Josh Roach

Managing Director

Meritage Group LP

Josh Roach is a trusted peer and long-time member of the SFO (single-family-office) community where, over the last fifteen years, he has created significant social capital through his efforts to build like-minded networks and collaborative models to: (a) merge common interests and objectives, (b) pool and leverage specialized industry knowledge and skill sets, and (c) optimize alignment between asset owners in co-investment vehicles.

He is Managing Director of Meritage Group, a private investment firm and family office vehicle for the Jim and Nat Simons Family – the founder of Renaissance Technologies and the renowned Medallion Fund. Meritage Group is a fundamentally oriented investment firm investing across all asset classes, including control stakes in direct private operating platforms.   Prior to Meritage Group, Josh was co-manager and family principal of LCP (Lloyd Capital Partners LLC), an investment company vehicle for the Henry Demarest Lloyd Family, whose wealth creation originated from its shared ownership in The Chicago Tribune starting in 1873 through to its public listing on the NYSE in 1983.

Josh is a frequent speaker on the topics of collaborative networks and co-investing at trusted SFO forums and has chaired events such as Campden Wealth’s North American Family Investment Conference, Institutional Investor’s Family Office Wealth Forum, and Stanford University’s Global Projects Center’s Stanford Investor Forum.

Prior to joining the SFO community, Josh spent ten years in the software industry in corporate development roles where he worked with the various company’s venture partners on strategic initiatives, acquisitions, and exits.

Josh graduated from the University of Vermont in 1993. Prior to that he was a nationally ranked alpine ski racer and attended Killington Mountain School and graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall.

Evelyne Massa

Investor Relations

Group RMC

Evelyne heads Investor Relations at Group RMC, a family-held private real estate co-investment group headquartered in New York City. Group RMC is focused on acquiring and holding large, undervalued office portfolios in the U.S. Midwest and Southeast and presently oversees 19.4 million sq. ft. of commercial office real estate, representing over $2BN in asset value. Its principals co-invest to a significant degree in each acquisition alongside co-investors from across North America, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Evelyne has previously worked in Canadian politics and completed a BA in sociology from McGill University, as well as graduate studies in the UK at the University of Cambridge and Oxford University.

Brandon K. Laughren

Co-Founder and CIO

Laughren Group

Brandon K. Laughren, Managing Director, Co-Founder and CIO of the Laughren Group, a single family office with investments private equity, private debt, venture capital and real estate. In addition, he serves as a mentor for two startup accelerators. Prior to co-founding the Laughren Group, Mr. Laughren founded and managed Stone Laughren LLC, a private equity and venture capital advisory firm. Mr. Laughren has acted as a transaction advisor and an investor for 30+ years. He has been involved in M&A transactions totaling more than $50 billion in value and debt and equity raises in excess of $10 billion

Enzo Gabrielli

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Horizon Capital Holdings

Enzo Gabrielli has been with the family office of the Right Honorable Paul Martin for the past 15 years and is currently the Executive Vice President and CFO. The principal holding is CSL Group (Canada Steamship Lines) which is the world’s largest commercial manager of self-unloading vessels, and operates highly specialized fleet for off-shore transhippers and bulk carriers. Horizon Capital Holdings Group is a broad-based investment vehicle and management organization that provides diversification to marine logistics. Our portfolio includes North American real estate and direct investments in private companies, with a primary intent to buy and hold for expansion and growth. In his capacity, Enzo holds the title of President for various subsidiaries companies and also serves as a director and audit committee chairman for several portfolio investments and not-for-profit entities. He oversees the real estate and investment portfolio, assists with various philanthropic initiatives and manages the various facets of a family office. Prior to joining Horizon, Enzo worked for accounting firms in the financial advisory services, with significant experience in corporate finance, M&A transactions, insolvency and corporate restructuring in Canada and United States. Enzo pursued his graduate studies at McGill University where he graduated with Great Distinction. He holds both a chartered accountant and chartered financial analyst designation as well as the ICD.d designation. He lectured in the business program at McGill University.

