American Politics in Turbulent Times: An Insider's View
Grand Ballroom
8:30 - 9:45 AM
Jonathan Martin, a seasoned columnist for Politico and former national political writer for the New York Times, delves into the inner workings of both major political parties, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the extraordinary and unprecedented events shaping this election year.
JONATHAN MARTIN
Politics Bureau Chief and Senior Political Columnist
POLITICO
Prior to starting his column in 2022, Martin was the national political correspondent for The New York Times, serving as the publication’s top political reporter for nearly a decade. He is the co-author of The New York Times bestseller “This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America’s Future,” which gave readers in-the-room access to the extraordinary events of the 2020 election and its aftermath. Martin regularly provides on-air political analysis for ABC, NBC and CBS. He and his wife, Betsy, live in Washington and New Orleans.
Safeguarding Business Resilience: Ransomware and Cybersecurity Essentials
Third Floor, Room 316
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
In an era where ransomware threats pose business risks, collaboration between management, IT teams, and other stakeholders is paramount. This presentation offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of ransomware's impact and cybersecurity basics tailored to IMTA Management. Join Brandon Potter, ProCircular's CTO as he explores real-world ransomware cases, delves into the anatomy of a ransomware attack, and illuminates hidden risks beyond the technical fallout.
BRANDON POTTER
Chief Technology Officer
ProCircular
As the CTO of ProCircular, Inc., Potter stands at the forefront of a dedicated cybersecurity and compliance firm with headquarters in Coralville, Iowa, and additional offices in Des Moines and Minneapolis. With over 20 years of experience in Information Technology, including 14 years in cybersecurity consulting, Brandon brings a wealth of knowledge and a dynamic approach to the industry. He excels in forging strong partnerships with clients, understanding their unique business objectives, and developing tailored cybersecurity strategies. Brandon's ability to resonate with both executives and technical teams underscores his expertise in balancing budgets, personnel, compliance, and robust security measures.
Mergers/Acquisitions and Taxes in a Year of Change
Third Floor, Room 314
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM
The panel will provide an in-depth analysis of the current mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape within the transportation industry, offering expert perspectives on emerging trends and key drivers. Additionally, they will examine the potential impacts of anticipated tax law changes following the 2024 elections, exploring how these legislative shifts could reshape industry dynamics, influence corporate strategies, and affect future M&A activity.
RUSS DANIEL
Principal, M&A Tax Services
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
Russell A. Daniel is a principal in the Tax Services practice in Charlotte, and leads the Mid-South market territory’s Tax Services practice. He assists clients in identifying and evaluating tax risks and opportunities in connection with transactions, including M&A, and implementing federal tax planning strategies. With more than 17 years of experience, he has worked with numerous financial and strategic buyers in structuring acquisitions, buyouts, recapitalizations and internal reorganizations. Daniel is experienced in leveraged buyouts, acquisitions of financially troubled companies, tax-basis planning, transaction cost analysis, S corporations, net operating loss and Section 382 planning, and bankruptcy.
PATRICK MCAULEY
Principal, Transaction Advisory Services
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
Patrick is a Principal within our Transaction Advisory Services practice. He has developed extensive transaction experience serving as an adviser to publicly traded companies, private equity firms and privately held businesses. He has been involved in hundreds of transactions providing either buy-side or sell-side advisory. Patrick has significant M&A experience across many industries, with extensive experience in the transportation & logistics industry. Previously, he was a member of our Audit practice serving a wide range of clients, both public and private. Prior to his experience at Grant Thornton, he was in the Audit practice of a Big 4 firm.
JEFF COOK
Managing Director
Grant Thornton Advisors LLC
Jeff Cook is the Managing Director of State and Local Tax at Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, where he has served for over 24 years. Specializing in state and local income tax compliance, consulting, and planning, Jeff brings a wealth of experience to his role. Throughout his tenure at Grant Thornton, he has led numerous successful tax compliance projects and provided strategic tax planning for a diverse range of clients. As a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with advanced degrees in accounting and taxation, Jeff is a trusted advisor in the complex landscape of state and local taxes.