About Us

Attend any of 25-30 programs per year featuring leading business practitioners and thinkers.
Non-members may attend up to 2 ACG Chicago events per calendar year.
Network with over 1000 dealmakers at breakfasts, luncheons, conferences and social events.
Use ACG CapitalLink^SM, a proprietary database of thousands or private equity firms, hedge funds, mezzanine investors, small business investment companies, valuation firms and M&A advisory firms. Available at no cost only to ACG members.
Connect to other ACG Chicago members through the Essential Network web site.

About ACG Chicago

ACG Chicago is a leader in the Association for Corporate Growth (ACG) global network of over 12,000 professionals. The ACG Chicago mission is to be the premier network in Northern Illinois for experts and decision-making professionals focused on strategies for increasing stakeholder value.

More than 1,000 foremost authorities in their fields comprise this diverse and knowledgeable Chicago network of corporate executives, capital sources, corporate advisors and service providers. The Board of over 45 dedicated members along with over 100 other committee members focus on the needs of these professionals to build unparalleled opportunities for networking, deal-making, personal growth and professional development.

Our M&A/PE Network has been long recognized for its strength in the middle-market mergers and acquisitions / private equity community. ACG Chicago annually hosts the Midwest Capital Connection in October. Last year’s record setting event boasted over 1300 attendees who were networking and deal-making with over 140 private equity firms representing over $150 billion in capital. The annual Market Trends Breakfast and similar events through the year are some of the most heavily attended in Chicago. This year the committee will be adding a series of podcasts to keep members up to date on the most current issues in this volatile market.

The Corporate Network is comprised of senior executives of public and private companies throughout the Chicago area that foster strategic and organic growth. With many of its programs located in the suburban areas, ACG Chicago has been able to expand its network to those firms in the collar counties through its highly successful Authors Series programs featuring leading business authors and its new Corporate Summit conference. In addition the committee also produces a downtown Chicago program, articles, and podcastsof these presentations.

The International Network is designed for those corporate development officers and professionals involved in cross-border growth and transactions. This key variable of corporate growth will be increasingly critical as the global markets impact middle-market corporate growth. 2010 brings the 5th annual International Growth Conference with expanded programming to address the current market. This event is augmented by additional programs and roundtables as well as continuing expertise provided through its International Bulletin newsletter.

The Venture / Cleantech Network has been developed over the last two years as the Board recognized the evolving importance of this sector in our next stages of economic development. This network of professionals will again partner with academic, government, scientists, and entrepreneurs to present the 3rd annual Midwest Alternative Energy Venture Forum that has featured dozens of experts on panels and 27 ventures for direct investment. This network also gained ACG Chicago national recognition from its June 2008 summit on Advanced Automotive Battery Technology from which a National Automotive Battery Alliance was formed and recently petitioned the Department of Energy for research and development funds to maintain U.S. technical leadership in this area.

ACG Chicago Past Presidents:

2008/2009 James A. McNair
2006/2007 Michael L. Sklar
2004/2005 Craig A. Miller
2003 Carol A. Carsella
2001/2002 Gary I. Levenstein
1999/2000 William J. Fisher
1998 Paul E. Krantz
1996/1997 Michel J. Feldman
1995 James J. Blaha
1994 Don Locke
1993 Christopher A. Gebelin
1992 Ken Hoganson
1991 Patricia Buus
1990 George Stevenson
1989 Bill Finn
1987/1988 Bill Luke
1986 Carol Holmes
1985 Allan Juers
1984 Donald Olexa
1983 Gordon Breed
1982 Ken Bodenstein
1981 Phil Nielsen
1980 Bernie Kornhaber
1979 Hugh Wagner
1978 Connie Tuerk
1977 Bob Tilson
1976 Steve Slavin
1975 Ed Wozniak
1974 Ken Bonny
1973 Jim Ryan
1972 Tom Smith
1970/1971 Don Reed