The Value Investor Conference - Omaha affords
you the opportunity to:
Meet investors from around the world.
Learn about the unique processes used by successful value investors.
Receive alternative perspectives from successful money managers,
proven investment professionals, private investors, best selling
authors, business managers, and journalists.
Network with other experienced and savvy value oriented investors.
Limited registration means a more intimate atmosphere, greater
access to presenters and more productive networking opportunities.
Be sure to take full advantage of this unique opportunity to interact
with these knowledgeable speakers in an informal atmosphere.
2020 Value Investor Conference is a
Global Symposium for
the Rational Investor representing all Six Continents and over 28 Countries: [Africa] Mauritius, South Africa [Asia] China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea; U.A.E. [Europe] Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands; Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom [North America] Canada, Mexico, USA; [South America] Brazil, Chile, Panama; [Oceana] Australia, New Zealand.
Omaha S20 Event Advantages
Original Value Conference
One of a Kind Buffett Course, Summits and Dinners
University Based
Often includes participation from Berkshire CEOs, managers, directors, family members, CFO, Marketing Director and more
Presenters recommended by previous atttendees
Event organizer does not speak or sell newsletters, investment research or attempt to compete with attendees by gathering assets under management
Over $248,250 donated to support education, scholarships and charities
As many as 5 separate exclusive events offered
World class networking opportunities with attendees from six continents and over 25 countries
Please note: The Value Investing Conference is scheduled so that attendees
can attend all the official events related to the Berkshire Hathaway
Annual Meeting
(which is usually on the first Saturday of May in Omaha, NE)
Also NOTE: Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting Credentials are issued by the company through its proxy statement mailed in the spring to shareholders of record. More information: http://berkshirehathaway.com/meet01/2019Meetinginfo.pdf
2019 Speakers (2020 Agenda and Speakers - TBA Fall 2019)
Thursday,
4:00 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Robert Robotti, Founder and CIO - Robotti & Company Advisors LLC Topic: "Creative Destruction: A Contrarian Approach to Cyclical Investing"
Takeaways:
(1) The impact of capital flows on future returns; (2) Cyclical industries: friend or foe of the value investor?; (3) An example in real-time.
2019 Value Investor Speaker: Per Håkan Börjesson, CEO, Investment AB Spiltan [Sweden] Topic: "How Buffett's Methods Work In Sweden"
Takeaways:
(1) It is possible to create the same shareholder community as Berkshire; (2) A concentrated portfolio builds value; (3) Build an investment company that last for 3000 years
Thursday,
5:20 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Florian Bartunek, Founder, CIO; Constellation Asset Mgmt [South America] Topic: " Would Buffett Be Successful in Emerging Markets?"
Takeaways:
(1) investment process in Emerging Markets; (2) lessons learned in Emerging Markets; (3) one investment idea.
Thursday,
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
2019 Omaha CEO Dinner Keynote Speaker
Ross Glotzbach, CFA, CEO, Head of Research, Southeastern Asset Management Topic: "Concentration and Engagement Go Together in Investing and Running a Business"
Takeaways: (1) recap of the relevance of a long-term horizon in active, value investing; (2) the importance of a cohesive yet diverse global research team; (3) the advantage of like-minded client partners in a concentrated approach; (4) the benefits of collaboration and humility in engagement
Mr. Ross Glotzbach, CFA serves as Chief Executive Officer, Head of Research, Principal, Director and Portfolio
Manager at Southeastern Asset Management, Inc. Previously, Mr. Glotzbach served as President and Senior Analyst
at the firm and has been with the firm since 2004. He served as a Corporate Finance Analyst at Stephens Inc. from
the year 2003 to 2004. Mr. Glotzbach serves as a Director of Ballet Memphis Corporation. He has an extensive
investment experience. He is a CFA Charter holder since 2006. Mr. Glotzbach received a B.A. in Economics from
Princeton University in 2003.
Friday,
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Tom Russo, Partner and Portfolio Manager at Gardner Russo & Gardner
Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Tom Russo"
Takeaways:
(1) Getting his investment start; (2) His investment process; (3) His portfolio composition and criteria; (4) Advice for others starting out and more
2019 Value Investor Speaker
William Smead, Founder, CEO, CIO; Smead Capital Management Topic: "Value Stock Selection in an Era of Aging Millennials"
Takeaways:
(1) 89 million Millennials are taking the place of 65 million Gen-Xers in the most economically important age bracket; (2) The companies that make the products and services most demanded by families aged 35-44 years old will be in the sweet spot of the economy; (3) Where are we finding value in this demographic shift?
Friday,
10:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Beini Zhou, CFA [Asia]
Portfolio Manager, Matthews Asia Topic: "Buying Growth at a Discount – Value Investing is Alive and Well in Asia"
Takeaways:
(1) Why value investing is not dead (2) How a value approach differs across the globe, from region to region (3) Why value investing in Asia makes sense now
Friday,
11:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Yefei Lu, Author, Portfolio Manager, Shareholder Value Management [Germany] Topic: "Inside the Investments of Warren Buffett: 20 Cases"
Takeaways:
(1) High quality investments; (2) Letting available opportunities drive investment style; (3) It's all about management
Friday,
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker - University Foundation Executives Panel
University Foundations: Joel Cohen , MIT; Mike Billings, Vanderbilt; Brian Neale, Nebraska; with Charles Murphy, CFA, Portfolio Mgr, Liberty Park Capital Topic: "Foundation Panel: Portfolio Composition & Investment Manager Selection"
Takeaways:
(1) Foundation Portfolio Composition (2) Assets Under Management and Annual Distributions (3) Foundation Investment Manager Selection Criteria
Joel Cohen is a member of the global investment staff at the MIT Investment Management Company, which manages MIT's endowment by seeking long-term partnerships with a small number of exceptional external investment managers worldwide. Joel is charged with traveling the world to find, identify, and evaluate exceptional managers for inclusion in MIT's portfolio. Joel graduated from Brown University with a degree in Philosophy and Economics
Friday,
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker - University Foundations Executive Panel
University Foundations: Brian Neale, Nebraska; Nate Chesley, MIT; Mike Billings, Vanderbilt; with Charles Murphy, CFA, Portfolio Mgr, Liberty Park Capital Topic: "Foundation Panel: Portfolio Composition & Investment Manager Selection"
Takeaways:
(1) Foundation Portfolio Composition (2) Assets Under Management and Annual Distributions (3) Foundation Investment Manager Selection Criteria
Mr. Neale has 20 years of institutional investment experience, and is responsible for the oversight and investment of more than $2.3B of investable assets on behalf of the University of Nebraska Foundation. In this role, his principal duties include establishing long-term asset allocation policies and short-term tactical tilts, manager research and selection, portfolio compliance and oversight, and serving as principal investment staff liaison to the Foundations Investment Committee and Board of Directors. Mr. Neale is also the portfolio manager for a balanced portfolio of more than $450M. In addition to leading the Foundation's investment team, Mr. Neale is member of the Foundations Executive Leadership Team. Mr. Neale has been with the Foundation since 2014, having joined most recently from MedStar Health (Baltimore, MD), and Wells Fargo Securities (Richmond, VA) prior to that. He Holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in History from the Virginia Military Institute and an MBA from The College of William & Mary. Proud to call himself a Midwesterner, he resides in Lincoln with his wife and two children.
