September Dinner Meeting

Ana Melikian, Ph.D., is a speaker, Top 1% podcaster, and the author of MINDSET ZONE: Actualize Your Potential, a #1 Amazon Best Seller in Organizational Learning. Ana earned a Ph.D. and two masters in Psychology, laying a solid foundation for her work that integrates research data with practical applications. Dr. Melikian is at the forefront of navigating the human side of the AI disruption. Her work aims to harness the power of artificial intelligence to leverage our human potential, ensuring that technological advancements enhance, rather than diminish, our humanity and collective well-being.

David Pardys is Co-Chair of Polsinelli’s nationally recognized Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) group, where he represents private companies, selling shareholders, financial institutions, and fiduciaries in all aspects of ESOP transactions. He regularly advises mature ESOP companies on sustainability, growth strategies, and complex mergers and acquisitions across industries including manufacturing, food service, insurance, construction, financial services, and health care. David also brings deep experience in federal tax law, tax-exempt entities, and matters involving the IRS and U.S. Department of Labor.

Michael is the President for WealthPoint located in Phoenix, Arizona. Since joining WealthPoint in 2012, Michael has spent time working with 150+ privately held businesses on developing their succession plan. His role is to manage all of the technical aspects of any of the planning strategies that are recommended to clients or advisors. This includes the case design, research, analysis preparation and solution architecture for succession and exit strategies for its business advisory clients. Additionally, he manages the proprietary financial modeling tool that WealthPoint created to assist its clients to numerically stress-test various planning strategies. Furthermore, he has extensive experience dealing with financial projections and valuation for

operating businesses, Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and various tax-efficient succession planning strategies. Michael also serves on the board of a few successful companies in the Phoenix area.

Phil is a deal lawyer who brings practical solutions and creative thinking to business sale, purchase, and financing transactions, often on tight timelines. A Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst, he uses a multidisciplinary approach that integrates legal, tax, and financial expertise. Private equity firms and strategic purchasers rely on Phil for buy-side representation due to his business-oriented perspective and project management approach to M&A, which helps reduce costs and increase efficiency. With over 30 years of experience, Phil draws on his tax and accounting background to guide clients through complex deals while minimizing taxes and maximizing value. Known for his responsiveness and thought leadership, Phil builds long-term client relationships and serves as a trusted adviser who keeps the broader business picture in focus