AI in Action: Redefining Middle-Market M&A 

Kathleen is currently Director, Data AI & Delivery for BDO Digital. Her client service experience involves data governance, information technology program management, information security programs, and various process improvement initiatives for complex and highly visible customers within the federal, public and private sectors.

Kathleen is a technical data management professional with over ten years of experience leading information security programs, enterprise-wide risk mitigation, data management, and process improvement initiatives helping to ensure streamlined solutions to complex problems while adhering to best standard practice, legal, and regulatory compliance.

Prior to joining BDO, Kathleen served as Information Governance Operations Lead for the White House Information Governance office, where she conducted multiple process improvement programs, defining and implementing data privacy initiatives for Presidential and Federal records and data. Many of these programs revolutionized the way data is maintained, stored and processed for the Obama and Trump administrations.

Additionally, she worked as a Security Program Manager for White House Information Technology where her portfolio included Computer Network Defense, Information Governance, and Security Systems Engineering. During this time Kathleen worked to implement highly-integrated security programs and process improvements for computer network security, information security, data protection, vulnerability management, authentication, and incident response.

Mike is Chief Investment Officer at Cresset. In this role, he works with clients to identify their personal and financial aspirations, delivering personalized, strategic solutions that address their complex and evolving needs. As part of Cresset’s Investment Committee, Mike works with the investment team to source and underwrite new alternative investments for the Cresset platform.

In 2024, Cresset acquired CH Investment Partners, where Mike served as Co-President and Chief Investment Officer, growing the firm to over $6B in AUM from 2012-2024. As Chief Investment Officer of the firm, Mike led the Investment Strategy team, overseeing investment research, asset allocation, and risk management. Previously, he was employed by Crow Holdings-affiliated entities. Mike assisted in the transition of Wyndham International from a privately held enterprise controlled by Crow Holdings to a publicly traded company. As Vice President of Finance, he was responsible for bank and investor relations, corporate finance related to mergers and acquisitions, and various other finance and capital raising activities.

Mike is a member of the Board of the Directors for the Children’s Health System of Texas. He serves as the Chairperson of the Investment Committee and is also a member of the Quality, Credentials, and Appointments Committee. Additionally, Mike is an advisory member of the Investment Committee for the Thomas Jefferson Foundation and serves as a trustee for the endowment funds of the Notre Dame School of Dallas. He earned a Bachelor of Science in economics from Southern Methodist University.

Steven M. Rathbone is a Managing Director within the Investment Banking group. He has more than 17 years of experience providing investment banking, strategic advisory, and corporate financial services, with a primary focus on sell-side mergers and acquisitions. He is an experienced advisor across all stages of M&A transactions, primarily serving privately held middle market clients. In addition, Steven has a depth of experience representing global public and private companies in coordinating and executing complex corporate divestiture and carve-out transactions of non-core assets.

Steven's expertise spans a wide range of industries but is primarily concentrated in Diversified Industrials (services and supply) and Automotive (tire/wheel distribution, manufacturing, and service; parts distribution; automotive service; e-commerce).

Leveraging his robust global network, Steven has completed numerous cross-border M&A transactions and is routinely engaged by clients within his primary industry sectors in the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Germany. Steven also works on behalf of numerous globally recognized private equity firms in these same regions.

Prior to joining Stout, Steven was a Managing Director at HT Capital Advisors, a New York-based investment banking boutique specializing in M&A, merchant banking activities, and wealth management.

Tal Hacohen is a corporate attorney in Holland & Knight's New York office. Mr. Hacohen focuses his practice on advising domestic and multinational public and private company clients in all aspects of their strategic transactions, including domestic and cross-border mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures, debt and equity financings, and general corporate matters.

Over a career spanning nearly two decades, Mr. Hacohen has advised countless industry-leading companies in the fields of technology, life sciences, municipal services and infrastructure, financial services, specialty manufacturing and energy, among others, in transactions of all sizes and structures. Mr. Hacohen also advises boards of directors, shareholders and other stakeholders in all aspects of corporate, partnership and limited liability company (LLC) law, including corporate governance and fiduciary duty matters.

An entrepreneur at heart, Mr. Hacohen regularly provides solution-focused, strategic advice to early- and growth-stage companies and their founders, with a particular focus on Israel-related technology companies. He often acts as outside general counsel to his early-stage clients, providing support on general corporate matters, capital raising transactions, corporate governance and general business strategy.

Prior to joining Holland & Knight, Mr. Hacohen was an attorney at an international law firm.

While in law school, Mr. Hacohen served as editor of the Urban Law Journal.