ANN ARBOR, Mich., Sept. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Two premier alternative-investment conferences—the 12th annual Michigan Private Equity Conference and the third annual Women Who Fund Forum—will be held on November 2-3, 2017. The two conferences expect more than 200 private equity and institutional finance professionals from across the United States to attend. Hosted by the Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, these events coincide with the recent release of Evolution of Investing at University of Michigan 1817-2016, a seminal book tracing the evolution of endowment investing at U-M over the last two hundred years and the University's emergence as a highly sophisticated, globally diversified institutional investor with a $9.9 billion portfolio.
Many of the current investment themes and strategies slated for in-depth discussion at both of this year's conferences—ranging from venture capital and private equity to direct private investment, co-investment and fund of funds—simultaneously echo and amplify the milestone advances in asset class allocation, geographical diversification and multi-manager portfolio management pioneered and refined by the U-M Board of Regents and later the Office of the Chief Investment Officer over two centuries.
"The returns on investments realized through the University's endowment model feed the growth of excellence in teaching, research and service at Michigan and other universities where our success is emulated," commented David J. Brophy, Director of the Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance. "These two events bridge what we've done at the University with the current challenges and new opportunities for those in private equity and institutional investing to give attendees a leg up."
"Boutique" Private Equity Event Attracts Big Name Speakers
The half-day Private Equity Conference, held at the University of Michigan's Michigan League on November 3, will feature addresses from notable U-M alumni who not only have significant expertise in but have also made notable contributions to the private equity field. David Frank, CEO and Managing Partner of Stonehaven, a leading global alternative asset placement agent platform, will deliver the opening keynote address. To close the day, Brophy will host a fireside chat with Jeff Blau, CEO of Related Companies, the most prominent privately owned real estate firm in the United States.
In addition to these program highlights, there will be remarks from Rafael Castilla, Director of Investments at the University of Michigan Investment Office and co-author of Evolution of Investing at University of Michigan 1817-2016, two panel discussions on LP's outlook and change on PE and alternative investments, as well as the deal landscape domestically vs. cross-border, and a breakout session on the strategic uses of M&A insurance to help close PE deals. Featured panelists include:
3rd Annual Women Who Fund Conference to Address Successful Careers in Alternative Investment and Tech Mobility
Preceding the Private Equity Conference on November 2, the third annual Women Who Fund Forum will be held at the U-M Golf Course Postma Family Clubhouse in Ann Arbor. The boutique event will showcase and connect dynamic women who are breaking through gender barriers in the alternative investment field, and paving the way toward rewarding careers for future generations.
This year's conference will be headlined by Mary Petrovich, chairman of the board of Axle Tech International and operating executive of the Carlyle Group. In addition to her keynote, Petrovich will lead the group in sharing strategies for success and providing tips, tools and tactics that other women can use to reach their full career potential. Eleni Kelakos of the Eleni Group will follow up with a professional development session on "Performing to Your Peak." Finally, a panel of elite women executives in the Tech Mobility space will discuss how the industry is meeting the needs of alternative investing. The panelists are:
Attendees of both events are invited to kick off the conference on November 2 at 5:30 p.m., with cocktails and dinner at the U-M golf course's new Richard L. Postma Family Clubhouse.
Online registration is open through October 31. Register online for the Private Equity Conference and the Women Who Fund Forum. For more information, please contact Mary Nickson at mnickson@umich.edu or 734-615-4424.
About the Samuel Zell & Robert H. Lurie Institute for Entrepreneurial Studies
The Institute and its Center for Venture Capital and Private Equity Finance bring together an impactful combination of deep-seated knowledge, enriching experiences and strategic opportunities from the front lines of entrepreneurship and alternative investment. Students' learning experiences are further enhanced through internships, entrepreneurial clubs, business competitions and campus-wide events that foster valuable networking and engage the business community. The School's four student-led investment funds, with over $8.5M under management, immerse students in the entrepreneurial business sourcing, assessment and investment process. Founding Zell Lurie advisory board members include Samuel Zell, chairman of Equity Group Investments, and Eugene Applebaum, founder of Arbor Drugs Inc. For more information about the Zell Lurie Institute, visit www.zli.umich.edu.
About Michigan Ross
The Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan is a vibrant and distinctive learning community grounded in the principle that business can be an extraordinary vehicle for positive change in today's dynamic global economy. The Ross mission is to develop leaders who make a positive difference in the world. Through thought and action, members of the Ross community drive change and innovation that improves business and society. Ross is consistently ranked among the world's leading business schools. Academic degree programs include the BBA, MBA, Part-time MBA (Evening and Weekend formats), Executive MBA, Global MBA, Master of Accounting, Master of Supply Chain Management, Master of Management, and PhD. In addition, the school delivers open-enrollment and custom executive education programs targeting general management, leadership development, and strategic human resource management.
SOURCE The Zell Lurie Institute