Shape the future for private fund CFOs and COOs
The Private Funds CFO Network’s West Coast Forum connected peers with private funds finance and operational leaders on the West Coast. They discussed key topics that impacted CFO and COO roles and built valuable relationships.
Buy your Private Funds CFO Network membership today and join us at the next West Coast Forum.
Bring your team of senior executives and save at the next West Coast Forum | CPE credits will be available
2023’s West Coast Forum’s keynote speakers
Kesha Cash
General Partner
Impact America Fund
Keynote speaker Kesha Cash, discussed Impact America Fund’s investment strategy, historic fundraise, and vision for growth. She also discussed market trends, economic and political factors, and operating environment for private markets in the next 12 months.
Fred Ebrahemi
Chief Operating Officer, Partner, and General Counsel
Clearlake Capital Group
Day 2 keynote speaker, Fred Ebrahemi discussed his experiences as Clearlake grew from $1B vs. $70B AUM. He shared 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 was most proud of.
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
- Building top tier finance teams: aligning skillsets and compensation in today’s labor market
- Managing through growth & scaling firm operations
2023 Featured speakers
2023 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.
2024 agenda
Download the 2023 agenda to get a glimpse of what the Forum will look like. If you are interested in a speaking role for 2024, please contact Nikki Gale at Nikki.g@pei.group.
Pre-Event Resources
2023 Speakers
Contact Nikki Gale at Nikki.g@pei.group for speaking opportunities in 2024.

Shiraz Allidina
Managing Director, Citco Capital Solutions, Citco Fund Services

Chris Aronis
Chief Revenue Officer, Drawbridge

Ken Aseme
CFO, MaC Venture Capital

Brandon Baudin
Chief Financial Officer, The Sterling Group

Graham Bippart
Editor, Private Funds CFO & Private Equity International

Tim Buchner
COO of Alpha for Private Markets, State Street

Steve Bullock
VP of Financial Services, Kyriba

Carolyn Campbell
Managing Partner and COO, Emerging Capital Partners

Kesha Cash
General Partner, Impact America Fund

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

Ben Collins
Senior Director, Financial Services Industries Marketing, Sage

Larry Cook
Senior Vice President of Global Operations and Finance, Flourish Ventures

Amanda Coussens
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, P10

Louis Crasto
Sr. Director, RSM

Jackie Dao
CFO, Reach Capital

Jamison Davis, CFA
Chief Financial Officer, Bow River Capital

Mike Derrick
Chief Financial Officer, ACME Capital

Simba Dutt-Mazumdar
Managing Director - Accounting & Reporting Advisory, Stout

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

Cesar Estrada
Private Markets Segment Head, Arcesium

Paul Fielding
Chief Operating Officer, General Catalyst

Gadi Gefen
Chief Financial Officer, Next47

Michaele Gobel
CFO, Equilibrium Capital

Elise Gray
Head of CFO & Accounting Service Delivery, IQEQ

Adam Handlos
Chief Financial Officer, Galvanize Climate Solutions

John Herr
Chief Financial Officer, Francisco Partners

Ted Hill
General Partner and Chief Financial 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

Priya Iyer
Chief Executive Officer and Board Member, Concertiv

Brent Kelley
CFO and CCO, North Hudson Resource Partners

James Kerr
General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, Bow River Capital

Sophia Lee
Senior Vice President, Riverwood Capital

David Ludwig
Regional Director, Americas, EWM Global

Johnny Minassian
Partner, Financial Services and Investment, Withum

Kevin Neubauer
Partner, Seward & Kissel

Catherine Ollwerther
Vice President, Compliance and Counsel, AB CarVal

Ryan Parker
Chief Financial Officer, Mercato

Andrew W. Petri
Chief Financial Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, Pfingsten Partners, L.L.C.

Rama Ramachandran
Chief Technology Officer, Black Diamond Capital Management

Michele Reing
CFO, COO & CCO, LongRange Capital

Paul Schoper
Managing Director, Head of Fund Finance Group, Wells Fargo Corporate & Investment Banking

Derek Shanahan
Strategic Partnerships Director, Juniper Square

Mark Shang
CFO, Banneker Partners

Vicky Shum
Chief Operating Officer, WiL (World Innovation Lab)

Aaron Simkovich
Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, Maranon Capital, L.P.

Christopher Smith, CFA
Partner & CFO, SER Capital Partners

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

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

Lance Taylor
Partner and Chief Financial Officer, HGGC

John M. Van Der Wal
Senior Director, Compliance Advisory, COMPLY

Michael Walfish
Co-founder and CEO, Walrus Security

Eric Wauthy
Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer, Caltius Capital Management

Brianna Wener
CFO, Avante Capital Partners

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

Bessie Wu
CFO and CCO, NewView Capital

Elizabeth Yates
Director, Investor Relations, Thoma Bravo

Weiheng Zhang
CFO, AngelList
Connect with CFOs, COOs and their teams
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.