2026 Agenda 

Preliminary Program (all times are subject to change) 

8:00 – Networking Continental Breakfast (coffee and pastries)

8:50 - 9:00 – Welcome and Introductions

9:00 - 10:00 – Keynote Speaker - TBA

10:00 – 11:00 – The Strategic Shift: From Transactions to Trusted Partner in Customer-to-Cash

Overview: It’s time to take off the gloves and dig in-to workshop that may just be one of the most valuable educational programs you’ve ever attended. This two-hour interactive session will help you create the Guiding Principles to becoming a strategic business partner, align baseline best practices on the overarching Customer-to-Cash experience, identify opportunities where AI can accelerate driving value, and provide food-for-thought to take home with you and apply in your own companies. Led by a team of experts from The Hackett Group, this session is guaranteed to generate practical ideas that can change the way you do business.

11:00 – 11:15 – Refreshment Break & Exhibitor Networking

11:15 – 12:15 – Session/Workshop Continues: The Strategic Shift: From Transactions to Trusted Partner in Customer-to-Cash

12:15 – 1:15 – Lunch

1:15 – 2:15 – Contained Compute: How to help your workforce swiftly and safely

Overview: Join Pete Getchell of the Siven Group and Ed Ienner of People Inc. to learn the secrets of bringing agentic AI onto your finance team safely and swiftly. No slides full of theory. No product for sale. Just a conversation designed to leave you with something to act on NOW with your IT and compliance partners while dutifully examining bigger, longer term, AI solution building.

Pete and Ed will explain how, in an environment ripe for true AI change, onboarding can take as little as 45 days. Finance Leaders will leave the session understanding what IT and InfoSec Leaders actually need from business to say yes to adding agentic workforce members now. Bring your questions. Leave with answers.

2:15 – 2:30 – Refreshment Break & Exhibitor Networking

2:30 - 3:30 – Session Topic TBA

3:30 - 4:30 – Session Topic TBA 

4:30- 5:30 – The New Media M&A Playbook: Consolidation, Capital, and Strategic Partnerships 
(Held in conjunction with the MFM Regional Meet Up Event)

Overview: Consolidation, a shifting capital environment, and an expanding sponsor presence are redefining how media deals get done. This session covers current deal activity across local media, broadcasting, sports, gaming, and digital content; how private equity and strategic buyers evaluate assets differently; what drives value in the first 100 days post-close; and practical lessons learned from recent transactions.
RSM’s James Zarour will lead attendees through the following key discussion points:
  • Current media sector deal activity
  • Private equity's role in local media, broadcasting, sports, gaming, and digital content
  • What strategic buyers are looking for
  • What’s important, 100 days post-close
  • Lessons learned from recent transactions 
    • CPE: 1 [Field of Study: F =Finance/Level: Overview/Delivery Method: Group Live/No Prerequisites or Advanced Preparation]

5:30 – 7:00 – National Media Credit Conference Attendees and Regional Meeting Joint Networking Reception sponsored by The Hackett Group

Questions? Send an email to [email protected]