Advertise on podcast: TMA Chicago Midwest Podcast

In the latest episode of the Turnaround Management Association's (TMA) Chicago/Midwest Podcast, Katten Restructuring Partner and host Paul Musser sits down with TMA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Christine Melendes to discuss her career path, early priorities in the CEO role and her vision for the organization's future. Christine shares how her diverse background in association management, operations and business development prepared her for leadership at TMA and delves into why she was drawn to the organization's members and mission. Their discussion also explores the value of chapter involvement, the power of TMA's global network and how professionals can get the most out of conference attendance and volunteer opportunities.

In the latest episode of the TMA Chicago/Midwest Podcast, host and Katten Restructuring Partner Paul Musser sits down with Teneo Senior Managing Director Bernardo Silva, food and beverage industry lead within the company's Management Consulting team, for a candid look at the distress reshaping today's wine and spirits industry. From a non-traditional restructuring professional's perspective, Bernardo discusses the sector's path from a pandemic-fueled boom to consumption that has continued to fall since 2023, leaving weak balance sheets, inventory gluts and a wave of bankruptcies and restructurings in its wake. He and Paul also unpack the structural consumer shifts, from the "sober-curious" generation to alternatives such as cannabis and GLP-1s, that are also driving the sector's downturn. Finally, Bernardo shares his insights on business development, highlighting proactive networking and early intervention as a restructuring professional's greatest assets.

In the latest episode of the TMA Chicago/Midwest Podcast, host and Katten Restructuring Partner Paul Musser sits down with Harold Israel and Jack O'Connor, partners in the Financial Services and Restructuring group at Levenfeld-Pearlstein, LLC. Together, they discuss the evolution of "bankruptcy" to "restructuring" law practices, the decision-making process for distressed companies facing the question of whether "to file or not to file" for bankruptcy, the potential non-bankruptcy alternative solutions at their disposal, and the potential for pre-packaged cases or Subchapter V as solutions for middle-market companies looking to reorganize in bankruptcy. They also share insights on the importance of becoming involved in professional organizations such as the TMA, as well as Harold and Jack's experiences as past TMA chapter presidents.

In the latest episode of the TMA Chicago/Midwest Podcast, host and Katten Restructuring Partner Paul Musser sits down with Novo Advisors Managing Partner and Founder Sandeep Gupta. They discuss Sandeep's "accidental" arrival into restructuring, his entrepreneurial mindset and its influence on his turnaround and restructuring work, the nuances of working with closely held, family-owned businesses versus private-equity sponsored companies, strategies and techniques for middle market restructurings and private credit workouts, and the firm's recently launched forensic and dispute advisory service line. He and Paul also share insights into middle market fraud investigations and discuss the importance of relationship-building within the industry.

In the latest episode of the TMA Chicago/Midwest Podcast, host and Katten Restructuring Partner Paul Musser sits down with HYPERAMS President Bob Pabst and Managing Director of Business Development Kat Parker to explore the world of liquidations and wind-downs. The conversation delves into each guest's career paths in the restructuring field, how to create liquidations that maximize asset recovery, the importance of early lender or fiduciary outreach to integrate liquidators into the larger wind-down strategy, and current market trends impacting M&E values. Bob and Kat also share insights on the power of building relationships through professional organizations such as TMA, and why the restructuring industry remains uniquely relationship-driven.

In the first episode of the new year, the TMA Chicago/Midwest Podcast welcomed Sandy Prabhakar, the chapter's 2026 president and Managing Director at Armory Group. Sandy, who has over 20 years of experience advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, refinancings and restructurings, returned as the podcast's first two-time guest to discuss his path to leadership within TMA and the chapter's theme for the year, "Pipeline to Prosperity," which will focus on boosting engagement from members and helping them understand the industry's referral ecosystem. He and Paul also delve into current market trends in distressed sales and refinancing, highlighting challenges such as tariff uncertainties, as well as consolidation opportunities, that are shaping today's restructuring landscape.

In this episode of the TMA Chicago/Midwest Podcast, Senior Managing Director-Business Advisor at Creative Planning Business Services, Tina Hughes, sitsdown with Paul Musser to discuss her journey in the restructuring field, the intricacies of receivership, the significance of the Illinois Receivership Act and her active involvement in the TMA. She talks with Paul about her central role in drafting and passing the Illinois Receivership Act, a comprehensive statute slated to take effect on January 1, 2026. Regarding business development, Tina emphasizes the importance of networking, following up with new contactsand mentorship, providing valuable insights for professionals looking to grow their careers.

In this episode of the TMA Chicago/Midwest Podcast, Managing Director and Head of Loan Administration at CIBC Bank USA Hugh Wilder sat down with host Paul Musser to discuss the intricacies of lender workouts and the importance of early intervention regarding distressed credits. Hugh shared his insights on the workout process at banks, current trends in refinancing and distressed mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and the challenges that he is seeing with distressed borrowers. Additionally, they delved into the significance of building relationships within the restructuring community, with Hugh advising junior professionals to be patient and persistent, emphasizing that they should focus on building trust and experience over several years to develop credibility among their industry peers.