Friday,
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker - University Foundations Executive Panel
University Foundations: Mike Billings,Vanderbilt; Brian Neale, Nebraska; Nate Chesley, MIT; with Charles Murphy, CFA, Portfolio Mgr, Liberty Park Capital Topic: "Foundation Panel: Portfolio Composition & Investment Manager Selection"
Takeaways:
(1) Foundation Portfolio Composition (2) Assets Under Management and Annual Distributions (3) Foundation Investment Manager Selection Criteria
Michael Billings is an Investment Manager at Vanderbilt University's Office of Investments. He's a generalist with a primary area of focus on public markets investments across all strategies. He also contributes to the private markets portfolio.
Previously, Mr. Billings was an Analyst at First Pacific Advisors, L.L.C. (FPA) for the FPA Multi- Advisor Funds. Prior to joining FPA, he was a consulting Investment Analyst at Dougan & Associates, a single-family office in Salt Lake City, UT.
Billings earned a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a M.S. in Finance from the University of Utah. He was selected as a member of the inaugural Ron Brown scholar program class and graduated from Rowland Hall St. Mark's high school which he attended as a David E. Cumming scholar.
A native of Salt Lake City, UT, he enjoys skiing at Alta/Snowbird (and Deer Valley/Park City), hiking, paddle boarding (on the rare occasion he can get to open water). He currently resides in Nashville, TN and cheers for the Vandy Commodores, Penn Quakers, Utah Utes (by Five) and Utah Jazz (How bout this Jazz!).
Michael Billings
Investment Manager
Vanderbilt University, Office of Investments
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mabtito
Friday,
1:20 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Jennifer Oppold, Founder, CIO, Alpine Peaks Capital; with Lindsay Corp [NYSE: LNN] Tim Hassinger, CEO, and Brian Ketcham, VP, CFO Topic: "Finding Value in an Agricultural Downturn: Profiling Lindsay"
Takeaways:
(1) Why we consider Lindsay to be a high quality, long-term compounder; (2) Agricultural irrigation poised for strong growth; (3) Lindsay's self-help in the face of market uncertainty; and (4) Management perspective
Friday,
1:20 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Tim Hassinger, President, CEO; Lindsay Corporation Topic: "Finding Value in an Agricultural Downturn: Profiling Lindsay"
Takeaways:
(1) Why we consider Lindsay to be a high quality, long-term compounder; (2) Agricultural irrigation poised for strong growth; (3) Lindsay's self-help in the face of market uncertainty; and (4) Management perspective
Timothy L. Hassinger is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN), a position he has held since October 2017. Mr. Hassinger has also been a director of the Company since October 2017 and he is the only executive officer of the Company serving on the Board of Directors. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hassinger served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Dow AgroSciences, an Indianapolis-based subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. During his 33-year career at Dow AgroSciences, Hassinger held a series of senior leadership positions across a variety of domestic and international business units. Prior to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer of Dow AgroSciences in May 2014, he served as its Global Commercial Leader from February 2013 to April 2014 and as Vice President for its Crop Protection Global Business Unit from August 2009 to April 2014. Previously, he served as Vice President for the Dow AgroSciences business in the Europe, Latin America, and Pacific regions from 2007 to 2009. In 2005, he moved to Shanghai, where he served as Regional Commercial Unit Leader for Greater China. Mr. Hassinger currently serves on the Board of Directors of AGDATA.
Friday,
1:20 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Brian Ketcham, President, VP, CFO; Lindsay Corporation Topic: "Finding Value in an Agricultural Downturn: Profiling Lindsay"
Takeaways:
(1) Why we consider Lindsay to be a high quality, long-term compounder; (2) Agricultural irrigation poised for strong growth; (3) Lindsay's self-help in the face of market uncertainty; and (4) Management perspective
Mr. Brian L. Ketcham is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Lindsay Corporation
(NYSE:LNN), and has held such positions since April 2016. Prior to joining Lindsay and since 2001, Mr. Ketcham served in various finance roles at Valmont Industries, Inc., most recently as Vice President and Group
Controller of the Engineered Support Structures segment. Prior to joining
Valmont, Mr. Ketcham held various positions with Consolidated Container
Company LLC and KPMG LLP.
Friday,
2:00 p.m. - 2:40 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Chad Naylor, CEO, Naylor & Company Topic: "The Dynamics of Change in Value Investing"
Takeaways:
(1) The history of change in value investing; (2) Adapting value investing to a 21st-century market; (3) Specific investment ideas in today's market
Friday,
3:00 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Francisco García Paramés, Founder, Portfolio Manager, Cobas Asset Management [Euruope] Topic: "Investing for the Long-Term"
Takeaways:
(1) Grasp his evolution, experience from this learning process over the decades; (2) Discover the values, intellectual structure and convictions behind his evolution.
Friday,
3:40 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Charles Murphy,
CFA, Portfolio Manager, Liberty Park Capital Management
Topic: "All About Alpha."
Takeaways:
(1) Finding and defending fertile ground for alpha generation. (2) Complex or multi-industry smaller caps: prime territory for a variant perception approach. (3) Pitfalls of traditional value investing. (4) The Liberty Park process.
Friday,
4:40 p.m. - 5:40 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker:
Tom Gayner, Co-CEO, Markel Corp Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Tom Gayner"
Takeaways:
(1) Getting his investment start; (2) His investment process; (3) His biggest investment mistake; (4) Advice for others starting out and more
Friday,
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
2019 Omaha Value Dinner Keynote Speaker
Elizabeth Collins, CFA, Head of Global Equity Research, Morningstar Topic: "Making Smarter Investment Decisions"
Takeaways: (1) Cautionary tales and success stories from across the globe; (2) Avoiding biases and harmful heuristics; (3) Designing processes that lead to improved outcomes
Elizabeth Collins, CFA, is head of global equity research for Morningstar, responsible for leading the firm's team of equity research analysts. Before assuming her current role in 2014, Collins was chair of Morningstar's Economic Moat committee, a group of senior members of the equity research team responsible for reviewing all Economic Moat and Moat Trend ratings issued by Morningstar. She was also director of basic materials equity research, where she oversaw coverage of companies in the agriculture, building materials, chemicals, coal, forest products, metals and mining, packaging, and steel industries. Prior to leading the basic materials team, Collins was a senior analyst on the energy team. She joined Morningstar in 2005. Collins holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston College and a master's degree in business administration from DePaul University. She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
Global Symposium for the Rational Investor representing all Six Continents and over 28 Countries: [Africa] Mauritius, South Africa [Asia] China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea; U.A.E. [Europe] Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands; Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom [North America] Canada, Mexico, USA; [South America] Brazil, Chile, Panama; [Oceana] Australia, New Zealand.
Plus More!
Global Symposium for the Rational Investor representing all Six Continents and over 28 Countries: [Africa] Mauritius, South Africa [Asia] China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea; U.A.E. [Europe] Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands; Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom [North America] Canada, Mexico, USA; [South America] Brazil, Chile, Panama; [Oceana] Australia, New Zealand.
Please join us in 2020!
Please plan to join us in 2020 for our 17th Annual Value Investor Conference and Events:
Genius of Warren Buffett S20 - April 27, April 28, April 29, 2020, Summit Series S20: April 30, 2020, Value Investor Conference - April 30 - May 1, 2020, Omaha Dinner S20 April 30, 2020, and Omaha CEO Dinner S20 - May 1, 2020.
2020 Omaha Value Dinner
Friday, May 1, 2020, Speaker TBA Fall-Winter 2019
2019 Omaha Value Dinner
Keynote Speaker:Elizabeth Collins, CFA, Head of Global Equity Research, Morningstar
Date: Friday,
Location: Scott Conference Center, Omaha
Time: 6:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. — Dinner
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. — Speaker: Elizabeth Collins, CFA, Head of Global Equity Research, MORNINGSTAR Topic:"Making Smarter Investment Decisions"
Key Takeaways: (1) Cautionary tales and success stories from across the globe; (2) Avoiding biases and harmful heuristics; (3) Designing processes that lead to improved outcomes
Benefiting: UNO Maverick Investment Club
Previous Sold-out Omaha Value Dinner at Scott Center
Thursday, April 30, 2020, Speaker TBA Fall/Winter 2019
2019 Omaha CEO Dinner
When: Thursday,
Where: UNO Scott Conf Ctr.
