ability to see/hear peers and industry leaders in one event
Jesse M Burwell
RLJ Equity Partners LLC
The event is great for networking and discussing and discovering best practices for PE CFOs.
Kristine O'Connor
Franklin Park
The Forum is consistently the best conference for finance professionals in the private equity industry! Meaningful content, knowledgeable speakers and ample networking opportunities!
2023 Agenda
Download the agenda to see the timely and relevant topics that will be covered at this year’s Forum.
What’s new for 2023?
- “CFO as a strategic visionary” keynote panel: featuring influential CFOs discussing how you can drive your firm forward
- Breakout sessions by AUM: specialized sessions for CFOs & COOs of firms under $4 billion and over $4 billion AUM for discussions relevant to you
- Focused think tank sessions: dedicated to your addressing your specific needs as an attendee from a private equity or venture capital firm
- Interactive peer-to-peer workshops: hosted on both days to promote active discussion and problem-solving
If you are interested in a speaking role for 2023 please contact contact Kellie Green at kellie.g@pei.group.
Agenda
Day 1 - Wednesday 20th
Registration - breakfast
PEI welcome & chairperson's welcome
Private Fund CFO Membership survey presentation
Keynote interview
Keynote panel - The CFO as a strategic visionary
- Working in tandem with the CEO to understand of the factors that impact firm strategy
- Ensuring the right financial structures and processes are in place to support the firms strategic vision
- Providing appropriate data and financial assessments to support and champion new ideas
- Suggesting alternative courses of action based on financials and data to when needed
- Being nimble in the face of rapid change
Moderator:
Cesar Estrada, Private Markets Segment Head, Arcesium
Panelists:
Lauren Dillard, Senior Managing Director & Chief Financial Officer, Vista Equity Partners
Chris Iorillo, Chief Financial, Legal & Compliance Officer, Freeman Spogli
Networking coffee break
How to seize opportunities when the labor market opens up
- What are the relevant labor market trends that you should be keeping an eye on?
- Will tighter credit conditions prompt layoffs?
- Increasing quit rates even as job openings decline
- Do you foresee changes in carry and incentives structures?
- Is this still a key recruitment and retention tool?
Moderator:
David Ludwig, Reginal Director, Americas, EWM Global

The dynamic challenges of fund finance amidst bank turmoil and a high interest rate environment
- Investor sentiments about financing becoming more expensive and harder to come by
- Are lenders feeling more cautious about issuing debt?
- Access to subscription credit facilities, NAV financing and preferred equity with two large players (SVB and Signature) out.
- Is there concern other providers are next?
- Steps firms/finance teams can take in order to be proactive in future situations
Moderator:
Albert Tan, Partner and Co-Head of Fund Finance, Haynes Boone

