Event Speakers

Go Back

As founder and managing partner of ACM and an internationally recognized turnaround expert, James F. Martin has created and restored more than $1 billion in value to private companies. In addition, Martin has raised a half billion dollars in capital, and bought and sold companies in excess of $500 million. Mr. Martin specializes on turn-around advisory and has vast experience in the aviation and fast food industries. Today, Martin serves ACM clients in various capacities including financial advisory, strategic renewal, mergers and acquisitions as well as synergistic opportunities. In addition to his turnaround success, Martin’s track record includes strategic renewal, organizational reform, debt restructuring and raising capital. Martin is also well versed in the world of bankruptcy as he has successfully guided companies through Chapter 11 filings. Martin earned an MBA from Emory University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance from Florida State University. He is a Certified Public Accountant.

Christopher D. Rock, CFA, Vice President, is a member of BlackRock Private Equity Partners (PEP). He is responsible for supporting institutional capital raising, marketing, and client coverage for PEP's direct co-investment, separate account, and fund-of-funds business. Prior to assuming his current role in 2013, Mr. Rock was a member of the Private Investors group, where he was responsible for partnering with Merrill Lynch Financial Advisors to provide customized investment solutions to high net worth and institutional clients. Mr. Rock began his career at BlackRock in 2006. Mr. Rock earned a BS degree in Business Administrationfrom Bucknell University in 2006. He has been a CFA® charterholder since 2010.

As GenSpring Family Offices and SunTrust Advisory Services, Inc.’s Managing Director, Private Equity & Credit Strategies, Ravi leads all the private capital solution efforts for the firm. Ravi is responsible for helping with the selection and coverage of illiquid long-dated assets such as private equity, private real estate, private real assets and private credit. Additionally, he is responsible for helping to provide client advisory services to address client requests for ad hoc illiquid asset reviews and analysis and also for private capital solutions. Ravi brings over 20 years of investment experience in the areas of private equity, venture capital, investment banking, merger & acquisitions (M&A) and business operations. Ravi was a Managing Director at Catalyst Financial focused on principal investing and M&A for private and public micro-cap companies. Prior to Catalyst, Ravi was a Managing Director and Partner at Crossbow Ventures for 10 years where he helped to lead and exit several of the firm’s investments in the information technology, business services and health care sectors. Ravi holds a MBA in Finance and International Business from Florida Atlantic University, an MS in Computer Science from Marquette University and a BS in Engineering from Pune University in India. Ravi was an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) from 2003-2013 and a past charter member of TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs). Ravi is also a graduate of the Venture Capital Institute and was a participant in the Stanford University/YPO Presidents Seminar on Entrepreneurship and Corporate Governance. In July 2014, Ravi successfully completed the Institutional Limited Partners Association (ILPA) Level II Private Equity Executive Education program. Ravi currently holds the Series 65 license.