Location: 6450 Pine Street
2019 Keynote Speaker:
Ross Glotzbach, CFA, CEO, Head of Research, Southeastern Asset Management
Time: 6:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Omaha CEO Dinner with Keynote Speaker Ross Glotzbach
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Keynote
Speaker: Ross Glotzbach, CFA, CEO, Head of Research, Southeastern Asset Management Topic:"Concentration and Engagement Go Together in Investing and Running a Business"
Key Takeaways: (1) Opportunities and challenges of value investing; (2) Investment research ideas
Early Registration Savings until 8/31/19.
2019 Value Investor Presenters
2019 Agenda and Speakers
Thursday,
4:00 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Robert Robotti, Founder and CIO - Robotti & Company Advisors LLC Topic: "Creative Destruction: A Contrarian Approach to Cyclical Investing"
Takeaways:
(1) The impact of capital flows on future returns; (2) Cyclical industries: friend or foe of the value investor?; (3) An example in real-time.
2019 Value Investor Speaker: Per Håkan Börjesson, CEO, Investment AB Spiltan [Sweden] Topic: "How Buffett's Methods Work In Sweden"
Takeaways:
(1) It is possible to create the same shareholder community as Berkshire; (2) A concentrated portfolio builds value; (3) Build an investment company that last for 3000 years
Thursday,
5:20 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Florian Bartunek, Founder, CIO; Constellation Asset Mgmt [South America] Topic: " Would Buffett Be Successful in Emerging Markets?"
Takeaways:
(1) investment process in Emerging Markets; (2) lessons learned in Emerging Markets; (3) one investment idea.
Thursday,
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
2019 Omaha CEO Dinner Keynote Speaker
Ross Glotzbach, CFA, CEO, Head of Research, Southeastern Asset Management Topic: "Concentration and Engagement Go Together in Investing and Running a Business"
Takeaways: (1) recap of the relevance of a long-term horizon in active, value investing; (2) the importance of a cohesive yet diverse global research team; (3) the advantage of like-minded client partners in a concentrated approach; (4) the benefits of collaboration and humility in engagement
Mr. Ross Glotzbach, CFA serves as Chief Executive Officer, Head of Research, Principal, Director and Portfolio
Manager at Southeastern Asset Management, Inc. Previously, Mr. Glotzbach served as President and Senior Analyst
at the firm and has been with the firm since 2004. He served as a Corporate Finance Analyst at Stephens Inc. from
the year 2003 to 2004. Mr. Glotzbach serves as a Director of Ballet Memphis Corporation. He has an extensive
investment experience. He is a CFA Charter holder since 2006. Mr. Glotzbach received a B.A. in Economics from
Princeton University in 2003.
Friday,
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Tom Russo, Partner and Portfolio Manager at Gardner Russo & Gardner
Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Tom Russo"
Takeaways:
(1) Getting his investment start; (2) His investment process; (3) His portfolio composition and criteria; (4) Advice for others starting out and more
2019 Value Investor Speaker
William Smead, Founder, CEO, CIO; Smead Capital Management Topic: "Value Stock Selection in an Era of Aging Millennials"
Takeaways:
(1) 89 million Millennials are taking the place of 65 million Gen-Xers in the most economically important age bracket; (2) The companies that make the products and services most demanded by families aged 35-44 years old will be in the sweet spot of the economy; (3) Where are we finding value in this demographic shift?
Friday,
10:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Beini Zhou, CFA [Asia]
Portfolio Manager, Matthews Asia Topic: "Buying Growth at a Discount – Value Investing is Alive and Well in Asia"
Takeaways:
(1) Why value investing is not dead (2) How a value approach differs across the globe, from region to region (3) Why value investing in Asia makes sense now
Friday,
11:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Yefei Lu, Author, Portfolio Manager, Shareholder Value Management [Germany] Topic: "Inside the Investments of Warren Buffett: 20 Cases"
Takeaways:
(1) High quality investments; (2) Letting available opportunities drive investment style; (3) It's all about management
Friday,
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker - University Foundation Executives Panel
University Foundations: Joel Cohen , MIT; Mike Billings, Vanderbilt; Brian Neale, Nebraska; with Charles Murphy, CFA, Portfolio Mgr, Liberty Park Capital Topic: "Foundation Panel: Portfolio Composition & Investment Manager Selection"
Takeaways:
(1) Foundation Portfolio Composition (2) Assets Under Management and Annual Distributions (3) Foundation Investment Manager Selection Criteria
Joel Cohen is a member of the global investment staff at the MIT Investment Management Company, which manages MIT's endowment by seeking long-term partnerships with a small number of exceptional external investment managers worldwide. Joel is charged with traveling the world to find, identify, and evaluate exceptional managers for inclusion in MIT's portfolio. Joel graduated from Brown University with a degree in Philosophy and Economics
Friday,
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker - University Foundations Executive Panel
University Foundations: Brian Neale, Nebraska; Nate Chesley, MIT; Mike Billings, Vanderbilt; with Charles Murphy, CFA, Portfolio Mgr, Liberty Park Capital Topic: "Foundation Panel: Portfolio Composition & Investment Manager Selection"
Takeaways:
(1) Foundation Portfolio Composition (2) Assets Under Management and Annual Distributions (3) Foundation Investment Manager Selection Criteria
Mr. Neale has 20 years of institutional investment experience, and is responsible for the oversight and investment of more than $2.3B of investable assets on behalf of the University of Nebraska Foundation. In this role, his principal duties include establishing long-term asset allocation policies and short-term tactical tilts, manager research and selection, portfolio compliance and oversight, and serving as principal investment staff liaison to the Foundations Investment Committee and Board of Directors. Mr. Neale is also the portfolio manager for a balanced portfolio of more than $450M. In addition to leading the Foundation's investment team, Mr. Neale is member of the Foundations Executive Leadership Team. Mr. Neale has been with the Foundation since 2014, having joined most recently from MedStar Health (Baltimore, MD), and Wells Fargo Securities (Richmond, VA) prior to that. He Holds a Bachelors of Arts degree in History from the Virginia Military Institute and an MBA from The College of William & Mary. Proud to call himself a Midwesterner, he resides in Lincoln with his wife and two children.
Friday,
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker - University Foundations Executive Panel
University Foundations: Mike Billings,Vanderbilt; Brian Neale, Nebraska; Nate Chesley, MIT; with Charles Murphy, CFA, Portfolio Mgr, Liberty Park Capital Topic: "Foundation Panel: Portfolio Composition & Investment Manager Selection"
Takeaways:
(1) Foundation Portfolio Composition (2) Assets Under Management and Annual Distributions (3) Foundation Investment Manager Selection Criteria
Michael Billings
Investment Manager
Vanderbilt University, Office of Investments
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mabtito
Michael Billings is an Investment Manager at Vanderbilt University's Office of Investments. He's a generalist with a primary area of focus on public markets investments across all strategies. He also contributes to the private markets portfolio.
Previously, Mr. Billings was an Analyst at First Pacific Advisors, L.L.C. (FPA) for the FPA Multi- Advisor Funds. Prior to joining FPA, he was a consulting Investment Analyst at Dougan & Associates, a single-family office in Salt Lake City, UT.
