What Founder-Led Businesses Need to Know to Attract Buyers and Maximize Exits
Register on PDA Website → Click Here
Whether you're planning an exit in 12 months or 5 years, the decisions you make today determine whether you attract premium buyers or leave value on the table.
Join the Private Directors Association® Arizona Chapter for an evening with M&A practitioners, PE investors, and operators who have collectively evaluated and closed hundreds of lower middle market transactions. This isn't theory - it's a direct conversation about what buyers actually look for, what kills deals, and what you can do now to strengthen your position.
Who This Is For
Owners, CEOs, and CFOs of privately held businesses
Current or aspiring private company board members and advisors
Operators planning for growth capital, recapitalization, or a future exit
Professional advisors (attorneys, CPAs, wealth managers) supporting founder-led companies
Location:
ASU SkySong - Scottsdale Innovation Center
1475 N. Scottsdale Rd, 349 Discovery Conference RoomScottsdale, AZ 85257
Agenda
5:30 PM - Registration, networking, and refreshments
5:45 PM - Welcome and PDA Arizona Chapter introduction
5:55 PM - Topic framing: why acquisition readiness matters now
6:00 PM - Panelist introductions
6:05 PM - Panel Discussion: Attracting Buyers & Maximizing Exits
6:55 PM - Q&A
7:15 PM - Closing remarks & Post-event networking
What You'll Walk Away With
The buyer's lens on your business - what matters most and what gets overlooked
The financing lens - what makes a deal bankable and what makes it fall apart
The governance lens - how boards and advisors increase confidence and readiness
A practical checklist you can start using immediately to prepare for capital or an exit
Panel Discussion Arcs
Arc 1: The Buyer's Lens - What acquirers look for beyond the financials. Red flags that kill deals before diligence. How buyers assess founder dependency risk.
Arc 2: Financing & Deal Structure - Earnouts, seller notes, rollover equity, and the tradeoffs founders need to understand. What Quality of Earnings reports reveal and how to prepare for one.
Arc 3: Governance & Readiness - Advisory boards vs. fiduciary boards vs. peer boards — when each makes sense. How governance structure directly impacts valuation.
Arc 4: The Owner Action Plan - The one thing to do Monday morning to increase your company's value. The single biggest mistake founders make during the exit process.
Your Panelists
Simit Shah - Senior finance, capital markets, and business transformation executive with 20+ years of experience. Specializes in developing innovative financing strategies and executing strategic transactions that unlock commercial value across financial services, education, and manufacturing.
Kazem Harfouche - Founder and Managing Partner, Cedar Crest Capital. Focused on acquiring lower middle market traditional businesses. Previously led operational due diligence for PE firms at Deloitte Consulting. Former board member at StubHub International, Bodybuilding.com, and Classic Vacations.
Thomas Fagan - Entrepreneur focused on running and acquiring founder-led service businesses for the long term. Works directly with owners to position their business for a strong outcome while protecting legacy, people, and culture.
Moderated by Adam Wiley - Strategic advisor to industrial companies and early-stage founders on operational transformation, digital enablement, and data governance. Specializes in building the advisory structures that position businesses for better outcomes.
About the Private Directors Association®
PDA is a national association dedicated exclusively to improving private companies' growth and sustainability through governance. Founded in 2014, PDA connects business owners, CEOs, board members, and aspiring board members across chapters nationwide.
The Arizona Chapter convenes directors, executives, owners, and the C-Suite of private companies for expert programming on leading board practices and developing issues.
Learn more: https://www.privatedirectors.org/arizona-chapter
Registration & Pricing
This is a paid event with member and non-member pricing. Registration is handled on the PDA website.
Register on PDA Website → Click Here
Not a PDA member? Learn about membership benefits and join: https://www.privatedirectors.org/join