A Full House at ACG LA’S Annual Poker Tournament
For its 13th Private Equity and Investment Banking Poker Tournament, ACG LA continued its support of fire relief efforts by fundraising for LAFD Station 69
When the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Altadena and the Pacific Palisades were hit by devastating fires at the start of the year, the ACG Los Angeles chapter immediately stepped in to support members of the local dealmaking community and beyond.
Ahead of its State of Investment Banking panel, held in late January, ACG LA allocated a portion of the night’s proceeds for the Los Angeles Fire Department (LAFD) Foundation and the American Red Cross to support fire relief efforts.
But it didn’t stop there. Most recently, the chapter held its annual Private Equity and Investment Banking Poker Tournament on March 13 at The Viceroy in Santa Monica. In further support of fire relief for Los Angeles, ACG LA welcomed several LAFD firefighters from the Pacific Palisades’ Station 69 as honored guests of the event.
ACG Los Angeles used the poker tournament to raise funds for LAFD by promoting the LAFD Foundation, encouraging event attendees to donate to or purchase an item from Station 69, and making a direct donation to the station.
Event Recap
WHAT: 13th Annual ACG Los Angeles Private Equity and Investment Banking Poker Tournament
WHEN: March 13, 2025
WHERE: The Viceroy, Santa Monica
THE TAKEAWAY: A favorite among ACG LA event attendees, the sold-out poker tournament joined high-level PE and IB dealmakers to test their luck at the card table and support Los Angeles fire relief efforts.
“For this year’s 13th Annual PE/IB Poker Tournament, we knew we wanted to do something to signify that we hadn’t forgotten the tragedy that hit our city and to thank the brave responders that helped quell those fires,” says Tuan Hoang, Client Executive – Private Equity Services at consulting firm Crowe, and event committee chair. “It was a great night to meet and talk to these brave men, play some poker, host and take care of them for one night and show our gratitude.”
A favorite ACG LA event among members and other dealmakers, the poker tournament was “a huge success,” says Hoang, noting that the sold-out event welcomed private equity and investment banking professionals from across the country to network and test their luck at the card table.
While the event sells out every year, Hoang said this year’s tournament welcomed the largest turnout of PE and IB professionals to date, with “the quality of senior-level dealmakers at an all-time high.”
But it was the spotlight on the LAFD that made this year’s event particularly meaningful.
No one in our M&A community here in LA can really say they have not been affected, or does not know someone that has been affected, by the fires.
Tuan Hoang
Crowe
Both the Palisades and Altadena are home to many in the Los Angeles M&A dealmaking community, says Hoang. “No one in our M&A community here in LA can really say they have not been affected, or does not know someone that has been affected, by the fires,” he adds.
With that in mind, supporting firefighters and fire relief efforts has become an important philanthropic objective for the chapter. ACG events like these not only offer a space for valuable networking amongst M&A professionals, but a meaningful opportunity to support local communities. For ACG LA, continuing aid for fire relief efforts remains a vital focus, even months after the fires.
“(The firefighters) had our backs during these trying times, and in our own way we wanted to show them we had theirs,” says Huan. “Their work is not done, and neither is our support.”
The following are members of the PE/IB Roundtable Committee: Tuan Hoang, Crowe, Committee Chair | Jane Adams, Piper Sandler | Clay Bryan, BlackArch| Erica Curello, Mainsail Partners | Jeremy Holland Riverside Company | Jamie Kim, Gallant Capital | Steve Moon, Kroll | Dulce Martinez, Zions Capital | Tyler McLinn, Moelis | Connor O’Byrne, Gemspring Capital Matt Oehlmann, TELEO Capital Mike Piric, Lincoln | Larry Simon, Clearview Capital | Evan Smith, Marlin Equity | Kevin Stephens, Houlihan Lokey | Jordan Stone, Platinum Equity | Jonathan Zucker, Intrepid
If you would like to donate to LAFD Station 69, click here.
Carolyn Vallejo is ACG’s Digital Editor.
Middle Market Growth is produced by the Association for Corporate Growth. To learn more about the organization and how to become a member, visit www.acg.org.