Billings earned a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a M.S. in Finance from the University of Utah. He was selected as a member of the inaugural Ron Brown scholar program class and graduated from Rowland Hall St. Mark's high school which he attended as a David E. Cumming scholar.
A native of Salt Lake City, UT, he enjoys skiing at Alta/Snowbird (and Deer Valley/Park City), hiking, paddle boarding (on the rare occasion he can get to open water). He currently resides in Nashville, TN and cheers for the Vandy Commodores, Penn Quakers, Utah Utes (by Five) and Utah Jazz (How bout this Jazz!).
Friday,
1:20 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Jennifer Oppold, Founder, CIO, Alpine Peaks Capital; with Lindsay Corp [NYSE: LNN] Tim Hassinger, CEO, and Brian Ketcham, VP, CFO Topic: "Finding Value in an Agricultural Downturn: Profiling Lindsay"
Takeaways:
(1) Why we consider Lindsay to be a high quality, long-term compounder; (2) Agricultural irrigation poised for strong growth; (3) Lindsay's self-help in the face of market uncertainty; and (4) Management perspective
Friday,
1:20 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Tim Hassinger, President, CEO; Lindsay Corporation Topic: "Finding Value in an Agricultural Downturn: Profiling Lindsay"
Takeaways:
(1) Why we consider Lindsay to be a high quality, long-term compounder; (2) Agricultural irrigation poised for strong growth; (3) Lindsay's self-help in the face of market uncertainty; and (4) Management perspective
Timothy L. Hassinger is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Lindsay Corporation (NYSE: LNN), a position he has held since October 2017. Mr. Hassinger has also been a director of the Company since October 2017 and he is the only executive officer of the Company serving on the Board of Directors. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Hassinger served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Dow AgroSciences, an Indianapolis-based subsidiary of The Dow Chemical Company. During his 33-year career at Dow AgroSciences, Hassinger held a series of senior leadership positions across a variety of domestic and international business units. Prior to becoming President and Chief Executive Officer of Dow AgroSciences in May 2014, he served as its Global Commercial Leader from February 2013 to April 2014 and as Vice President for its Crop Protection Global Business Unit from August 2009 to April 2014. Previously, he served as Vice President for the Dow AgroSciences business in the Europe, Latin America, and Pacific regions from 2007 to 2009. In 2005, he moved to Shanghai, where he served as Regional Commercial Unit Leader for Greater China. Mr. Hassinger currently serves on the Board of Directors of AGDATA.
Friday,
1:20 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Brian Ketcham, President, VP, CFO; Lindsay Corporation Topic: "Finding Value in an Agricultural Downturn: Profiling Lindsay"
Takeaways:
(1) Why we consider Lindsay to be a high quality, long-term compounder; (2) Agricultural irrigation poised for strong growth; (3) Lindsay's self-help in the face of market uncertainty; and (4) Management perspective
Mr. Brian L. Ketcham is Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Lindsay Corporation
(NYSE:LNN), and has held such positions since April 2016. Prior to joining Lindsay and since 2001, Mr. Ketcham served in various finance roles at Valmont Industries, Inc., most recently as Vice President and Group
Controller of the Engineered Support Structures segment. Prior to joining
Valmont, Mr. Ketcham held various positions with Consolidated Container
Company LLC and KPMG LLP.
Friday,
2:00 p.m. - 2:40 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Chad Naylor, CEO, Naylor & Company Topic: "The Dynamics of Change in Value Investing"
Takeaways:
(1) The history of change in value investing; (2) Adapting value investing to a 21st-century market; (3) Specific investment ideas in today's market
Friday,
3:00 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Francisco García Paramés, Founder, Portfolio Manager, Cobas Asset Management [Euruope] Topic: "Investing for the Long-Term"
Takeaways:
(1) Grasp his evolution, experience from this learning process over the decades; (2) Discover the values, intellectual structure and convictions behind his evolution.
Friday,
3:40 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker
Charles Murphy,
CFA, Portfolio Manager, Liberty Park Capital Management
Topic: All About Alpha."
Takeaways:
(1) Finding and defending fertile ground for alpha generation. (2) Complex or multi-industry smaller caps: prime territory for a variant perception approach. (3) Pitfalls of traditional value investing. (4) The Liberty Park process.
Friday,
4:40 p.m. - 5:40 p.m.
2019 Value Investor Speaker:
Tom Gayner, Co-CEO, Markel Corp Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Tom Gayner"
Takeaways:
(1) Getting his investment start; (2) His investment process; (3) His biggest investment mistake; (4) Advice for others starting out and more
Friday,
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
2019 Omaha Value Dinner Keynote Speaker
Elizabeth Collins, CFA, Head of Global Equity Research, Morningstar Topic: "Making Smarter Investment Decisions"
Takeaways: (1) Cautionary tales and success stories from across the globe; (2) Avoiding biases and harmful heuristics; (3) Designing processes that lead to improved outcomes
Elizabeth Collins, CFA, is head of global equity research for Morningstar, responsible for leading the firm's team of equity research analysts. Before assuming her current role in 2014, Collins was chair of Morningstar's Economic Moat committee, a group of senior members of the equity research team responsible for reviewing all Economic Moat and Moat Trend ratings issued by Morningstar. She was also director of basic materials equity research, where she oversaw coverage of companies in the agriculture, building materials, chemicals, coal, forest products, metals and mining, packaging, and steel industries. Prior to leading the basic materials team, Collins was a senior analyst on the energy team. She joined Morningstar in 2005. Collins holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from Boston College and a master's degree in business administration from DePaul University. She also holds the Chartered Financial Analyst® designation.
Global Symposium for the Rational Investor representing all Six Continents and over 28 Countries: [Africa] Mauritius, South Africa [Asia] China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea; U.A.E. [Europe] Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands; Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom [North America] Canada, Mexico, USA; [South America] Brazil, Chile, Panama; [Oceana] Australia, New Zealand.
Join us in 2020!
Please plan to join us in 2020 for our 17th Annual Value Investor Conference and Events:
Genius of Warren Buffett S20 - April 27, April 28, April 29, 2020, Summit Series S20: April 30, 2020, Value Investor Conference - April 30 - May 1, 2020, Omaha Dinner S20 April 30, 2020, and Omaha CEO Dinner S20 - May 1, 2020.
2019 Value Investor Agenda
Agenda
Thursday, April 30, 2020
3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. REGISTRATION
University of Nebraska at Omaha,
College of Business Administration,
Mammel Hall Atrium
3:50 p.m. - 3:55 p.m.
Robert Miles,
Executive in Residence, University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration
Topic: Opening Remarks
3:55 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Louis Pol, Dean,
University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration
Welcome
4:00 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.
Robert Robotti, Founder, CIO, Robotti & Co
Topic: Creative Destruction: A Contrarian Approach to Cyclical Investing
4:40 p.m. - 5:20 p.m.
Per H. Borjesson,
President Investment AB Spiltan [Europe]
Topic:
How Buffett's Methods Work In Sweden
5:20 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Florian Bartunek Founder, CIO, Constellation Investimentos [S. America]
Topic:
Would Buffett Be Successful in Emerging Markets?