Enzo Gabrielli fait partie du bureau de gestion du patrimoine familial du Très Honorable Paul Martin depuis plus de 15 ans et agit présentement en tant que vice-président exécutif et chef de la direction financière. L’actif principal est le Groupe CSL (Canada Steamship Lines) qui détient et exploite une flotte hautement diversifiée de navires autodéchargeurs spécialisés, de transbordeurs en mer et de vraquiers de petit tonnage. Horizon Capital Holdings est une société de gestion et d’investissement qui offre une diversification à l’industrie du transport maritime. Le portefeuille comprend des actifs immobiliers en Amérique du Nord ainsi que des participations dans des sociétés privées, avec comme objectif principal la détention à long-terme axée sur la croissance. Il agit également à titre de président de plusieurs filiales du groupe ainsi qu’administrateur et président du comité de vérification de plusieurs des sociétés en portefeuille et organismes à but non-lucratif. Il assure un suivi du portefeuille d’investissement en immobilier, supporte les activités philanthropiques du groupe et gère différents aspects du bureau familial. Avant de se joindre au groupe, Enzo a acquis de l’expérience au sein de bureaux comptable dans le domaine du financement corporatif, transactions de fusions et acquisitions, insolvabilité et restructuration tant au Canada qu’aux États-Unis. Enzo a poursuivi ses études supérieures à l’université McGill où il a gradué avec la mention « Grande Distinction ». Il est détenteur du titre de CPA et CFA ainsi que du titre IAS.A. Il a donné plusieurs cours dans la faculté de gestion de l’université McGill.

Michael Danov

President & Chief Investment Officer

SBP Management

Michael Danov is president and CIO of SBP Management, a family office specializing in direct and alternative investments. With more than a decade of investment and financial analysis experience, Michael specializes in executing investments focused on public equity opportunities in the alternative, healthcare, metals & mining, cryptocurrency, oil & gas, luxury consumer goods, and technology. He is responsible for advising the operational business on financial matters, growth strategy, and M&A opportunities.

Michael received his BSc in Finance from the College of Staten Island CUNY. Before his presidency at SBP Management, Michael was a senior vice president at the New York City-based Kingston Advisors. He was responsible for increasing several public companies’ visibility with the investor community, strategic consulting, and M&A.

He utilizes his experience as president, CIO, and senior advisor to bring strategic and growth-oriented value to his current portfolio companies. Michael is also a Venture Partner for CerraCapVentures and a Board Member of Bidease. Previously Senior Advisor at Premium Choice, Halcyon Global Opportunities, Asset Management. He has strong relationships with hedge funds, mutual funds, operators, pension funds, family offices, analysts, and bankers, giving him unique access to high-quality deal flow.

Michael provides mentorship to people with career advice, enjoys traveling and visiting new cities, likes to run, and was previously part of the NY marathon in 2017. Currently a member at Edmond J. Safra Synagogue in NY.

Oded Levi

President

Epstein Enterprises Inc

Oded is the President of Epstein Enterprises Inc., a single-family office based in Toronto. EEI is a multi-faceted investment company with direct and indirect investments in private and public corporations as well as commercial and residential real estate. EEI invests with various investment managers on a passive basis as well as providing support for technology companies that span pre-revenue through growth stage, with a preference towards late seed and early growth rounds. EEI prefers to support its companies in a non-operational way and by investing in multiple rounds.

Prior to coming to EEI in 2006, Oded worked in the international tax practice of a large accounting firm and at a boutique investment research firm. Oded is a CPA, CA and has a BBA in Accounting and MBA in Finance from the Schulich School of Business at York University. He has served on the boards of public, private and not for profit organizations.

Thomas Kalafatis

Managing Partner

KalNes Capital Partners

Past Managing Partner, Independent Trading Group (ITG) Inc.;
Past Managing Director & Head, Global Equity Execution & Prime Services Group, CIBC World Markets Inc.,
Past Vice-President, Toronto Stock Exchange

Tim Cestnick

Co-Founder & CEO

Our Family Office Inc.

