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Community Program… Wealth Building Through Business Ownership
Join us for an afternoon that expands the conversation around business ownership.
Presented in collaboration with Chicago Booth: Milwaukee Alumni, this community program is designed to make business acquisition a real possibility for people who are ready to pursue it.
Business ownership stands as a direct route to lasting wealth, yet the knowledge needed to pursue it is often perceived as out of reach. The program, How to Buy a Business, changes that perception, giving participants a clear, practical introduction to what it takes to buy, run, grow and sell a business.
Attendees grow their knowledge, gain confidence, and expand their networks. Presentations and panel discussion focus on understanding how business acquisition works, insight into what lenders and sellers look for, and concrete first steps toward pursuing ownership. The program is built to create momentum, turning “I’ve thought about it” into “I know what I need to do next.”
This afternoon is for…
- People curious about how business ownership can be a path to building wealth.
- Those actively searching for a business to buy/acquire.
- Current owners thinking about growth and the exit/sale.
- Advisors, lenders, and community leaders who are committed to helping women become owners and successful operators.
Registration required; see below. Net proceeds will benefit the Women’s Fund.
AGENDA
12:30 p.m., Arrival with info tables and networking
1 – 5 p.m., Program
1 P.M.
Opening remarks and welcome
Finding a Business — search strategies, working with brokers, assessing opportunities, and recognizing a business worth pursuing.
Running a Business — building value over time.
2:30 PM
Break
2:45 PM
Financing: Buying and Selling a Business — valuation, due diligence, financing including the importance of SBA lending, and structuring the deal. Then, preparing for an exit, what buyers look for, and timing.
Keynote & Fireside Chat — a candid conversation who has searched, bought, run, and sold, plus Q&A.
Closing — key takeaways, resources, and an invitation to stay connected.
5 – 6:30 p.m., Reception (optional) — beverages and appetizers, conversations for lasting connections.
PRESENTERS AND PANELISTS
Click on each person’s name to see their details.
ABOUT LISA ATTONITO, WOMEN'S FUND OF GREATER MILWAUKEE
Lisa Attonito was named as executive director of the Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee in November 2016. Committed to activating philanthropy to advance equity for women, the focus is on economic empowerment, leadership skills, and education. The Women’s Fund is shifting attitudes, behaviors, and culture so that greater Milwaukee is an inclusive world-class community where women and girls realize their full potential and everyone thrives.
Lisa has extensive experience leading, managing, and marketing service organizations. She is known for team building that includes cultural awareness and inclusivity. Her career includes senior positions with several well-known, best-in-class nonprofit organizations. She has secured millions of dollars for capital initiatives for the betterment of our community.
Lisa earned a Bachelor’s of Business Administration from the University of Wisconsin — Milwaukee.
ABOUT STEVEN DEVOUGAS, BUY SELL EDGE BUSINESS BROKERS
Steven M. DeVougas focuses his practice in the areas of commercial real estate, transactional business law and business litigation.
Steven has spent over a decade representing clients in disputes involving business and contract matters, pre- and post-judgment collections, construction defect, employment, insurance coverage, medical malpractice, legal malpractice, personal injury and toxic torts.
Given Mr. DeVougas’ unique and broad range of experience, he is regularly called upon to provide risk management counsel to business owners, nonprofits and entrepreneurs, often serving as outside general counsel.
Prior to forming the DeVougas Law Group, Mr. DeVougas was an attorney with Quarles & Brady, LLP, as well as Hinshaw & Culbertson, LLP.
ABOUT LEANNE FOSTER, LF ADVISING LLC
LeAnne Foster, CPA, is the Managing Director of LF Advising LLC, a consulting firm specializing in mergers and acquisitions for privately held businesses. She advises business owners on the sale of privately held businesses, divestitures, and strategic acquisition searches, guiding clients through every stage of the transaction process.
LeAnne works with companies across a variety of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, service, healthcare, transportation, and technology. She develops marketing materials, advises clients during negotiations and closing, and oversees the many details involved in completing a successful transaction.