Omaha CEO Dinner
Keynote Speaker:
Ross Glotzbach
CFA, CEO, Head of Research, Southeastern Asset Management
6:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Omaha CEO Dinner
Keynote Speaker: Ross Glotzbach
Location: Scott Conference Center;
6450 Pine St, Omaha, NE 68106 (1 block from Mammel Hall)
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Ross Glotzbach
CFA, CEO, Head of Research, Southeastern Asset Management
Topic: Concentration and Engagement Go Together in Investing and Running a Business
Location: Scott Conference Center at the University of Nebraska (approx. 1 block from Mammel Hall) Dinner Benefitting: UNO Executive MBA Program
Friday, May 1, 2020
7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. REGISTRATION
Mammel Hall Atrium
University of Nebraska at Omaha,
College of Business Administration
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 am
Tom Russo; Partner, Portfolio Manager, Gardner Russo Gardner
Topic: Conversation and Q&A with Tom Russo
9:20 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Bill Smead, Founder, CEO, CIO; Smead Capital Management
Topic:
Value Stock Selection in an Era of Aging Millennials
10:00 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.
Beini Zhou, Portfolio Manager, Matthews Asia [Asia]
Topic:
Buying Growth at a Discount – Value Investing is Alive and Well in Asia
11:00 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.
Yefei Lu, Author, Portfolio Mgr, Shareholder Value Mgmt [Europe]
Topic:
Inside the Investments of Warren Buffett: 20 Cases
11:40 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
University Foundations:
Nate Chesley, MIT; Mike Billings, Vanderbilt;
Brian Neale, Nebraska; with Charles Murphy, CFA, Portfolio Mgr, Liberty Park Capital Foundation
Topic:
Panel: Portfolio Composition & Investment Manager Selection
12:20 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Lunch
Mammel Hall Atrium
Sponsored by UNO Library Buffett Collection
1:15 p.m. - 1:20 p.m.
David Richards, Dean, UNO Library Sciences
Topic:
UNO Library Buffett Collection Update
1:20 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Jennifer Oppold, Founder, CIO, Alpine Peaks Capital;
with Lindsay Corp [NYSE: LNN] Tim Hassinger, CEO, and Brian Ketcham, VP, CFO
Topic:
Finding Value in an Agricultural Downturn: Profiling Lindsay
2:00 p.m. - 2:40 p.m.
Chad Naylor, Founder, CIO; Naylor & Co
Topic: The Dynamics of Change in Value Investing
2:40 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Networking Break, Mammel Hall
3:00 p.m. - 3:40 p.m.
Francisco García Paramés, Founder, CIO; Cobas Asset Mgmt [Europe]
Topic:
Investing for the Long Term
3:40 p.m. - 4:20 p.m.
Charles Murphy, CFA, Portfolio Mgr, Liberty Park Capital
Topic: Complex or Multi-Industry Smaller Caps: Prime Territory For A Variant Perception Approach
4:20 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.
Networking Break, Mammel Hall
4:40 p.m. - 5:40 p.m.
Tom Gayner, Markel Corp, CEO
Topic:
Conversation and Q&A with Tom Gayner
5:40 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
Conference Closing Remarks - Bob Miles
Topic: Join us next year - April 30 & May 1; www.valueinvestorconference.com
5:50 p.m. - 6:15 p.m.
Networking Break Mammel Hall Atrium
Omaha Value Dinner
Keynote Speaker:
Elizabeth Collins
CFA, Head of Global Equity Research, MORNINGSTAR
6:15 p.m. - 8:15 p.m.
Omaha Value
Dinner with Keynote Speaker Elizabeth Collins, CFA, Head of Global Equity Research, MORNINGSTAR
7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
2019 Keynote Speaker: Elizabeth Collins, CFA, Head of Global Equity Research, MORNINGSTAR
Keynote Topic: "Making Smarter Investment Decisions"
Location: Scott Conference Center at the University of Nebraska
(approx. 1 block from Mammel Hall)
2019 Value Investor Conference: All 6 Continents and 28 Countries Now Registered to Attend
[Africa] Mauritius, South Africa [Asia] China, India, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea; U.A.E. [Europe] Austria, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands; Norway, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom [North America] Canada, Mexico, USA; [South America] Brazil, Chile, Panama; [Oceana] Australia, New Zealand
Please note: Upon receipt of your payment you will receive an email registration confirmation from VicAssistant@gmail.com.
Name badges and table tents will be issued in lieu of tickets upon check-in. Seating is unassigned. If seats are still available, online registration will close at 6:00 p.m. the day BEFORE each event.
NO ON-SITE REGISTRATION.
Full Agendas will be sent to registrants. All events are limited seating.
Location/Parking Information Mammel Hall Parking and Transportation:
Open parking during event hours so ignore student permit parking only signs.
PLEASE NOTE: there is a lot of construction happening around the parking lot.
Currently, the easiest way to get to Mammel Hall is from Pacific street.
Take the first entrance, near the Pete Kiewit Institute and drive through the parking lot to get to Mammel Hall.
• Map of construction near Mammel Hall: Construction and Parking Overview (click for map)
Berkshire Annual Meeting Credentials
Berkshire shareholders and their guests need credentials to attend the annual meeting, to get special discounts at Berkshire-owned businesses and to attend the other shareholder-only events in Omaha in the days before and after the meeting.
Please note: The Value Investing Conference is scheduled so that attendees can attend all the official events related to the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Meeting (which is usually on the first Saturday of May in Omaha, NE)
Your privacy is guaranteed!
ValueInvestorConference.com guarantees that it will not directly or through an affiliate, disclose to, sell, lease or rent to any non affiliated third party your e-mail address, physical address or non-public financial information, in any way whatsoever. We understand and appreciate that your privacy is important to you. This is why any information provided by you to ValueInvestorConference.com remains confidential. We appreciate you patronage and look forward to maintaining your trust every time we do business together.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
University of Nebraska at Omaha, College of Business Administration, Mammel Hall
Berkshire System Summit is an in-depth discussion on the unique culture, principles and methods used by Warren Buffett's conglomerate to become America's 2nd largest company (by sales) over 50 years.
Coined by Vice Chairman Charlie Munger, 'the Berkshire System' was outlined by him in a 2015 shareholder letter in celebration of the company's 50th anniversary. To understand the system is to understand Berkshire Hathaway, one of the world's most admired companies. Often copied but never duplicated, these are some of the areas the Summit will explore:
Extraordinary
Capital Allocation: Investing in pieces of companies through the stock market as well as wholly owned subsidiaries using value investment methods; Buying old economy industries; Purchasing with the intention to keep not trade; Focusing on durable competitive advantages; Centralizing capital and reallocating to highest and best use; Being paid (with float) to hold capital to invest
Unique
Corporate Values Culture: Never losing a subsidiary CEO to a competitor; Gold standard of corporate governance; 370,000 employees with only 25 at headquarters; a system of deserved management trust; the buyer of choice; Fort Knox of capital when markets need it most; Employees are always in a position to do the right thing; Well defined management succession plan that is deep within the organization
Passionate
and Talented Managers:A management team assembled over time that prefers work over retirement; Fair manager compensation; Berkshire CEOs selected based on merit not seniority; No retirement required and often discouraged
Announcing 2020 Agenda and Speakers - More speakers TBA Fall/Winter 2019
Thursday, April 30, 2020
2020 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Ron Olson*, Managing partner of Munger, Tolles and Olson and Berkshire Director Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Ron Olson"
Ronald L. Olson is a name partner in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson. Mr. Olson’s practice involves a combination of litigation and corporate counseling. He counsels individual executives and boards of directors in a wide range of matters, including transactions and corporate governance. Mr. Olson has also been the lead partner in numerous high-profile litigation matters.
Mr. Olson is a director of Berkshire Hathaway, Edison International, City National Corporation, Graham Holdings Company, and Western Asset Trusts. He serves as a director of several non-profits, including the RAND Corporation (formerly chair), the Mayo Clinic, and the California Institute of Technology. He was chairman of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section (1981-1982) and the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary (1991-1992). He was also chairman of the board of trustees of Claremont University Center and Graduate School (1984-1994), founding chairman of the board of trustees of Southern California Public Radio (1999-2004) and a director of the Council on Foreign Relations (2002-2010).
