Everyone talks about franchising as a path to ownership. Fewer people talk about how many first-timers pick the wrong brand, undercapitalize, or burn out because they didn't know what they were signing up for. In this session, Chequan Lewis shares how to spot the right opportunity, what the numbers really tell you, and the three things that separate franchisees who thrive from those who struggle. He'll also flip the script and show you what franchisors are looking for when they evaluate you—because getting picked matters just as much as picking. If you're serious about franchising, this is the session that saves you from learning the hard way.
The Franchise Player: How to Pick the Right Brand and Win
CHEQUAN LEWIS
President of Crunch Fitness
Chequan Lewis is President of Crunch Fitness, where he leads enterprise strategy and franchising operations across a globally recognized fitness brand. A former COO of Pizza Hut and the company’s first Chief Equity Officer, Chequan brings deep experience scaling consumer brands, aligning franchise partners, and leading through complexity at the enterprise level. A Harvard Law School graduate and Presidential Leadership Scholar, he is known for blending operational rigor with culture-driven leadership.
The Overlooked Asset Class: Backing Business Buyers
Acquisition entrepreneurship isn't just a path to ownership—it's an asset class. And one that's accessible to accredited investors looking to diversify beyond stocks, real estate, and venture. In this session, Tarrus Richardson makes the case for why backing business buyers offers compelling risk-adjusted returns, and why this moment is particularly attractive for high earners looking to put capital to work. He'll break down how he evaluates deals and operators, what separates fundable searchers from the rest, and why first-time buyers can outperform traditional private equity. Whether you're exploring ETA as an investor, a future operator, or both—this session offers a rare look from the other side of the table.
TARRUS RICHARDSON
Founder & CEO, IMB Partners
Tarrus Richardson is the Founder and CEO of IMB Partners, a private investment firm with $1.2 billion in revenues—making him the first Black independent sponsor to reach that milestone. IMB focuses on acquiring middle market companies serving utilities and government agencies. Tarrus also manages a $125 million SBIC fund backed by over 100 investors. He previously co-founded ICV Partners, where he helped raise $440 million across two funds. Earlier in his career, he worked in M&A at Salomon Brothers and JLL Partners. Tarrus holds a BS in Accounting from Purdue University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
The Other Side: 3 Deals. 3 CEOs. No Filter.
They searched. They closed. They're running the show. Mitch, Mario, and Rock became Gravy Wealth members to make the jump from employee to owner—and each walked away owning a business they now operate as CEO. In this panel, they share what worked, what surprised them, and what life looks like on the other side of the deal.
MITCH HARRIS
CEO & Owner, Vertex Communication Group
Mitch owns and operates Vertex Communication Group, a digital marketing firm specializing in scaled email programs for associations, publishers, and organizations for over 20 years. He also founded Claymont Capital Partners, a private investment firm focused on acquiring and operating B2B service businesses.
Previously, Mitch served as CMO at SupplyHouse.com, SVP of Growth at Luminary Media, and led advertising sales teams at Meta, where he developed AI-driven marketing solutions. Earlier in his career, he held marketing and business development roles at Viacom and Procter & Gamble.
Mitch holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Georgetown McDonough. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two children.
RAHMAN "ROCK" IRVIN
President & Owner, Alumitec
Rock Irvin is CEO and Owner of Alumitec, a Chicago-based building services contractor specializing in cleaning, restoration, and maintenance of architectural metals on high-rise curtain wall systems. He is also President of The January 23rd Company, a private acquisition firm focused on software and tech-enabled businesses.
Previously, Rock acquired and led JMG Marketing as CEO, growing it into a leading data-driven marketing provider before exiting. As Chief Commercial Officer at SupplierGATEWAY, he grew ARR by 3x in two years. He also served as Head of Data Products at Vista Equity Partners and co-founded the Data Products Team at Cars Commerce (NYSE:CARS), growing data revenues by 20x.
Rock holds a BBA from Howard University and an MBA from University of Chicago Booth. He lives in Chicago with his wife, son, and dog.
MARIO ANTWINE
CEO of Pearl Interactive Network
Mario Antwine is CEO and Owner of Pearl Interactive Network, a BPO contact center with multi-channel capabilities including health and beneficiary care and behavioral and mental health counseling. Pearl has a deep focus on hiring people with barriers to work, including those in HUBZones, persons with disabilities, Veterans, and military spouses.
He is also Managing Partner at Ascentium Holdings, a purpose-driven acquisition company focused on identifying, acquiring, and scaling businesses that address unique gaps in their industries.
Additionally, Mario serves as an Advisor at Qrador, a platform connecting investors and entrepreneurs in emerging markets, and as an Admissions Consultant at The Art of Applying. He co-chairs an alumni board at Yale School of Management, sits on the board of Butterfly Dreamz, and serves as Regional Vice President of the Robert Toigo Foundation. He is a recipient of the Yale Alumni Association Volunteer Leadership Award.