Networking luncheon
Track A | Maintaining LP relationships: How to fundraise when you're not fundraising
- How has CFO/COO involvement in the fundraising and investor relations evolved over the last several years
- Relationship management and staying involved with your investors
- Managing LP requests and communicating with current investors
- Scenario modeling
- What’s the role of the CFO in preparing for your next fundraiser?
Panelists:
Adam Childers, Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Quad-C Management, Inc.
Eva Kiefer, CFO & CCO, Akira Impact
Tom Pierce, Partner, CFO, CCO, Sorenson Capital
Track B | Data management: sharpening insights throughout your fund lifecycle
- Managing multiple data types and complex data projects
- Efficient ways to manage data collection and stakeholder reporting
- How can you use data to manage workstreams more effectively
- How to leverage data for better decision making as it relates to –
- ESG initiatives
- Portfolio companies
Moderator:
Chris Sparenberg, Director, Commercial Strategy, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Panel A | Assembling a robust technology infrastructure for firms <$4B AUM
During this 20-minute panel discussion, our expert speakers will share their experiences with assembling a robust technology infrastructure.
Moderator:
Johnny Minassian, Partner, Withum
Panelists:
Ivor van Esch, CFO & CCO, Knox Lane
Frank Hodas, Senior Vice President – Finance, Paladin Capital Group
Ryan Parker, Chief Financial Officer, Mercato
Workshop A | Assembling a robust technology infrastructure for firms <$4B AUM
During the workshop the audience will be broken into small groups for peer-to-peer discussions lead by our panelists above. Potential topics during these small group discussions are —
- What are the key drivers for technology adoption at your firm?
- investor expectations, response to new regulatory requirements, market volatility and the need for more data? Others?
- What is the process for getting new technologies approved at smaller firms?
- What types of technologies offer the most ROI for smaller firms?
- What are typical budgets for new technologies at firms <4B AUM
- What types of technologies do you prioritize when you have a limited budget?
- Does your firm use artificial intelligence in any way or are you considering how to implement the use of AI at your firm?
Panel B | Assembling a robust technology infrastructure for firms >$4B AUM
During this 20-minute panel discussion, our expert speakers will share their experiences with assembling a robust technology infrastructure.
Moderator:
Tim Buchner, COO of Alpha for Private Markets, State Street
Panelists:
Ted Hill, General Partner and Chief Administrative Officer, B Capital Group
Workshop B | Assembling a robust technology infrastructure for firms >$4B AUM
During the workshop the audience will be broken into small groups for peer-to-peer discussions lead by our panelists above. Potential topics during these small group discussions are —
- What are the key drivers for technology adoption at your firm?
- investor expectations, response to new regulatory requirements, market volatility and the need for more data? Others?
- What is the process for getting new technologies approved?
- What types of technologies offer the most ROI?
- What are typical budgets for new technologies at firms >4B AUM
- What types of technologies do you prioritize when you have a limited budget?
- Does your firm use artificial intelligence in any way or are you considering how to implement the use of AI at your firm?
Networking coffee break
PE panel think tank (GP ONLY) | What’s keeping you up at night: Private Equity
- What are the top issues causing concern for today’s finance and operations executives?
- Talent management, cybersecurity, compliance, and changing SEC regulation, interest rates, etc.
Facilitator:
Stella Ho, Partner, CFO & CCO, LightBay Capital

VC panel think tank (GP ONLY) | What’s keeping you up at night: Venture Capital
- What are the top issues causing concern for today’s finance and operations executives?
- Talent management, cybersecurity, compliance, and changing SEC regulation, interest rates, etc.
Service Provider think tank (SP ONLY) | What’s keeping you up at night: Service Providers
- What are the top issues causing concern for today’s finance and operations executives?
- Supporting clients through compliance, and changing SEC regulations
- How can you support your clients during uncertain times?
Cocktail reception and end of day one
Agenda
Day 2 - Thursday 21st
Registration - breakfast
CFOs and COOs Think Tank (GP ONLY; invite only)
Designed to facilitate candid discussion, this closed-door session for CFOs and COOs targets the issues and challenges impacting your firm. Attendees can benchmark ideas and share best practices to help you gain solutions for common concerns facing your office.
Designed to facilitate candid discussion amongst solution providers supporting the private equity industry, attendees will discuss how they are adapting to the current state of the market and supporting clients though uncertain times.
Chairperson's opening remarks
Opening keynote interview - Managing through growth & scaling firm operations
Join us to hear Fred Ebrahemi, Chief Operating Officer, Partner, and General Counsel, Clearlake Capital Group discuss his experiences as Clearlake grew from $1B vs. $70B AUM. Fred will share tips for managing through growth, where they struggled as they grew, what he wished he’d know while they were scaling, and what successes he’s most proud of.

