Friday, October 24, 2025:
Alternative Investment Conference
Tulane Freeman School of Business
Goldring-Woldenberg Business Complex
7 McAlister Drive, New Orleans
8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Schedule details may change as we finalize speakers and sessions.
8:00 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.
Registration/Credential Pick-Up
GWBC Room 170 corridor
8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast
GWBC Room 160
9:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
Welcome Remarks
Fireside chat on the state of the industry.
GWBC Room 170
Speakers:
- Mara Baumgarten Force, Director, Schwartz Family Center, Professor of Business Administration, Tulane University
- Jake Kriegsfeld, MD Tulane Endowment, Tulane University
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Getting Into the Alternatives Industry
GWBC Room 160
Speakers:
- Cameron Nifoussi, Analyst, Select Equity Group
- Scott Budner, CEO, Seabreeze Partners
- Sam Childs, Director of Client Relations, Astra Prime
- Dillon Weisberg, Senior Analyst, Abbott Capital Management
Moderator:
- Myke Yest, Assoc. Dean for Undergraduate Education, Tulane University
10:00 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
Being an Investor in Alternatives
GWBC Room 170
Speakers:
- David Thomas, CEO, Equitas Capital Advisors
- Adam Averite, Private Markets Director, Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana
- Brett Barth, Co-CEO, BBR Partners
- Tripp Friedler, Free Gulliver
Moderator:
- Oleg Gredil, Assoc. Professor of Finance, Tulane University
10:45 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Refreshments Break
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Democratization of Alternatives
GWBC Room 160
Speakers:
- Lucy Holland, AVP, iCapital
- Howard Nifoussi, Partner, Apollo
- Nic Volpi, Partner, Permira
Moderator:
- Bjorn Forfang, Co-founder and Managing Partner, Erigo Capital Partners
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
Trends in Private Equity
GWBC Room 170
Speakers:
- Rankin Hobbs, Sr. Associate, Longueview Capital
- Ben Gerber, VP, HarbourVest Partners
- Gareth Turner, Private Equity Partner, Apollo
- Chip Dunn, CEO, Monomyth Group
- Canaan Heard, Founder and CEO, Heard Holding Company
Moderator:
- David Thompson, Professor, Tulane University
12:15 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Lunch (by invitation only)
Executive Dining Room, GWBC Room 460
1:30 p.m. - 2:25 p.m.
Where Is There Investment Opportunity Now
GWBC Room 160
Speakers:
- Sam Arnold, Partner, Palo Duro Investment Partners
- Derek Fossier, President, Equitas Capital Advisors
- Jacques Soenens, CEO, Great Gable Investments
- Deion Banta, Private Markets Manager, Teachers Retirement System of Louisiana
Moderator:
- Peter Ricchiuti, Director of Research, Professor of Finance, Tulane University
1:30 p.m. - 2:25 p.m.
The Future of the Credit Market
GWBC Room 170
Speakers:
- Rob Betts, Managing Director, Fidelity Investments
- Amanda Heitz, Professor, Tulane University
- Noel Christopher, Managing Director of Strategy & Growth, The Fay Group
Moderator:
- Robard Williams, Analytics, Strategy & Execution, The Fletcher School at Tufts University
2:45 p.m.
Networking Ice Cream Social
Executive Dining Room, GWBC Room 460
