2024 ACG Boston: Healthcare Forum

Barbara is Partner & CFO of Fletcher Spaght, Inc., a strategy consulting firm focused on accelerating growth for healthcare and life science companies and their investors. Barbara has served clients in achieving growth across four major segments: innovative startups, large strategics, health systems, and investment firms. Barbara has business expertise in AI/ML & data insights, strategy, marketing, sales, business development, finance, post-merger integration, global expansion, and talent management.

A member of Forvis Mazars’ National Healthcare and Private Equity Groups, Connie has more than 20 years of accounting and audit experience. She is currently the Managing Partner for the Boston office and the healthcare private equity leader for Forvis Mazars. Connie focuses on serving clients in the healthcare industry, but also has worked with clients in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, distribution, software, technology, construction and telecommunications, as well as publicly traded companies, employee benefit plans and other commercial privately held entities. During her career, she has worked with more than 30 publicly-traded companies and numerous private equity groups and portfolio companies. Connie is a graduate of Texas Christian University, Fort Worth.

Maria G. Melone is a Managing Director for Caber Hill Advisors where she represents healthcare businesses transacting with institutional investors or strategic partners. Maria has over 25 years of M&A experience having been involved in nearly 250 transactions in the dental sector alone. She has a proven ability to analyze markets, operations and growth opportunities, along with a strong track record of corralling clients, accountants, attorneys and investors to consummate deals. Prior to joining Caber Hill, Maria was involved as a founder, managing partner and CEO of 2 businesses, as well as served as Director of Corporate Development for a publicly traded DSO. Maria started her career in KPMG’s Boston office where she was an auditor in their Healthcare/Life Science sector. Maria holds a B.A. in Economics from Gettysburg College and a Master of Science in Accountancy from Bentley College. She received her CPA license in 1998 and became a Certified Valuation Analyst in 2014. Maria is currently on the Board of Directors of Splice Histology, Inc. and serves as the Treasurer and Board Finance Committee Chair for the non-profit Boston Center for the Arts.

Russell is a Vice President at Regal Healthcare Capital Partners. Prior to joining Regal, Russell was a member of the healthcare investment banking group at Jefferies for six years, where he focused on M&A, in particular physician focused healthcare companies. Russell received a B.S. in Finance from Monmouth University.

Erin represents health care providers and payers on the full spectrum of legal issues they confront on a daily basis. Her regulatory experience includes advising clients on compliance with the plethora of federal laws that govern the health care industry, including Stark, the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS), the False Claims Act, and HIPAA, as well as state laws including state licensure, corporate practice of medicine, and certificates of need. In addition to proactively addressing compliance needs and structuring transactions to comply with the complex regulatory framework, she assists clients with investigations and resolving compliance concerns.

Nick represents private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, private companies, including family owned and other closely held businesses and venture capital backed companies, and public companies in a range of corporate and transactional matters, including mergers, acquisitions, dispositions, and financings. He also serves as outside general counsel to these companies, providing advice on corporate governance, compensation, commercial agreements, and other matters that arise during the corporate life cycle.