SPRING M&A SUMMIT
​Wednesday, April 22
​
Hear deal insights from Lexington CEOs and expert advisors, followed by lunch and racing at Keeneland.
Morning Session
​
DEAN DORTON
250 West Main Street, Suite 1400
Lexington, KY 40507
Parking - Lexington Financial Center Garage
(Fee required)
​
9:00 am
Arrival / Coffee / Networking / Meet and Greet
9:30 am
JAMIE HARGROVE
Founder, Hargrove Firm
From ‘Highest Price’ to ‘Lowest Tax’ / Q&A
​
10:15 am
MICHAEL HARDY
CEO, Hardy Oil Company
Fueling an Acquisition / Q&A
​
11:00 am
Networking / Table Break​
​
11:25 am
AARON ANDERKIN
President & CEO, Integrated Sign and Graphic
Buying a Business from an In-Law / Q&A
​
12:10 pm
Morning Wrap-up​
Full Day
Morning, 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
at TCA and Keeneland​​​​
​
CHOOSE FROM
FULL DAY OR MORNING ONLY
ATTENDANCE PACKAGES
​
NOTE TO
ECONOMICS / ACCOUNTING / FINANCE STUDENTS AND FINANCE FACULTY AT KENTUCKY UNIVERSITIES:
Email admin@bluemapky.org or call 502.509.6768
with your contact information to obtain a
special discount attendance code.
Agenda
09:30 AM - 10:15 AM
From Highest Price to Lowest Tax​
Jamie Hargrove, Hargrove Firm
​
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
Michael Hardy, CEO, Hardy Oil Company Inc.
​
​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
Aaron Anderkin, CEO, Integrated Sign & Graphic
​
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.
1:30 PM
Afternoon at The Thoroughbred Club and Keeneland Race Course
​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.
