Dealmaker Wisdom for 2026

Join us for an empowering evening of networking and conversation on January 27, 2026, from 5:45 PM to 8:00PM at Plante Moran in the Denver Tech Center. Hosted in collaboration with Pierson Ferdinand, Class VI Partners, the Women of Mergers & Acquisitions Network, Plante Moran, and in partnership with the CU and DU Law and Business Schools, this event will feature a panel of leading female executives in M&A and finance sharing their dealmaking wisdom as we step into 2026.

Agenda

5:45-6:30 Arrival and Networking

6:30-7:30 Panel & Q&A

7:30-8:00 Wrap Up and more Networking

Hors D'oeuvres and beverages will be provided during the networking portion of the evening.

Panelists include:

Moderator, Jill Montera - VP of Strategy, Class VI Pathfinder

Jill Montera serves as the VP of Strategy at Class VI Partners, where she leads the development and execution of strategic initiatives and fosters collaboration across business units to achieve organizational goals. Before this role, she was the COO of Class VI’s Pathfinder business unit. Over the course of her career, Jill has successfully led and scaled businesses across diverse industries, including technology, telecommunications, energy, and higher education. Jill is passionate about helping companies expand and prepare for external capital investment or acquisition by a strategic or private equity buyer. She holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder and a graduate certificate in Nutrition Science and Policy from Tufts University.

Panelist, Julie Herzog - Corporate Law Partner, Pierson Ferdinand

Julie Herzog is a corporate law partner at Pierson Ferdinand, where she advises clients on a wide range of corporate, securities, and mergers and acquisitions transactions. She has managed transactions totaling more than $4 billion, representing clients that range from Fortune 100 companies to startups and family offices. Since 2013, Julie has closed more than 100 transactions valued at over $1.5 billion across industries, including consulting, cannabis, technology, real estate, and retail. Her experience spans the full business lifecycle, informed in part by her background as a founder who built and successfully sold a clothing business, giving her a practical, operator’s perspective on client needs and decision-making. Known for her down-to-earth and efficient approach, Julie partners closely with clients to achieve business objectives while thoughtfully navigating legal and strategic risk. Outside of her practice, she is a single mom to triplets and enjoys spending time with them exploring the Colorado outdoors year-round.

Panelist, Joanne Baginski - Partner, Plante Moran

With 25 years of experience in transaction advisory services, Joanne Baginski has guided hundreds of buy-side and sell-side transactions, including quality of earnings, working capital targets, and carve-out financials. Joanne's expertise spans multiple sectors, including consumer products and technology, and she is known for her creative approach to data analysis, providing clients with deep insights and strategic counsel. A frequent speaker at industry conferences, Joanne is the board president of the Denver Chapter of the Association for Corporate Growth and holds a B.S. in accounting from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Outside of work, she enjoys sports, hiking, and spending time with her family and dogs.

Panelist, Tracie Kelly - Director Marketing, Excellere Partners

Tracie Kelly brings more than 20 years of experience driving growth and sourcing investment opportunities for middle-market private equity firms.

Tracie is deeply involved in the front end of the investment lifecycle, partnering closely with investment bankers, business brokers, and founders to identify and source platform and add-on opportunities. She plays a vital role in expanding Excellere’s sourcing engine while also shaping the firm's market presence as chief storyteller. She balances strategic brand building with analytical rigor to amplify the firm’s market presence and support investment activity across Healthcare, Business Services, and Industrial Growth.

She currently serves on the boards of ACG Denver and WOMAN in M&A, and is a member of Exponent Women and ACG’s Women's Leadership Network.

Panelist, Jillian Cook - Investment Banking Analyst, Class VI Partners

Jillian joined Class VI Partners as an Investment Banking Analyst in Fall 2025, following a successful internship with the firm. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Cum Laude with Honors from Colorado State University with a B.S. in Data Science and a Concentration in Economics.