Fred Ebrahemi
Chief Operating Officer, Partner, and General Counsel, Clearlake Capital Group
Read bioPanel A (< $4B AUM) | Scaling up to 4B
During this 20-minute panel discussion, our expert speakers will share their backgrounds and tips and tricks they learned while scaling their own firms
Panelists:
Michaele Gobel, CFO, Equilibrium Capital
Brent Kelley, CFO and CCO, North Hudson Resource Partners
Kevin Neubauer, Partner, Seward & Kissel
Brianna Wener, CFO, Avante Capital Partners
Workshop A (< $4B AUM) | Scaling up to 4B
During the workshop the audience will be broken into small groups for peer-to-peer discussions and the sharing of best practices and common challenges around scaling your firm up to 4B AUM. Potential topics during these small group discussions are —
- How should we be structuring financial processes so we can scale when we’re ready?
- How do you identify the efficiencies at your firm that will foster your ability for continued growth?
- What inefficacies are you finding at your firm and hindering your ability to scale?
- What are the most common hurdles the finance team faces as your firm grows?
- How can the finance team better support the overall growth of the business?
- As your firms grows how do you balance hiring more talent vs outsourcing non-business-essential functions?
- Keeping up with more robust fundraising efforts
- Does/will the use artificial intelligence come into play with your scaling efforts?
- What are some of the common challenges when transitioning from a single fund model to multi-strategy?
Panel B (> $4B AUM) | Scaling over 4B
During this 20-minute panel discussion, our expert speakers will share their backgrounds and tips and tricks they learned while scaling their own firms
Panelists:
Brandon Baudin, Chief Financial Officer, The Sterling Group
Brent Kelley, CFO and CCO, North Hudson Resource Partners
Nina Yoo, Chief Financial Officer, Fengate Asset Management
Workshop B (> $4B AUM) | Scaling over 4B
During the workshop the audience will be broken into small groups for peer-to-peer discussions and the sharing of best practices and common challenges around scaling your firm over 4B AUM. Potential topics during these small group discussions are —
- How should we be structuring financial processes so we can scale when we’re ready?
- How do you identify the efficiencies at your firm that will foster your ability for continued growth?
- What inefficacies are you finding at your firm and hindering your ability to scale?
- What are the most common hurdles the finance team faces as your firm grows?
- How can the finance team better support the overall growth of the business?
- As your firms grows how do you balance hiring more talent vs outsourcing non-business-essential functions?
- Keeping up with more robust fundraising efforts
- Does/will the use artificial intelligence come into play with your scaling efforts?
- What are some of the common challenges when transitioning from a single fund model to multi-strategy?
Networking coffee break
Track A: Private Equity | The CFO & COO role in supporting private equity portfolio companies
- How can CFOs and COOs add value on the portfolio company level when it comes to –
- Creating a financial plan that will carry the business through future growth stages
- Improving portfolio company gross margins without sacrificing value
- Enhancing procurement strategies, negotiating with vendors, service providers, group purchasing, etc.
- Implementing systems and tracking metrics that are critical for establishing valuations
Moderator:
Chris Aronis, Chief Revenue Officer, Drawbridge
Panelists:
Carolyn Campbell, COO, ECP Private Equity
Kelly Cornelis, Partner & Chief Operating Officer, Lasalle Capital
Michele Reing, CFO, COO & CCO, LongRange Capital
Track B: Venture Capital | The CFO & COO role in supporting venture capital portfolio companies
- How can CFOs and COOs add value on the portfolio company level when it comes to –
- Creating a financial plan that will carry the business through future growth stages
- Improving portfolio company gross margins without sacrificing value
- Enhancing procurement strategies, negotiating with vendors, service providers, group purchasing, etc.
- Implementing systems and tracking metrics that are critical for establishing valuations
Panelists:
Katherine Gomer, Chief Operating Officer, Maverick Ventures

Cash & Risk Management: Lessons learned from a global pandemic and banking collapses
- What have been your experiences with the SVB’s collapse and its ripple effect?
- What’s your current thinking on sufficient cash reserves and agile cash flow management strategies?
- Movement to larger banks and money market funds – long term trend or temporary strategy?
- What are your comprehensive risk management strategies?
- What have you learned these past few years about how you can pivot and adapt?
Speakers:
Jackie Dao, CFO, Reach Capital
Matt Whelan, CFO & Managing Director, Finance Group, Gryphon Investors
Bessie Wu, CFO and CCO, NewView Capital
Chairperson's closing remarks
Luncheon and end of conference
Pre-Event Resources
2023 Speakers
Contact Kellie Green at kellie.g@pei.group or call + 1 646 921 2557 | ext 205 for speaking opportunities.