In this episode of the Turnaround Management Association's (TMA) Chicago/Midwest podcast, Partner at Paladin Management Group Stefan Piotrowski sits down with host Paul Musser to discuss the importance of Chief Restructuring Officers (CROs) in distressed situations. Stefan delves into a CRO's need for effective communication with stakeholders during turnarounds to ensure success. He also compares the unique challenges that often arise in family-owned businesses versus sponsor-backed companies. Then, Stefan and Paul discuss the value of networking and proactive relationship-building through organizations like the TMA. For new professionals entering the restructuring field, Stefan notes that first and foremost, good work is paramount, along with maintaining contact with new connections.

In this episode of the TMA Chicago/Midwest podcast, Senior Managing Director at Development Specialists, Inc. (DSI) Steven Victor sits down with host Paul Musser to discuss the evolution of the restructuring industry over the span of Steven's career, the perception of bankruptcy as a rehabilitative process, and the role of assignments for the benefit of creditors (ABCs) as an alternative to Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Steve shares insights on the advantages and disadvantages of ABCs, the shift in their use by family-owned businesses to venture capital firms, and the importance of professional organizations, such as the TMA, in fostering community and professional development. He and Paul also emphasized the value of writing as well as committee involvement to enhance one's brand and reputation within the industry.

In this episode of the TMA Chicago/Midwest podcast, Managing Partner and Founder of Ravinia Capital Tom Goldblatt sits down with host Paul Musser to discuss the intricacies of the role of investment bankers in navigating distressed sales and refinancing processes. Tom, among other things, shares insights on the importance of establishing a structured process and the strategic use of stalking horse bidders. Their conversation also highlights the recent Roti Mediterranean sale that Tom worked on, illustrating the challenges and successes in such distressed transactions. Additionally, Tom shares takeaways from his involvement in the Turnaround Management Association (TMA), considerations for marketing oneself, and the benefits of networking and developing meaningful relationships with industry peers.

In this episode of the TMA Chicago/Midwest podcast, Judge Deborah Thorne of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Illinois sits down with host Paul Musser to discuss her path to becoming a bankruptcy judge and her transition from private practice to the bench. Judge Thorne also shares perspectives from her experience as a woman in the restructuring and legal industries, as well as current trends she's observed in her commercial bankruptcy cases. Additionally, she and Paul discuss the impact of virtual hearings on courtroom dynamics and collegiality between legal professionals as well as recommendations for younger attorneys starting out in the restructuring field, including engaging with peers and mentors, participating in industry networks and volunteering for pro bono opportunities.

In this episode of the TMA Chicago/Midwest podcast, Co-Head of the Portfolio Group at Monroe Capital LLC, Jonathan Weinberg, sits down with host Paul Musser to discuss his career path in restructuring, comparisons and contrasts between private credit and traditional bank lending horizons, and the importance of early intervention in workouts. He also shares insights from his own involvement in TMA and advises young professionals to invest time in networking within the restructuring community in order to build trust, learn and develop skills, and foster professional growth.

In this episode of the TMA Chicago Midwest podcast, 2025 President of the TMA Chicago/Midwest Chapter David Levy sits down with host Paul Musser to discuss David's journey in restructuring, his vision for the chapter's 2025 theme, "Make It Rain," and the importance of professional services marketing. David also shares insights from his background in distressed deal financing and his perspectives on the state of the commercial real estate market. He then describes his pathway to becoming the TMA chapter's current president, the benefits of relationship-building and collaboration that he and other members gain through their involvement in the chapter, and the impact of strategic networking, particularly in the insolvency and restructuring industry.

In this episode of the TMA Chicago Midwest podcast, Jamie Sprayregen, Vice Chairman at Hilco Global, shares insights from his journey in the field of restructuring, the serendipitous events that shaped his career and the strategies he employed to build a wildly successful practice. He discusses his time at prominent firms such as Kirkland & Ellis, where he founded its renowned Restructuring Group, Goldman Sachs and Hilco Global, as well as his vision for the future of the firm. Jamie goes on to discuss the importance of creativity and commercial pragmatism in the legal space, particularly in restructuring, and the evolving landscape of bankruptcy practice, highlighting the rise of liability management transactions, the growth of private credit and the shift toward out-of-court restructurings. Finally, he emphasizes the value of participating in professional organizations such as TMA to foster meaningful relationships and develop one's network. Jamie encourages our podcast listeners to send him questions in advance of his conversation with keynote speaker Bob Costas, which he will be moderating, at the upcoming TMA Chicago Midwest's 16th Annual Executive Speaker Forum. You can reach Jamie at [email protected].