Business Owner Success Panel

Meet the Panel

Nicole Middendorf, CDFA

CEO, Prosperwell Financial Wealth Advisor

Nicole shares financial advice and a real-life perspective on saving, planning, and investing with audiences across the country. Her primary goal is to take complicated subjects and make them easy to understand. She works hard to empower her audience to make crucial and positive changes in their own lives. Nicole’s books have received local and national press coverage, where she has become known for her thoughtful concise quotes, relaxed on-air presence, and articulate delivery.

Stuart Bear

President
Chestnut Cambronne

Stuart Bear is a partner, shareholder, and the president of Chestnut Cambronne and holds a national reputation for providing the highest level of succession planning services for individuals and businesses; including single individuals, married couples, domestic partnerships, blended families, and seniors. His practice specializes in wills, trusts, disability planning, powers of attorney, living wills, asset protection, and Medical Assistance planning. A native of Superior, Wisconsin, Stuart received his B.A. from the University of Minnesota, Phi Beta Kappa, and his J.D. from William Mitchell College of Law.

Wade Christensen, CPA

Froehling Anderson

Wade began his accounting career in 2000 because of his childhood love of math. He says he is fortunate to have had “phenomenal instructors” throughout high school and college who encouraged him to pursue his passion. “Accounting is a good fit for me in that it keeps me on my toes,” he says. “I really enjoy learning new things and finding ways to improve our clients’ tax situation.”

Jeff O’Brien

Attorney
Chestnut Cambronne

Jeff O’Brien is a partner with Chestnut Cambronne and serves as outside general counsel to a wide variety of small and closely held businesses as well as real estate investors and developers. He has significant experience working with craft breweries, distilleries, and a variety of other liquor and hospitality focused businesses on an array of issues including entity formation, financing, real estate matters, intellectual property protection, operational issues, securities law, and distribution contracts. Jeff also advises clients in the industrial hemp and cannabis industries and is a member of the Minnesota Industrial Hemp Association’s Board of Directors.

Sean Bunner

Investment Banker
Raymond James & Associates Inc.

Sean Bunner joined Raymond James in 2021 as a Director in the Professional Partners group. Prior to joining Raymond James, Mr. Bunner served in senior executive roles across consumer and retail brands including WW Intl, Qurate Retail Group and HSN leading business development, M&A and innovation teams seeding businesses that led to $1B+ in new revenue. Mr. Bunner also led marketing and compliance for a high growth FinTech that powers digital DAF platforms for large banks and wealth management organizations. He began his career in corporate finance and investment banking for Honeywell as well as with a boutique, corporate finance consulting firm serving early to mid-stage growth companies in software, telecommunications, energy, healthcare and financial services. Mr. Bunner received his undergraduate degree in Accounting and MBA from the University of South Florida, has a CPA and serves on the local board for Habitat for Humanity.

Who should attend

• Business owners looking to drive the valuation of their company and increase attractiveness from buyers
• Business owners looking to sell all or part of their company with in the next few years
• Business owners considering a material capital raise to make acquisitions and grow
• Own or lead a company with at least $1m of revenue
• Business owners that want to network with other business owners

Guests Will

• Learn about the Corporate Transparency Act
• Learn how to prepare for a transaction to make better decisions along the way
• Calculate “The Number” you would need to net from a sale in order to maintain or achieve their desired lifestyle
• Understand how to estimate the valuation of your business and learn how to maximize valuations
• Receive an overview of advanced estate planning and tax mitigations strategies to help maximize an owner’s net proceeds form the sale
• Network with Buyers and Investors
• Meet other Founders/Owners who are building investment grade businesses
• Develop an actionable exit plan and professional
• M&A team to support a successful exit
• Hear form a panel of owners who have successfully exited and learn mistakes to avoid