In Rob Darby's earlier career, he served as an actuary and consultant and in various management roles in the property-casualty insurance industry. In 2006, Mr. Darby became CEO of the Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies – Workers Compensation when the insurance agency where he served as President and with whom Berkshire had partnered was purchased by Berkshire. In his tenure, Mr. Darby has grown the company to over $1 billion in premium from a low of less than $200 million, with in-force insurance in every state in the country. Today, Berkshire is a leading national provider of workers compensation insurance, ranked #2 in California and #7 nationally when all entities writing workers compensation are combined. Mr. Darby graduated from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC where he majored in Meteorology. Mr. Darby is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, and a member of the NCCI Board of Directors. On his days off, Mr. Darby enjoys traveling, photography, hiking, and storm chasing.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
2020 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Robert Miles, Executive in Residence, University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration Topic: "Opening/Closing Remarks"
Takeaways: TBA
2019 Agenda and Speakers
Thursday,
9:30 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Robert Miles, Executive in Residence, University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration Topic: "Opending Remarks"
Takeaways: (1) Berkshire System or culture on a start up, family operated and a publicly traded wholly owned subsidiary; (2) Berkshire's unique culture; (3) Reporting requirements, budgets, meetings, HQ oversight and directives
Thursday,
9:40 a.m. - 10:40 p.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Don Wurster, CEO, National Indemnity Company Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Don Wurster"
Takeaways: (1) How to manage risk and set appropriate premium price (2) Advantages and disadvantages of being part of Berkshire Hathaway (3) Berkshire unique culture
Don. Wurster serves as the President of National Indemnity Company and Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska. Mr. Wurster was employed By Pacific Stock Exchange, San Francisco, CA. from 1980 to 1982. Mr. Wurster is graduate of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mi, in 1975. He holds an MBA Degree from University of California, Berkeley, Ca in 1980.
About National Indemnity: National Indemnity Company provides commercial insurance products. It offers commercial auto insurance products, which provide coverage for business auto, commercial trucks and truckers, passenger transport, and specialty operations; garage insurance products that provide coverage for dealers, and service and repair shops; motor truck cargo insurance that provides coverage for loading and unloading, refrigeration breakdown, and earned freight operations; and prize indemnification and special events insurance products. The company also provides general liability insurance, which provides coverage for construction, manufacturing and distribution, transportation, miscellaneous, and stores and rental operations, as well as installation, service, and repair operations. It offers its products through retail and contracted general agents in the United States. The company was founded in 1940 and is based in Omaha, Nebraska. National Indemnity Company operates as a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc
Thursday,
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Bob Batt,
Executive VP (retired), Nebraska Furniture Mart
Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Bob Batt"
Takeaways: (1) Becoming Berkshire's first family owned and managed subsidiary; (2) NFM before and after Berkshire's acquisition; and (3) how the retail business has changed over the past 7 decades.
Thursday,
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Tony Nicely,
CEO, GEICO
Topic: "A Conversation and Q&A with Tony Nicely"
Takeaways: (1) Berkshire's longest serving subsidiary manager; (2) Building GEICO from 7th to 2nd; (3) GEICO culture before and after Berkshire acquisition
Thursday,
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Katherine Chiglinsky, Bloomberg News Topic: "Speaker Q&A with Katherine Chiglinsky, Bloomberg News"
Katherine Chiglinsky is a finance reporter at Bloomberg News where she covers Berkshire Hathaway and insurance companies. She has had bylines in publications such as the Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia and was editor in chief of her college's student newspaper, where she won the Rex Smith Journalism Award. She received a bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.
She's on Twitter at @k_chiglinsky.
Thursday,
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Ron Olson*, Managing partner of Munger, Tolles and Olson and Berkshire Director Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Ron Olson and Nicole Friedman, Journalist, Wall Street Journal"
Ronald L. Olson is a name partner in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson. Mr. Olson’s practice involves a combination of litigation and corporate counseling. He counsels individual executives and boards of directors in a wide range of matters, including transactions and corporate governance. Mr. Olson has also been the lead partner in numerous high-profile litigation matters.
Mr. Olson is a director of Berkshire Hathaway, Edison International, City National Corporation, Graham Holdings Company, and Western Asset Trusts. He serves as a director of several non-profits, including the RAND Corporation (formerly chair), the Mayo Clinic, and the California Institute of Technology. He was chairman of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section (1981-1982) and the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary (1991-1992). He was also chairman of the board of trustees of Claremont University Center and Graduate School (1984-1994), founding chairman of the board of trustees of Southern California Public Radio (1999-2004) and a director of the Council on Foreign Relations (2002-2010).
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Nicole Friedman, Wall Street Journal Reporter Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Ron Olson and Nicole Friedman, Journalist, Wall Street Journal"
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Robert Miles, Executive in Residence, University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration Topic: "Closing Remarks"
Announcing 2020 Agenda and Speakers - More speakers TBA Fall/Winter 2019
Thursday,
2020 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Ron Olson*, Managing partner of Munger, Tolles and Olson and Berkshire Director Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Ron Olson"
Ronald L. Olson is a name partner in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson. Mr. Olson’s practice involves a combination of litigation and corporate counseling. He counsels individual executives and boards of directors in a wide range of matters, including transactions and corporate governance. Mr. Olson has also been the lead partner in numerous high-profile litigation matters.
Mr. Olson is a director of Berkshire Hathaway, Edison International, City National Corporation, Graham Holdings Company, and Western Asset Trusts. He serves as a director of several non-profits, including the RAND Corporation (formerly chair), the Mayo Clinic, and the California Institute of Technology. He was chairman of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section (1981-1982) and the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary (1991-1992). He was also chairman of the board of trustees of Claremont University Center and Graduate School (1984-1994), founding chairman of the board of trustees of Southern California Public Radio (1999-2004) and a director of the Council on Foreign Relations (2002-2010).
In Rob Darby's earlier career, he served as an actuary and consultant and in various management roles in the property-casualty insurance industry. In 2006, Mr. Darby became CEO of the Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies – Workers Compensation when the insurance agency where he served as President and with whom Berkshire had partnered was purchased by Berkshire. In his tenure, Mr. Darby has grown the company to over $1 billion in premium from a low of less than $200 million, with in-force insurance in every state in the country. Today, Berkshire is a leading national provider of workers compensation insurance, ranked #2 in California and #7 nationally when all entities writing workers compensation are combined. Mr. Darby graduated from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC where he majored in Meteorology. Mr. Darby is a Fellow of the Casualty Actuarial Society, and a member of the NCCI Board of Directors. On his days off, Mr. Darby enjoys traveling, photography, hiking, and storm chasing.
Thursday, April 30, 2020
2020 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Robert Miles, Executive in Residence, University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration Topic: "Opening/Closing Remarks"
Takeaways: TBA
2019 Agenda and Speakers
Thursday,
9:30 a.m. - 9:40 a.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Robert Miles, Executive in Residence, University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration Topic: "Opending Remarks"
Takeaways: (1) Berkshire System or culture on a start up, family operated and a publicly traded wholly owned subsidiary; (2) Berkshire's unique culture; (3) Reporting requirements, budgets, meetings, HQ oversight and directives
Thursday,
9:40 a.m. - 10:40 p.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Don Wurster, CEO, National Indemnity Company Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Don Wurster"
Takeaways: (1) How to manage risk and set appropriate premium price (2) Advantages and disadvantages of being part of Berkshire Hathaway (3) Berkshire unique culture
Don. Wurster serves as the President of National Indemnity Company and Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska. Mr. Wurster was employed By Pacific Stock Exchange, San Francisco, CA. from 1980 to 1982. Mr. Wurster is graduate of University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mi, in 1975. He holds an MBA Degree from University of California, Berkeley, Ca in 1980.
