ACG National Capital
Earlier this week we featured the first post in a new series of Q&A’s with Strategic Growth Conference attendees. The series is designed to explore why the Strategic Growth Conference is a “must attend” event for business leaders in the Mid-Atlantic region. Our first Q&A was with Ricky White, the Mid-Atlantic Transaction Advisory Services Leader with Grant Thornton LLP.
This week we had the luxury of speaking with Greg Treger, Managing Director at Clearsight Advisors, a leading Merchant Banking firm specializing in providing strategic advice to growth oriented businesses in connection with Private Capital Raising, M&A and Financial Advisory Services.
How many years have you been attending the Annual Strategic Growth Conference?
Greg: I’ve been going to the event for five years or so now. I also attend other regional ACG events like the one in Philadelphia.
What continues to bring you out to the Strategic Growth Conference?
Greg: From personal experience, it’s a great local event to attend for people that are interested in the deal environment. What can attract people nationally is the DealSource, which serves as a great opportunity for private equity firms and investment bankers to set up a series of meetings to discuss multiple deal opportunities. Since our firm’s focus is national, providing an environment to meet with 15 PE firms in one day is incredibly effective and efficient. So in essence the event serves as a good opportunity for prospective business deals, which is always nice to see.
Have you experienced business deals for your firm as a result of the event?
Greg: Absolutely, we have introduced PE firms to current deal opportunities and been introduced to prospective clients owned by these PE Firms as a direct result of events like this.
What would you say is the difference between the Strategic Growth Conference and the other regional ACG events you attend each year?
Greg: I’d say the biggest difference between this event and some of the others is that D.C. is uniquely situated to address the marrying of technology and services from the public and private sectors. The impressive lineup of speakers, corporate attendees and entrepreneurs will foster lively discussions on how Technology is impacting both the public and private sector. This is a particularly exciting time to look at the intersection of technology, capital, politics and the entrepreneurial spirit.
Also, as we’re coming out of the recession we’re seeing businesses refocus on growth and consequently seeing more government businesses looking to get involved in the private sector and vice versa.
What are you especially looking forward to at this year’s event?
Greg: I am really looking forward to our corporate members hearing Bill Green, Executive Chairman of Accenture. As we all know, Accenture has a large presence in both the commercial and government services space, and few firms like Bill’s have experienced the type of success on both sides.
It will also be interesting to hear how technology is being utilized differently in the private and public sector, and best practices that can be leveraged between the two.
For more information on attending the upcoming Strategic Growth Conference at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner on April 16 and 17, please visit the ACG National Capital Web site.