BLUEMAP's Spring M&A Summit
Schedule
Wed Apr 22 2026 at 09:00 am to 04:00 pm
UTC-04:00Location
250 W Main St | Lexington, KY
About this Event
EVENT SUMMARY
Choose from full-day or morning-only attendance packages:
Morning Session:
DEAN DORTON | 250 West Main Street, Suite 1500, Lexington, KY 40507
Parking - Lexington Financial Center Garage (fee required)
9:00 a.m. - Arrival / Coffee / Networking / Meet and greet
9:30 a.m. - Jamie Hargrove, Founder, Hargrove Firm. Topic: "From ‘Highest Price’ to ‘Lowest Tax’' / Q&A
10:15 a.m. - Michael Hardy, CEO, Hardy Oil Company. Topic: "Fueling an Acquisition" / Q&A
11:00 a.m. - Networking / Table Break
11:25 a.m. - Aaron Anderkin, President & CEO, Integrated Sign and Graphic. Topic: "Buying a Business from an In-Law"/ Q&A
12:10 p.m. - Morning Wrap-up
Full Day (Morning + Afternoon Lunch, Networking, Racing):
THOROUGHBRED CLUB and KEENELAND RACE COURSE | 3555 Rice Rd., Lexington, KY 40510 (Free Parking).
1:30 p.m. - Lunch buffet at TCA (business casual dress code)
Afternoon - Networking (cash bar) and racing (TCA / Keeneland)
NOTE TO ECONOMICS / ACCOUNTING / FINANCE STUDENTS AND FINANCE FACULTY AT KENTUCKY UNIVERSITIES:
Email [email protected] or call 502.509.6768 with your contact information to obtain a special discount attendance code.
Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM
Arrival | Networking | Coffee (Location: Dean Dorton)
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:15 AM
From Highest Price to Lowest Tax
Host: Jamie Hargrove, Hargrove Firm
Info: Attorney and CPA Jamie Hargrove explores "From Highest Price to Lowest Tax: How Sell-Side Advisors Win More Deals and Deepen Client Relationships. ” When preparing to sell their business, most owners start with one objective—“get me the highest price." The conversation inevitably shifts to what matters most: how much they keep after taxes. This session focuses on how sell-side professionals can proactively incorporate tax and trust planning into the deal process—not only to improve client outcomes, but to differentiate themselves, win engagements, and strengthen relationships with both clients and their advisory teams.
🕑: 10:15 AM
Fueling an Acquisition
Host: Michael Hardy, CEO, Hardy Oil Company Inc.
Info: Michael Hardy, CEO of Hardy Oil Company, Inc., discusses challenges that his family-owned company faced in acquiring, financing and negotiating a long-term acquisition target that would more than double existing revenues. Hardy tells a compelling story of persistence, stubbornness and solutions.
🕑: 11:25 AM
Generational Transition: Buying from the In-Laws
Host: Aaron Anderkin, CEO, Integrated Sign & Graphic
Info: In early 2025, Aaron Anderkin took the helm of Integrated Sign and Graphic (ISG), a Lexington architectural signage firm, and began focusing on modernizing workflows through AI and project efficiencies. Anderkin talks about motivations, hurdles, due diligence, insights and opportunities uncovered during the deal process.
🕑: 01:30 PM
Afternoon at The Thoroughbred Club and Keeneland Race Course
Host: Keeneland
Info: Join fellow BLUEMAP attendees at TCA with buffet lunch served at 1:30 p.m. and networking (cash bar.) Then enjoy the thrills of horse racing at Keeneland (free shuttle available) or TCA (TV simulcast) during the afternoon.
Where is it happening?
250 W Main St, 250 West Main Street, Lexington, United StatesEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 54.13 to USD 107.48