Known for her practical, hands-on approach, LeAnne helps business owners navigate complex decisions and achieve their business and personal objectives. She is a member of Midwest Business Brokers & Intermediaries (MBBI), Tempo Milwaukee, and several professional networking organizations. Her commitment to client service and attention to detail help business owners achieve successful outcomes and maximize the value of their businesses.
ABOUT MARY HANNES, GOLDEN ANGELS INVESTORS
Mary Hannes is an accomplished investor and business leader, serving as director and limited partner at Golden Angels Investors, where she focuses on supporting early-stage companies across various industries.
She brings deep expertise in corporate strategy, healthcare, and business transformation, honed through senior leadership roles at Assurant Health and McKinsey & Company. She has a strong track record of driving revenue growth, developing innovative products, and improving business processes.
Mary earned her MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and her BBA from the University of Michigan Ross School of Business.
ABOUT SARAH JUSTIN, REVE CFO ADVISORS
Sarah Justin, CPA, is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Rêve CFO Advisors, a fractional CFO practice helping law firm owners avoid burnout, increase profitability, and gain financial clarity and peace of mind.
Sarah brings more than 20 years of experience spanning public accounting, corporate controllership, and entrepreneurship. Early in her career, she worked with public financial service businesses at KPMG and PwC before moving into controller roles overseeing accounting, tax, and financial reporting for real estate and healthcare real estate organizations. In between, she built her own business from the ground up: as owner of an education franchise, she scaled it into one of the top 25 in North America before successfully selling it — giving her first-hand experience with the full lifecycle of business ownership, from acquisition and financing to growth and exit.
Today, as an outside CFO, Sarah helps business owners understand the financial drivers behind their decisions, from deal structure and financing to pricing, hiring, and growth strategy. She is a licensed CPA in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania and is based in Milwaukee.
Sarah will moderate the “Buying a Business” panel, drawing on her experience as a CPA, fractional CFO, and former franchise owner who has personally navigated valuation, financing, and deal structuring.
ABOUT LYNNE KECKEISEN, MEDC
Lynne M. Keckeisen is an experienced small business and community development professional with more than 30 years of experience as a business owner, consultant, and lender. She currently serves as a senior relationship manager with MEDC, specializing in community development lending and helping businesses access capital and navigate the financing process.
Previously, Lynne worked with the Small Business Development Center and the Wisconsin Women’s Business Initiative Corporation, advising entrepreneurs on business planning, financial management, lending, and growth strategies.
A former small business owner herself, Lynne brings a practical, entrepreneurial perspective to her work and is passionate about connecting business owners with the resources, relationships, and capital they need to succeed.
ABOUT SHEILA LONG, MALAMADOE
Sheila Long is a UWM Lubar Entrepreneurship Center Fellow, certified Project Management Professional (PMP), healthcare leadership lecturer, entrepreneur, and Lean Six Sigma expert. As founder of MalamaDoe, a women-focused coworking and entrepreneurial community in Shorewood, she is passionate about helping women build businesses, expand networks, and create economic opportunities.
Sheila is also the Amazon #1 bestselling author of Surrounded by Awesome Women. She holds an MBA in Strategy and Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and brings extensive experience leading strategic initiatives across healthcare, technology, manufacturing, and education.
ABOUT HEATHER NELSON, SPRING BANK
Heather Nelson is a seasoned banking executive with more than 30 years of experience, specializing in commercial lending and small business development. She began her career at First Wisconsin National Bank, where she gained broad exposure across banking operations before advancing into commercial
lending. Heather has held key leadership positions including chief lending officer at Legacy Bank and senior commercial lender at Spring Bank. She was named president of Spring Bank in 2023 and became president & CEO in 2024.
Heather has supported more than 100 business startups and actively collaborates with organizations such as WWBIC, MEDC, and the SBA to expand access to capital for underserved entrepreneurs. She holds a B.A. from UW–Madison and an MBA from UW–Milwaukee.
