Consumer & Retail IPO Bootcamp Webcast

John Merris is currently the CEO of Flooret, a disruptive flooring retailer delivering better floors, a better way.  He was formerly CEO of Solo Brands (NYSE: DTC), a platform of direct-to-consumer lifestyle brands, including Solo Stove, Chubbies, Isle Paddlebords, Oru Kayak, IcyBreeze, and TerraFlame which he led from $10M to $500M in revenue culminating in a successful IPO at a $2.1 billion valuation in 2021. John, a graduate of Brigham Young University and the University of Texas McCombs School of Business MBA program, leads, operates, and innovates with a vision inspired by his diverse professional background across both B2B and B2C. Immediately prior to Solo Brands, John helped lead Clarus Glassboards to unprecedented growth, resulting in a successful exit via private equity. Before Clarus, John launched the first profitable managed service model for programmatic advertising in B2B media, as Vice President at Multiview. John specializes in scaling the entrepreneurial potential of businesses, a passion that began with his first startup venture, a home automation brand he founded after college and successfully exited in 2013. John and his wife Cindy live in Southlake, Texas with their five children, and in addition to being active members of their church, together founded Fostering Hearts, a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to supporting foster children through their participation and education in the arts.

Joe Semsar leads the East Coast capital markets portfolio at the New York Stock Exchange, working with private businesses that are interested in tapping public markets through IPO, direct listing, or business combination. He has helped companies like CAVA, Savers, Warby Parker, Life Time, Solo Brands, Sweetgreen, Bowlero, Black Rifle Coffee and Smith Douglas Homes make the transition from private to public. Prior to joining the NYSE, Semsar served as the Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, leading the International Trade Administration a 2,300-person agency charged with export and foreign direct investment promotion, as well as enforcement of our nation’s trade laws. Earlier, he served as the Chief of Staff to the Deputy Secretary of Commerce. Prior to his federal service, Semsar worked for Deloitte Consulting LLP. He is a Teach for America former staff member and corps member alumnus and a Teacher of the Year recipient. Semsar holds a Master of Public Administration from the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government and Bachelor of Arts from Clemson University. 

Stephen Molloy is an Executive Director in J.P. Morgan's Global Investment Banking Division, covering the consumer, retail and disruptive commerce sectors. He joined J.P. Morgan in 2010 and has spent his banking career focused on strategic advice, M&A and capital raising activities across a wide range of consumer-facing industries, including consumer packaged goods, multi-unit consumer services, apparel and footwear brands, sports and outdoor lifestyle brands, softlines, hardlines, broadlines, specialty retail and eCommerce.

Prior to joining J.P. Morgan, Mr. Molloy worked in PricewaterhouseCooper’s financial markets consulting practice in New York City. Mr. Molloy received his bachelor’s degree in Finance and Accounting and his Masters of Professional Accounting from the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. He currently resides with his wife in Dallas, Texas.

Thomas Short's practice focuses on complex securities transactions, corporate governance, and shareholder activism.

Thomas has been involved in many domestic and international public and private securities offerings, strategic defense assignments, proxy contests, and corporate restructurings. He frequently counsels boards of directors, board committees, and management on a broad range of financing and corporate transactions, corporate governance matters, and crisis management. Thomas also regularly advises clients on securities laws, stock exchange rules and regulations, and periodic reporting responsibilities.

Additionally, Thomas has experience advising domestic and international financial institutions in connection with a variety of financing transactions, including collateralized loan obligations (CLOs), and on regulatory reform issues relating to implementation of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

Notable clients that Thomas has represented include BMO Capital Markets Corp., Eastman Chemical Company, Fleetcor, Flowers Foods, Fortrea Holdings, HanesBrands, KeyBanc Capital Markets, Koch Industries, Laboratory Corporation of America® Holdings, Newell Brands, PureCycle Technologies, and Southern Company.

He also has worked with clients on activism engagements, including Comscore, Fleetcor, HD Supply, Labcorp, and Newell Brands.