• Tuesday, March 6, 2007

You've put a lot of work into getting your business to the point it is today. When you exit it, you want it to be in the best possible position in order to get the most value for all your blood, sweat and tears. By beginning your exit planning today, you can transition the company to new management smoothly and avoid the disruptions that can adversely impact you and the business.

This EVOLVE seminar will cover three common ways to exit a company: selling, succession, and merger. Our panel of entrepreneurs will talk about how they positioned companies for exit, how they chose their strategy, and what they feel went well (and what they wish they could do over). In addition, professional advisors will discuss the financial implications and legal considerations of exit planning.

Topics covered will include:

• How to choose the best strategy to exit your business;
• Which outside advisors to involve in the process; and
• How to build the strategy into your business plan.

When you exit your business, it should be in your own time and on your own terms. By attending this seminar and beginning your exit planning now, you can receive the maximum value and ensure a successful transfer to the new owners - a win-win for every entrepreneur!

Panelists

John J. Cummins is a partner at Cummins & Associates, Ltd. He concentrates his practice in business advising, mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures, and intellectual property protection. His clients are primarily technology oriented companies, health care ventures, licensed professionals, and entrepreneurs. He has represented clients varying from Fortune 500 companies, shareholders of public and private corporations, to emerging companies and entrepreneurs.

Mr. Cummins has experience as a general counsel, chief financial officer, chief operating officer, and a member of the boards of director of several businesses. He previously was general counsel and CFO for PocketScript, Inc., a software developer for wireless physician systems. He also worked for the legal departments of DePaul University and a federally chartered savings & loan with assets in excess of $1 billion and eighteen branches.

Mr. Cummins received his B.A. and J.D. from DePaul University and currently is Vice Chairman of the Dean's Advisory Council for the DePaul University College of Law and Chairman of the Athletics Advisory Council for DePaul Athletics. Mr. Cummins shares the distinction of being the first four-year letter winner in Men’s NCAA Division I soccer at DePaul University. Most recently, Mr. Cummins was awarded the Outstanding Young Alumnus Award by the DePaul University College of Law.

Leonard Gingerella is a faculty member of the Entrepreneurship Program at DePaul University. He has over 25 years of top executive leadership experience including division president, senior marketing, and senior sales roles within Fortune 500 companies. His career spans large international companies to successful technology start-ups.

Len's entrepreneurial experience includes the founding, growing and subsequently selling of a multi-million dollar management-consulting firm to a NYSE company.

Len has consulted to large, medium and small companies, and thrives on chaotic, challenging, and ambiguous environments. He is best known for innovation, performance metrics, and bottom line results.

Len holds a MS degree in Business Administration from Central Michigan University and has authored numerous published articles as well as consulted to leading global organizations such as Applied Materials, IBM, MBNA, Ford, General Motors, AT&T, and Samsung and has served as a business adjunct professor at St. Edward's University and Concordia University, Austin, Texas.

Moira Staggs is the president of NuToys Leisure Products, Inc. NuToys is the leading supplier of commercial playground equipment and outdoor park furniture in the Chicago area. They are distributors for eight different manufacturers of recreation products and sell in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri. The company was founded by Moira's father, Jack Gleason in the early seventies and currently employs twelve people.

Moira has been selling for NuToys for the past ten years and has been transitioning into a management role in the company for the past three years. She has worked with countless communities to dream about, plan, and build wonderful play spaces for children. She is now tackling the responsibility of dreaming about, planning, and building a company that can continue to thrive in the constantly changing marketplace. She and her father are beginning the process of transitioning ownership of the company as well.

Moira has a B.F.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. She is a member of the Midwest Institute of Park Executives, certified by the National Park and Recreation Association as a Certified Playground Safety Inspector, and recently attended the Urban Summit on Parks and Recreation. She also serves as the Scholarship Chair for the West Suburban Chapter of Women in Management.

HOW ENTREPRENEURIAL QUEST SEMINARS WORK

E Quest seminars are focused on topics that are relevant to each stage of entrepreneurial development: EXPLORE, LAUNCH, GROW or EVOLVE. A typical seminar features experts giving guidance and entrepreneurs sharing advice from their experiences; and always includes ample time for you to ask questions. When you attend an E Quest seminar, you will gain knowledge that is targeted towards what you and your business are going through now.