Texas
Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition
Conference
Agenda
Thursday, October 16, 2025
Time
Description
4:30 – 6:00 p.m.
Panel - Veterans in Business: From Service to Ownership (Invite Only)
Hosted by Owners In Honor
Sponsored by Texas Capital and Stellar Bank
6:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Networking Happy Hour (Invite Only)
Co-hosted by Owners In Honor
Sponsored by Texas Capital and Stellar Bank
Friday, October 17, 2025 • McNair Hall, Rice University
Time
Description
7:00 – 8:00 a.m.
Breakfast
8:00 – 8:20 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
8:20 – 9:10 a.m.
Panel 1
The Mind of the Seller
- Peggy Tate, Nextgen Partners
- Dan Altom, Sun Belt Brokers
- Dave Linda, Spaceman Home & Office
- Paul Daus, Mary Regina Catholic Stores
- Moderator: Chris Barrett, Midwest CPA
9:10 – 9:20 a.m.
Transition Break
9:20 – 10:00 a.m.
Axial | Winning Methods in Deal Sourcing
- Peter Lehrman, Axial
10:00 – 10:25 a.m.
Networking Break
10:25 – 11:15 a.m.
Panel 2
Fueling the Deal
- Shelley Naglieri, Comerica
- Jared Johnson, First Internet
- Jacob Hall, Kando Capital
- Tatiana Gaspar, Next Coast
- Moderator: Matthias Smith, Pioneer Capital
11:15 a.m. – 12:35 p.m.
Networking Lunch
12:35 – 1:20 p.m.
Keynote Address
- Jim Vesterman, Raptor Technologies
1:20 – 2:10 p.m.
Panel 3
The Diligence Blueprint
- Chris Barrett, Midwest CPA
- Mark Sinatra, Aspen HR
- Andy Harbut, NewCo Risk
- Greg Phillips, Phillips Kaiser
- Moderator: Gary Cooper, Cooper CPA
2:10 – 2:35 p.m.
Networking Break
2:35 – 2:50 p.m.
First Internet Segment
- Jared Johnson, First Internet Bank
2:50 – 3:40 p.m.
Panel 4
The Operator’s Arc
- Shell Zhang, Nada’s Italy
- Raj Kankaria, Lonestar Attorney Services
- Josh Gresham, Arrowhead Line
- Hank Dallam, Net Gain Technologies
- Moderator: Reid Pennebaker, ETA Circle
3:40 – 4:00 p.m.
Closing Reflections
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Evening Mixer
Sponsors
Platinum
Gold
Silver
Ecosystem Partner