Tim Cestnick enjoys a reputation as one of Canada’s most respected experts and public speakers in the areas of tax and personal finance. Tim is Co-Founder & CEO of Our Family Office Inc., one of Canada’s leading wealth advisory firms to affluent families.

Tim consults and speaks in all areas of personal finance. In addition to his CA designation, he is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA), Certified Public Accountant (Illinois), a Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and a Trust and Estate Practitioner (TEP).

Tim’s national speaking profile is confirmed by his position as a personal finance columnist for the Globe & Mail’s Report on Business, Canada’s national newspaper. He has authored 18 best-selling books, and is a regular contributor and on-air personality on radio and television. He appears regularly on CTV, CBC Newsworld, BNN, and the best-known money programs in the country.

Tim and his wife Carolyn have three children and two dogs. All are hockey fanatics – especially the dogs.

Constance Everson

Managing Director

Capital Markets Outlook Group, Inc.

Constance M Everson, CFA, Managing Director Capital Markets Outlook Group, Inc.

Connie Everson is Managing Director of the economic & investment strategy consulting firm, Capital Markets Outlook Group (CMOG) in Boston, which she founded with a colleague in 1992. The firm has managed to identify every major turning point for major asset classes since its founding. Connie is represented on the CFA Institute Speakers Bureau, and is a past- president of the Boston Economic Club. She serves on the investment committee of Mass PRIM, the pension fund for public employees in Massachusetts, and investment and audit committees of the Weredale Foundation in her native Montreal.

Ash Lawrence

Senior Vice-President and Head of AGF Private Capital

AGF Investments Inc.

Ash Lawrence joined AGF as Head of AGF Private Capital, the firm’s private markets business, in February 2022. He is a seasoned private markets leader with a wide breadth of expertise in investments and portfolio management across sectors. Ash brings the right combination of strategic thinking, deep experience and strong relationships to drive the growth of AGF Private Capital, a key pillar of the firm’s growth strategy.

Ash has approximately 20 years of private markets experience, including 16 years with Brookfield Asset Management working on real estate investments and portfolio management in North America and Brazil. He most recently led the firm’s Canadian real estate business. Prior to that, he worked at a real estate company managing development strategies and the financing of municipal infrastructure projects. He also worked as an engineering consultant, developing infrastructure and transportation solutions for private and public sector clients.

Ash earned an MBA from the Rotman School of Management and a Bachelor of Applied Science, Civil Engineering, from the University of Waterloo.

Kunjal Shah

Chief Investment Officer

Lyxor Asset Management Inc.

Kunjal Shah joined Lyxor Asset Management Inc. (“Lyxor Americas”) in August 2014 as the Global Head of Hedge Fund Research. He was appointed as Chief Investment Officer in May 2020. Mr. Shah is responsible for supervising the Portfolio Management and Hedge Fund Research teams, as well as developing advisory investment offerings and customized hedge fund solutions. Mr. Shah brings more than 20 years of experience in hedge fund manager selection, due diligence, and monitoring to his position. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Shah was employed by Arden Asset Management, where he was a Partner and Managing Director. Prior to that, he was a Director and Co-Head of Hedge Fund Credit Risk Management for the Americas at Deutsche Bank AG. He was also an integral member of the Hedge Fund Credit Risk Management team at Goldman Sachs & Co. in New York, where he led due diligence and monitoring of hedge funds. Mr. Shah holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Manchester, and an M.B.A. in Finance, Management and Strategy from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

Jared Kalish

Partner, Private Capital

FirePower Capital

Jared Kalish is a co-founder of FirePower Asset Management, which houses FirePower’s Private Debt and Private Equity businesses.