About National Indemnity: National Indemnity Company provides commercial insurance products. It offers commercial auto insurance products, which provide coverage for business auto, commercial trucks and truckers, passenger transport, and specialty operations; garage insurance products that provide coverage for dealers, and service and repair shops; motor truck cargo insurance that provides coverage for loading and unloading, refrigeration breakdown, and earned freight operations; and prize indemnification and special events insurance products. The company also provides general liability insurance, which provides coverage for construction, manufacturing and distribution, transportation, miscellaneous, and stores and rental operations, as well as installation, service, and repair operations. It offers its products through retail and contracted general agents in the United States. The company was founded in 1940 and is based in Omaha, Nebraska. National Indemnity Company operates as a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc
Thursday,
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Bob Batt,
Executive VP (retired), Nebraska Furniture Mart
Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Bob Batt"
Takeaways: (1) Becoming Berkshire's first family owned and managed subsidiary; (2) NFM before and after Berkshire's acquisition; and (3) how the retail business has changed over the past 7 decades.
Thursday,
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Tony Nicely,
CEO, GEICO
Topic: "A Conversation and Q&A with Tony Nicely"
Takeaways: (1) Berkshire's longest serving subsidiary manager; (2) Building GEICO from 7th to 2nd; (3) GEICO culture before and after Berkshire acquisition
Thursday,
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Katherine Chiglinsky, Bloomberg News Topic: "Speaker Q&A with Katherine Chiglinsky, Bloomberg News"
Katherine Chiglinsky is a finance reporter at Bloomberg News where she covers Berkshire Hathaway and insurance companies. She has had bylines in publications such as the Daily Press in Newport News, Virginia and was editor in chief of her college's student newspaper, where she won the Rex Smith Journalism Award. She received a bachelor's degree from the College of William and Mary in Virginia.
She's on Twitter at @k_chiglinsky.
Thursday,
2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Ron Olson*, Managing partner of Munger, Tolles and Olson and Berkshire Director Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Ron Olson and Nicole Friedman, Journalist, Wall Street Journal"
Ronald L. Olson is a name partner in the Los Angeles office of Munger, Tolles & Olson. Mr. Olson’s practice involves a combination of litigation and corporate counseling. He counsels individual executives and boards of directors in a wide range of matters, including transactions and corporate governance. Mr. Olson has also been the lead partner in numerous high-profile litigation matters.
Mr. Olson is a director of Berkshire Hathaway, Edison International, City National Corporation, Graham Holdings Company, and Western Asset Trusts. He serves as a director of several non-profits, including the RAND Corporation (formerly chair), the Mayo Clinic, and the California Institute of Technology. He was chairman of the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section (1981-1982) and the American Bar Association’s Standing Committee on Federal Judiciary (1991-1992). He was also chairman of the board of trustees of Claremont University Center and Graduate School (1984-1994), founding chairman of the board of trustees of Southern California Public Radio (1999-2004) and a director of the Council on Foreign Relations (2002-2010).
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Nicole Friedman, Wall Street Journal Reporter Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Ron Olson and Nicole Friedman, Journalist, Wall Street Journal"
2019 Berkshire Systems Summit Speaker
Robert Miles, Executive in Residence, University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration Topic: "Closing Remarks"
Thursday, April 30, 2020
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. REGISTRATION
Mammel Hall Atrium
College of Business Administration, University of Nebraska-Omaha
9:30 a.m. – 9:40 a.m. Robert Miles
Executive in Residence,
University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration
Topic: Opening Remarks
Takeaways:
(1) Berkshire System or culture on a start up, family operated and a publicly traded wholly owned subsidiary;
(2) Berkshire's unique culture; (3) Reporting requirements, budgets, meetings, HQ oversight and directives
9:40 a.m. – 10:40 a.m. Don Wurster
CEO, National Indemnity Company
Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Don Wurster"
Takeaways: (1) How to manage risk and set appropriate premium price
(2) Advantages and disadvantages of being part of Berkshire Hathaway (3) Berkshire unique culture
10:40 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. Networking Break
Mammel Hall Atrium
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Bob Batt
EVP (retired), Nebraska Furniture Mart
Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Bob Batt"
Takeaways:
(1) Berkshire first family owned business purchase;
(2) NFM culture before and after Berkshire; (3) 6 decades of retailing experience
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Lunch
Mammel Hall Atrium
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. Tony Nicely
Chairman, GEICO
Topic: "Conversation and Q&A with Tony Nicely"
Takeaways:
(1) Berkshire's longest serving subsidiary manager; (2) Building GEICO from 7th to 2nd;
(3) GEICO culture before and after Berkshire acquisition
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Ron Olson
Berkshire Board Member; Managing Partner, Munger Tolles & Olson
Topic: Conversation and Q&A with Ron Olson and Nicole Friedman, Journalist, Wall Street Journal
Takeaways:
(1) Berkshire's board meeting topics of discussion; (2) Succession; (3) Acquisition updates
3:30 p.m. – 3:35 p.m. Robert Miles
Executive in Residence, University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration
Closing Remarks
Takeaways:
Join us next year - April 30, 2020; www.valueinvestorconference.com
Summit Info
Location/Parking Information/Accommodations
2019 Mammel Hall Parking and Transportation:
Open parking during event hours so ignore student permit parking only signs.
PLEASE NOTE: there is a lot of construction happening around the parking lot.
Currently, the easiest way to get to Mammel Hall is from Pacific street.
Take the first entrance, near the Pete Kiewit Institute and drive through the parking lot to get to Mammel Hall.
• Map of construction near Mammel Hall: Construction and Parking Overview (click for map)
• Happy Taxi Cab: (402) 292-2222 http://happycab.com/
• Uber is available in Omaha.
Summit News
In Memorium
Bruce Whitman
CEO, FlightSafety
August 4, 1933 - October 10, 2018
We are deeply indebted to Bruce for his outstanding leadership and especially for his friendship, guidance and vision. We are grateful for his service, commitment to excellence and absolute focus on our Customers. In addition to his many business accomplishments, he created a culture within the company of customer service, quality, trust, caring, respect and family. All join in expressing our utmost respect, admiration and appreciation for our friend, mentor and remarkable leader. We are grateful for his boundless energy and fervent dedication to enhance aviation safety around the world. (Courtesy FlightSafety)
One of a kind concentrated
study of The Genius of Warren Buffett: The Science of Investing and the Art of Managing presented
by Robert Miles. Learn the Oracle of Omaha's
educational timeline, investment principles, management philosophies,
corporate governance, succession plan, mistakes, philanthropy and
more.
•Unique and Limited: One of a kind course
•Inclusive and Diverse: Open to non-enrolled students from a
variety of ages, academic backgrounds and work experience
•Distinguished Guest Lecturers: Including Berkshire managers
•Buffett Style Valuations: Immediately apply methods taught to
value actual stocks and businesses acquired by Warren Buffett
•Investment Challenge Contest: Present a stock that fits
Buffett's acquisition criteria
•Immediate Measurable Results: Previous participants
selected an actual stock purchased by Berkshire Hathaway,
have been promoted to lead Berkshire subsidiaries and appointed board
members of non-profits
Genius of Warren Buffett production by Maverick PR at UNO.
3 Day Course - 18 Hours
GOB Fall 2018 Investment Challenge Merit Scholarship Winners with instructor Bob Miles.Fall 2018 class members for the Genius of Warren Buffett Course with instructor Bob Miles.
