Bryan Cressey is a managing partner at Cressey & Company responsible for identifying, consummating, and monitoring new investment partnerships as well as developing relationships with talented healthcare executives. Bryan began his career with First Chicago Equity Group and was one of the founders of the firm that became Golder, Thoma, Cressey, Rauner (GTCR). He co-founded Thoma Cressey Bravo in 1998 and Cressey & Company in 2008. His industry consolidation leadership has been recognized by Fortune and Time magazines, and his particular expertise in the healthcare services field has been widely acknowledged. A member of the Chicago Business Hall of Fame, and the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, Bryan received his bachelor of science in economics at the University of Washington and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and a JD from Harvard Law School.

Blair Jacobson is partner and co-president of Ares Management Corporation. He serves as co-chair of the Ares Operating Committee and is a member of the Enterprise Risk Committee and the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council. Blair also sits on the boards of Ares Management Limited and Ares Management UK Limited, and on several investment committees across Ares’ Credit, Secondaries, and Sports, Media & Entertainment strategies. Previously, he was co-head of European Credit until 2025. Before joining Ares in 2012, Blair was a partner at The StepStone Group, leading European operations and overseeing private debt and equity investments. He also held senior roles at Citigroup Private Equity and Mezzanine Partners in London and New York, and earlier worked in investment banking and M&A at Lehman Brothers. Blair earned a bachelor of arts, magna cum laude, in political economy from Williams College and an MBA with honors from Chicago Booth.

Marty Nesbitt is co-chief executive officer and founding partner of Vistria, LLC, a private investment firm focused on healthcare, education, and financial services. Previously, he was president and CEO of TPS Parking Management (The Parking Spot), which he co-founded with Penny Pritzker, leading all strategic and operational aspects. Before that, he was an officer at Pritzker Realty Group and held roles in investment management at LaSalle Partners. Marty serves on the boards of CareMetx, ForwardLine Financial, Help at Home, Media Source, Treliant, Vanta Education, and the University of Phoenix. He also serves on the boards of CenterPoint Energy, Chewy, Inc., and American Airlines Group. He also is a trustee of Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art, Rush University Medical Center, and Chairman of the Barack Obama Foundation. Marty holds a bachelor of arts and honorary doctorate from Albion College and an MBA from Chicago Booth.

Konstantin Sokolov is the founder of IJS Investments, a private equity firm focused on the intersection of technology, finance, and infrastructure. An expert in energy and digital transformation, he founded the Northern Pillar Energy Consortium to connect Europe and Africa with clean energy and high-speed digital connectivity. Previously, he was managing director of strategy and mergers & acquisitions at Centrica PLC and has led major restructuring projects for sovereign wealth funds and central banks. As a key shareholder in VIVA, Armenia’s largest telecom provider, Konstantin has driven its post-acquisition growth, leading to a ~6% rise in operating income and a 30% increase in net profit in 2024. Earlier in his career, he served as director of enterprise architecture at Qwest Communications (now Lumen Technologies), modernizing U.S. government telecom infrastructure. He has advised governments and corporations globally. Konstantin holds a master’s in mathematics and computer science from St. Petersburg State University and an MBA from Chicago Booth.