Brandon Baudin
Chief Financial Officer, The Sterling Group

Tim Buchner
COO of Alpha for Private Markets, State Street

Carolyn Campbell
Managing Partner and COO, Emerging Capital Partners

Adam Childers
Chief Financial Officer & Chief Compliance Officer, Quad-C Management, Inc.

Kelly Cornelis
Partner and Chief Operating Officer, LaSalle Capital

Jackie Dao
CFO, Reach Capital

Lauren Dillard
Chief Financial Officer, Vista Equity Partners

Jessica Duran
Managing Director, Chief Financial Officer, TSG Consumer Partners

Fred Ebrahemi
Chief Operating Officer, Partner, and General Counsel, Clearlake Capital Group

Cesar Estrada
Private Markets Segment Head, Arcesium

Ivor van Esch
CFO and CCO, Knox Lane

Michaele Gobel
CFO, Equilibrium Capital

Katherine C. Gomer
Chief Operating Officer, Maverick Ventures

Ted Hill
General Partner and Chief Administrative Officer, B Capital Group

Stella Ho
Partner, CFO & CCO, LightBay Capital

Frank Hodas
Senior Vice President – Finance, Paladin Capital Group

Chris Iorillo
Chief Financial, Legal & Compliance Officer, Freeman Spogli

Brent Kelley
CFO and CCO, North Hudson Resource Partners

David Ludwig
Regional Director, Americas, EWM Global

Kevin Neubauer
Partner, Seward & Kissel

Ryan Parker
Chief Financial Officer, Mercato

Michele Reing
CFO, COO & CCO, LongRange Capital

Chris Sparenberg
Director, Commercial Strategy, S&P Global Market Intelligence

Albert C. Tan
Partner and Co-Head of Fund Finance, Haynes Boone

Brianna Wener
CFO, Avante Capital Partners

Matt Whelan
CFO & Managing Director, Finance Group, Gryphon Investors

Bessie Wu
CFO and CCO, NewView Capital

Nina Yoo
Chief Financial Officer, Fengate Asset Management
Connect with a community of CFOs, COOs and senior finance executives
The Private Funds CFO conferences enable providers to highlight their unique expertise to private equity’s most influential network of c-suite decision-makers. Sponsorship gives you:
- VIP access
- Thought-leadership opportunities
- High-profile branding
- And much more …
For more information on available sponsorship opportunities please contact Josh Stoller at joshua.s@pei.group.
Where successful CFOs and COOs connect
Better connections at the West Coast Forum
As a member of the Private Funds CFO Network, your networking experience will not stop after the West Coast Forum.
Members can connect with peers throughout the year, set up pre-meetings with those attending the West Coast Forum, meet in-person on the day, or pick up a conversation after the conference. The Network also provides opportunity for extra CPE credits for you and your team across the year.
Knowledge
Stay ahead of industry-wide issues with monthly webinars and virtual think tanks covering the most pressing subjects that CFOs, COOs and their teams face today (CPE credits available).
Connection
Find and connect with like-minded professionals facing similar challenges at our events and through our private network platform only available to members.
Events
Join in-person events and listen to the industry’s best keynote speakers, engage in working groups, think tanks, and much more. Members receive an exclusive rate for our in-person events.
Marriott Union Square
480 Sutter St.
San Francisco, CA, 94108
All conference sessions will take place at the Marriott Union Square. We are offering hotel rooms with a discount.