Passionate about building companies, Jared brings creative thinking and leadership to FirePower’s portfolio of businesses, always with the goal of optimizing strategic business direction, providing hands on operational support, and assisting with financial structuring, underwriting and M&A activities. Jared is a member of FirePower’s credit and investment committees, and is responsible for managing Firepower’s limited partnerships.

Prior to FirePower, Jared was responsible for Structured Finance and Strategic Equity for Investec in Canada. He was appointed as a division head for Investec Bank in South Africa at the age of 27, where he led the Equity Structuring team to realize substantial growth in profitability, providing derivative and structuring solutions for clients.

Jared holds a BSc in Actuarial Science and an MSc in Risk and Stochastics from the London School of Economics where he was ranked first overall in his class.

Michael Steepe

President & CCO

Steepe & Co. Ltd.

Michael Steepe is the founder, President and Chief Compliance Officer of Steepe & Co. Ltd., a registered exempt market dealer and investment fund manager based in Toronto. The firm is focused on allocating to U.S. private credit managers through various Canadian trust and GP/LP structures. Since 2007, Steepe & Co. has specialized in offering private and public, short-term, Canadian and U.S. mortgage/credit/direct lending funds to the Canadian retail and institutional marketplaces.

Prior to Steepe & Co., beginning in 1990, Michael worked for two large Toronto-based real estate developers as a commercial leasing agent and condominium sales representative for Tridel. Working in financial services as a manager in 1995, Michael underwrote mortgages and provided credit financing facilities to high-net-worth investors for private real estate structured investments. As Senior Manager at Laurentian Bank, Michael managed the distribution of various credit-based products and trust services sold to advisors in Ontario and Atlantic provinces through the B2B Trust division. With the creation of BLC-Edmond de Rothschild in 2000, Michael helped launch the Canadian version of the Rothschild mutual funds and hedge fund Leveraged Capital Holdings. The assets of BLC-Edmond de Rothschild were sold to Industrial Alliance in 2005, where Michael remained as vice-president and aided in the transition until his departure and launch of Steepe & Co. Ltd. the following year.

Sandy Poklar

Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director

Firm Capital Corporation

Sandy Poklar is currently the Chief Operating Officer and Managing Director, Capital Markets & Strategic Developments for Firm Capital Corporation, EVP Finance for Firm Capital Mortgage Investment Corporation (FC : TSX), Chief Financial Officer and a Trustee for Firm Capital Property Trust (FCD.UN : TSX) and President & CEO of Firm Capital Apartment REIT (FCA.U/FCA.UN : TSXV). Sandy is also a Trustee and Chairman of the Audit Committee for True North Commercial REIT (TNT.UN : TSX). Prior to joining Firm Capital, Sandy was employed at Macquarie Capital and TD Securities where he was a Vice President in their Real Estate Investment Banking Groups. Sandy is a CPA, CA in Canada, a CPA(US) licensed in the State of Illinois and has his ICD.D designation.

Brian Zalaznick

Global Head of Investment Strategy

Unison

Brian Zalaznick is the Global Head of Investment Strategy at Unison, a San Francisco and Omaha-based company that pioneers a smarter, better way to own a home.

Until Unison’s debut, the only way to finance a home was by taking on debt. Through Unison’s residential equity sharing agreements, Unison helps homeowners access their equity flexibly with no monthly payments or interest.

Institutional investors are continuously searching for sources of uncorrelated beta to help enhance the quality of their returns.. One of the largest and most elusive return streams is homeowner equity in single-family homes in the U.S. By partnering with homeowners, Unison has solved the difficult problem on how to help institutional investors access this $21 trillion investment opportunity.

Unison operates in 30 states and territories, including Washington, D.C., and has helped over 10,000 households, with a combined home value of more than $8.2 billion.

Prior to joining Unison, Brian was head of ABF Capital Markets at Wells Fargo Securities and Managing Director – Head of Structured Credit at BlackRock – Barclays Global Investors.

Brian attended Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management where he earned his MBA in Finance and Marketing.

If you’d like to connect with Brian, please email to brian.zalaznick@unison.com