LAS VEGAS — Gina Cocking of Colonnade Advisors will present a session dedicated to consolidation in the agency segment at this year’s Agent Summit, organizers announced. The four-day event is scheduled to begin on the evening of Sunday, May 19, at the Venetian & Palazzo Resort Hotel Casinos in Las Vegas.

Cocking’s presentation, “The Pace of Consolidation in the F&I Industry,” will be part of the Agent Principals Only portion of the agenda.

“Gina Cocking has been at the head of the drive towards F&I operation consolidation and her knowledge and experience will serve all agency principals to position their business for years to come,” said Randy Crisorio, president and CEO of United Development Systems and Agent Summit advisory board chair. “Expect a reveal of facts and figures at this private Agent Principals Only session.”

Cocking serves as managing director for Colonnade Advisors, an investment banking firm specializing in M&A for agencies and other businesses in the financial services segment. She told Agent Entrepreneur her session would include a review of trends driving consolidation among agencies, how those deals are structured, and common pitfalls that can derail them.

“I am excited to be a part of the Agent Summit at a time in which the F&I Agent ecosystem is shifting as firms are consolidating to build scale and lock in distribution,” Cocking said. “Agency owners should be thinking strategically about how they fit into the competitive mix and what are their long-term objectives.”

Registration for Agent Summit 2019 is now open at the event’s website. To discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact David Gesualdo via email or at 727-947-4027.