• Fall 2019 Course (F-19)
When: October 3, 4, 5, 2019 ( 3 - Day Course - 18 hours)
Where: University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Busineness Administration
Register by 8/31/19 (or until seats are filled) for only $3,995.
Genius of Warren Buffett Course - S20
One of a kind concentrated
study of The Genius of Warren Buffett: The Science of Investing and the Art of Managing presented
by Robert Miles. Learn the Oracle of Omaha's
educational timeline, investment principles, management philosophies,
corporate governance, succession plan, mistakes, philanthropy and
more.
•Unique and Limited: One of a kind course
•Inclusive and Diverse: Open to non-enrolled students from a
variety of ages, academic backgrounds and work experience
•Distinguished Guest Lecturers: Including Berkshire managers
•Buffett Style Valuations: Immediately apply methods taught to
value actual stocks and businesses acquired by Warren Buffett
•Investment Challenge Contest: Present a stock that fits
Buffett's acquisition criteria
•Immediate Measurable Results: Previous participants
selected an actual stock purchased by Berkshire Hathaway,
have been promoted to lead Berkshire subsidiaries and appointed board
members of non-profits
Genius of Warren Buffett production by Maverick PR at UNO.
3 Day Course - 32 Hours
GOB Fall 2018 Investment Challenge Merit Scholarship Winners with instructor Bob Miles.Fall 2018 class members for the Genius of Warren Buffett Course with instructor Bob Miles.
• Spring 2020 Course (S-20)
When: April 27, April 28, April 29, 2020 ( 3 - Day Course - 32 hours)
Where: University of Nebraska at Omaha, College of Busineness Administration
Adrienne Fay shares Borsheims' marketing strategies with Genius of Warren Buffett course participants on October 5. (Photo by Maria Nevada)
Borsheims' Adrienne Fay shares her marketing expertise
By Maria Nevada
Diamonds sparkled in the light as visitors explored Omaha-based luxury jewelry store Borsheims.
For the participants in the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) Genius of Warren Buffett Executive MBA course, the October 5 tour was a master class in the importance of detail and strategy. Led by Adrienne Fay, "Borsheims'" Director of Marketing and Business Sales, the tour allowed visitors to gain insight on selling a brand.
At one point during the tour, Fay ushered the group inside a semi-enclosed area that displayed and highlighted the most prized pieces in the Borsheims' inventory. The space gives customers a sense of privacy and exclusivity, Fay says.
The site visit is a bi-annual "skills check-in" for Fay to stay informed on every aspect of the store, its history and progress. She points out the details invisible to the untrained eye that create a consumer journey.
When customers enter the store, they are gently misted with a relaxing scent that reinforces Borsheims' branding. Fay says this tactic is called scent marketing.
Everything down to the packaging of the products, Fays says, creates "moments." To improve customer experience, the company also plans to put new carpet down to remove the subtle discomfort from standing on a hard floor.
"Sometimes it's hard to see past the beautiful jewelry or the really unique things that make our store visibly beautiful," Fay says. Borsheims develops goals and strategies that define everyday business decisions "to ensure that our business stays strong and vibrant."
Borsheims offers a glamorous experience and luxury goods- but at a discount, Fay says. It's a business model maintained through various methods. As part of the Berkshire Hathaway family, the company receives direction from Warren Buffett.
Every year, Buffett writes a note to the company. It's simple, concise and shows how Borsheims is part of the Berkshire Hathaway experience. The company even sets up a pop-up store every year at the Berkshire Hathaway Annual Shareholders Meeting, held the first weekend in May.
Previous Genius of Warren Buffett course participants suggested guest speakers include a Berkshire subsidiary Chief Financial Officer and a Chief Marketing Officer to highlight the depth of the Berkshire culture. Fay has been a course lecturer for five years now.
Like the course participants, Fay considers herself a life-long learner.
"It's really wonderful," Fay says. "It's probably one of the hardest talks that I do but is the most rewarding as well."
Genius of Warren Buffett Course Photos
The Genius of Warren Buffett Course Testimonial Video (3 min. feature) was produced by five graduates (William Maag, Feng Chang, Matt Ord, Mark O'Hare, and Jamie Hunt). This clip was produced, filmed and edited by UNO student PR firm MaverickPR.
"Genius Course for S15, S16, S17 and S18 included international groups of students representing over 20 countries and were sold out."
Fall 2018 class visit to Borsheim's with guest speaker, Director of Marketing, Adrienne Fay..
Adrienne Fay, Director of Marketing at Borsheim's speaks with Fall 2018 class inside of Borsheim's.
Fall 2018 class member talks with Adrienne Fay, Director of Marketing, Borsheim's.
Instructor Bob Miles with a few Fall 2018 class members awarded with Certificates of Business Excellence from the University of Nebraska Omaha, College of Business Administration EMBA Program.
Bob Miles presenting at the
2012 Value Investor Conference. (Photo courtesy: iMoney — Eric Tsang)
Mammel Hall Welcome screen for the Genius of Warren Buffett course.
GOB Spring 16 Investment Challenge Contest $5,000.00 Merit Scholarship Winners with instructor Bob Miles.
Topics in Robert Miles' “Genius of Warren Buffett” class at UNO this week included “the Oracle of Omaha's educational timeline, investment principles, management philosophies, corporate governance, succession plan, mistakes, philanthropy and more,” according to the class marketing materials. — CHRIS MACHIAN/THE WORLD-HERALD Read complete article about the Spring 2014 Course.(Photo/Article courtesy: The World-Herald)
Fall 2016 Genius of Warren Buffett class with guest speaker, Donald Wurster (President, National Indemnity Company and Berkshire Hathaway Life Insurance Company of Nebraska) and instructor Bob Miles.
Spring 2016 Genius of Warren Buffett class with guest speaker, Bob Batt (Former Executive Vice President, Nebraska Furniture Mart - BKG) and instructor Bob Miles.
Berkshire Annual Meeting Credentials
Berkshire shareholders and their guests need credentials to attend the annual meeting, to get special discounts at Berkshire-owned businesses and to attend the other shareholder-only events in Omaha in the days before and after the meeting.
VIC 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 sold out with
a United Nations of like minded investors with attendees from around the globe representing 6 continents and over 30 countries.
Join us in 2020!
Please join us again in 2020 for our 17th Annual Value Investor Conference and Events:
Genius of Warren Buffett S19 - April 27, 28, 29, 2020
Summit Series S19: April 30, 2020
Value Investor Conference - April 30 - May 1, 2020
Omaha Value Dinner S19 - April 30, 2020
Omaha CEO Dinner S19 - May 1, 2020
Genius of Warren Buffett Course Fall 2020 - Thurs., Fri., Sat. - Oct. 1, 2, 3, 2020
Omaha S20 Event Advantages
Original Value Conference
One of a Kind Buffett Course, Summits and Dinners
University Based
Often includes participation from Berkshire CEOs, managers, directors, family members, CFO, Marketing Director and more
Presenters recommended by previous atttendees
Event organizer does not speak or sell newsletters, investment research or attempt to compete with attendees by gathering assets under management
Over $170,000 donated to support education, scholarships and charities
As many as 5 separate exclusive events offered
World class networking opportunities with attendees from six continents and over 20 countries
Consecutive years SOLD OUT
Previous Berkshire System Summit Interviews
2018 Berkshire Summit Speaker
Kevin Clayton
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Summit Series S19: April 30, 2020
Value Investor Conference - April 30 - May 1, 2020
Omaha Value Dinner S19 - April 30, 2020
Omaha CEO Dinner S19 - May 1, 2020