Her community leadership includes service on the boards of WCREW, REACH, the Waukesha YMCA, the Waukesha County Business Alliance, the SBDC Advisory Board, and The Harbor District.
She is known for her client-centered, results-driven leadership.
ABOUT HEATHER NILL, U.S. BANK
Heather Nill is a vice president and healthcare relationship manager with U.S. Bank, bringing more than 20 years of banking experience helping business owners start, stabilize, scale and transition businesses.
With a passion for supporting women in business, Heather brings both a financial and entrepreneurial perspective to conversations around building sustainable businesses and legacy for their communities and families.
As a fellow entrepreneur, Heather has a thriving wellness coaching business by teaching others the benefits of mind-body connection, managing stress, achieving greater outcomes and runs international wellness retreats. She believes in authenticity and building connections through powerful conversations.
Heather loves playing tennis and spending time with family.
ABOUT IRINA OTTO, VITANEXUS
Irina Otto has spent over 20 years turning emerging technology into enterprise value — and the last several building her own company from zero. As Founder and CEO of VitaNexus, she’s developing an AI platform that connects lifespan, healthspan, and brainspan into a personalized approach to cognitive health and healthy aging.
Before founding VitaNexus, Irina scaled an organization from $2M to $200M in revenue over four years and served as CTO for AI and Private Capital at Microsoft, leading technical strategy for one of the company’s most complex AI transformation mandates — enabling global partners to deploy data-driven solutions across healthcare, financial services, and infrastructure. She previously built and led Microsoft’s Global Partner Solutions technical organization worldwide.
Irina teaches Deploying and Scaling AI in the Chief AI Officer Executive Program at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. She holds an MBA from Chicago Booth and an MS in Data Science from Johns Hopkins.
ABOUT LAUREN O'DESKY, OASIS SENIOR ADVISORS
Lauren O’Desky is an entrepreneur, business leader, and Certified Senior Advisor who has built her career around identifying gaps in complex systems and creating businesses to solve them. She is the founder and leader of Oasis Senior Advisors, WellSpring Nursing & Care Management, and Compass Medicaid Services, with businesses operating across multiple Midwest markets.
Known for her ability to turn ideas into practical, scalable businesses, Lauren is passionate about growth, leadership, building strong teams, and improving the way families experience healthcare and aging. Her career has evolved from helping individual families solve difficult problems to building organizations, partnerships, and systems designed to help thousands more.
Lauren lives in Milwaukee with her husband, Ryan, and is the mother of three children, Asher, Jonah, and Hannah. She is deeply involved in the Milwaukee community and believes that some of the most meaningful businesses are built at the intersection of purpose, opportunity, and a willingness to ask, “Why are we still doing it this way?”
ABOUT KILEY PETERS, RAYNE IX
Kiley Peters is an international award-winning entrepreneur, speaker, and exit planning strategist with 20+ years building businesses.
Founder of RAYNE IX® and formerly Brainchild Studios® (scaled to nearly 7 figures, 30+ team, Fortune 500 clients, exited on her own terms in 2022), she’s taken the stage for Google, Content Marketing World, and The Second City, among many others.
ABOUT LIZ SUMNER, SHOP
What happens when you finally bring your dream to life? For Liz Sumner, that dream was a vision of a store—one where women could find clothing that not only made them look good but also feel good. A place offering unique styles and accessories that weren’t available everywhere else, with prices that felt accessible, and customer service that went above and beyond.
In 2007, Liz shared this dream with her mother, Mary LeBlanc, and in just a few months, SHOP was born in a vibrant neighborhood just north of Downtown Milwaukee. As the store grew, Liz and Mary welcomed Jess Hoeft as the store manager.
SHOP offers women a carefully curated selection of on-trend clothing that’s comfortable, distinctive, and fun to wear. These pieces quickly become favorites—the ones you reach for over and over.
Liz and the SHOP team loves helping customers find their style, offering personalized advice and a shopping experience that feels just right.