The Turnaround CEO at DealMAX

Turnarounds aren’t theory, they’re survival. At DealMAX, Kevin Duffy and I unpack what it really means to step in as a turnaround CEO in the mid to large market when time, capital, and trust are all running low. From making hard calls fast to resetting culture and driving accountability, this Grit Rising episode gets into the mindset and moves required when you’re brought in to fix what others couldn’t.

Join us for a special live recording at ACG DealMAX, Last Call: Inside the Mind of a Turnaround CEO, on April 28 at 2:00 PM in the Bristlecone Ballroom at ARIA Resort & Casino. The conversation features Kevin Duffy, whose leadership journey offers a compelling look at navigating growth, pressure, and transformation. Together, we’ll explore the traits that define strong operators: resilience, adaptability, and the discipline to execute when markets shift and expectations rise.

Events like DealMAX matter because private equity is ultimately an ecosystem built around people who build companies. Investors, lenders, operators, and advisors come together not just to find deals, but to exchange ideas about what it takes to grow businesses once those deals are done. In the middle market especially, execution after the transaction is what determines long-term success.

That operator perspective is also why Bryson Financial continues to invest in being part of the DealMAX community. Much of our work centers on supporting private equity firms and their portfolio companies as they scale, helping leadership teams manage risk, protect assets, and operate with confidence as businesses grow.

Beyond the conference floor, Bryson will also host an exclusive, invitation-only gathering called ‘Deals After Dark’, a speakeasy-style event designed to bring together a select group of industry leaders for deeper conversation. While many conference interactions happen quickly, the most valuable insights often come from smaller groups where operators and investors can share real experiences from the front lines.

Private equity will always be about capital and transactions. But the firms that create lasting value understand something deeper: success belongs to the operators who combine discipline, resilience, and grit to win in high-stakes environments. If you are headed to DealMAX, please connect with us!