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March 27, 2025
Announcing the St. Louis Smart Business Dealmaker Award Winners and 2025 Dealmakers Hall of Fame Class
We celebrated the accomplishments of the 2025 class of winners at the St. Louis Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. See who we recognized! ...
By Dealmakers Staff
March 27, 2025
Navigating Global Trends and Local Impacts in Missouri
Dustin Allison of Greater St. Louis Inc., Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge of the St. Louis Lambert International Airport, and John Manetta of Bank of America, in a panel moderated by Bank of America’s Marilyn Bush, analyze the economic indicators, infrastructure developments and investment strategies shaping St. Louis' future. ...
By Dealmakers Staff
January 24, 2025
Learning The Sale Process Mid-Flight
Tom Mingo of ArchStar Capital on some of the considerations sellers might make as they move through a process....
By Adam Burroughs
November 21, 2024
The Best Deals Have Alignment
Industrial Opportunity Partners’ Craig Korte on the importance of alignment when buying a business....
By Adam Burroughs
October 24, 2024
zTrip’s Acquisition-Driven Growth
zTrip's Bill George on the genesis of the business, its acquisition process and the secret sauce that’s helping the company continue on its extraordinary trajectory....
By Adam Burroughs
September 26, 2024
Chase People, Not Revenue, In Deals
Sunstar Insurance Group’s Chris Parcell outlines the company’s acquisition process, shaped over more than 50 acquisitions....
By Adam Burroughs
August 22, 2024
Dispelling ESOP Myths
MGX Digital’s Charity Brueggemann outlines the process of transitioning to an ESOP....
By Adam Burroughs
July 25, 2024
Align Your Values To Your Exit Plan
Golterman and Sabo's Herb Golterman on the importance of aligning your values to your exit plan....
By Adam Burroughs
June 27, 2024
Introducing Family Into A Business
David Mason of David Mason + Associates on the process of introducing family into his business....
By Adam Burroughs
May 16, 2024
It Takes A Team To Sell A Company
Gateway Dealer Network's John Hopper on what he found important after selling twice in four years. ...
By Adam Burroughs
April 25, 2024
Changing Times In M&A Require Buyer Adjustments
Permanent Equity's Taylor Hall on the challenges and opportunities in today's M&A market....
By Adam Burroughs
March 21, 2024
The Importance Of Driving Local Investment In St. Louis
BioSTL Founding President and CEO Donn Rubin, along with USAKO Group President and CEO Dr. Han Ko and Capacity Chief Strategy Officer Douglas Wilber shared their perspective on what it takes to build a company in the region. ...
By Adam Burroughs
March 7, 2024
Announcing St. Louis' Smart Business Network Dealmaker Award Winners and 2024 Dealmakers Hall of Fame Class!
We're celebrating the accomplishments of the 2024 class of winners March 14 at the St. Louis Smart Business Dealmakers Conference. Together, they provide a strong picture of the St. Louis business community....
By SBN Staff
February 9, 2024
Raising Capital And Competing With Unicorns
Hungry Planet CEO Todd Boyman talks about launching Hungry Planet and why it raised modest capital compared to its unicorn competitors....
By Michael Marzec
February 1, 2024
Competing On Culture
Seyer Industries' Chris Seyer on how he uses culture as a competitive differentiator. ...
By Adam Burroughs
January 5, 2024
Even With Experience, Selling A Family Business Can Be A Challenge
Recently, Jeff Gershman, Chairman of the Board, of Gershman Mortgage & Gershman Investment Corp., sold Gershman Commercial Real Estate, a brokerage and property management company. Through his law...
By Adam Burroughs
November 17, 2023
See Your Business Through Buyers' Eyes
The advice to business owners looking to exit is often to get the right advisers and plan well ahead of going to market. But for many, that's not always the reality. "We deal with the business owners...
By Adam Burroughs
September 29, 2023
Transparency Is Needed When Selling A Family Business
Multigenerational family businesses, says Richard J. Wolkowitz, CEO and Family Advisor at Xylogenesis | Family Office Advisory, are tough. The family working in the business may have a different...
By Adam Burroughs
September 1, 2023
When Buying, Understand The Seller’s Post-Close Intentions
John Dolan, President and CEO of PFI InStore, has been part of many exits and acquisitions. From that experience, he says he’s learned many lessons, a number of which focus on the human capital side...
By Adam Burroughs
August 4, 2023
Cultivation Capital: A Fund By Entrepreneurs, For Entrepreneurs
Barry Sandweiss started Cultivation Capital around 2011 along with former entrepreneurs. So, he says, the fund is naturally entrepreneurial. "We know what it's like to sit in the chair of a founder,"...
By Adam Burroughs
June 29, 2023
In This Economy, Buyers Must Look Deeper
Given the volatility in today's Market, Emily Martin, president of Aschinger Electric - A Guarantee Electrical Company, says both buyers and sellers are facing economic pressures that are impacting...
By Adam Burroughs
June 2, 2023
The Misperception Of Investors
Balto founder and CEO Marc Bernstein has built a SaaS platform designed to provide real-time guidance to contact center agents. He's scaling fast and having fun doing it, even after adding multiple...
By Adam Burroughs
May 5, 2023
Protecting The Value Of 2021 Deals In A Much Different Market
Aon's Jessica Harger on issues buyers are facing after a year of fast-paced deals. ...
By Adam Burroughs
April 6, 2023
Raising Capital Requires Warm Relationships
TCARE Co-Founder Ali Ahmadi on the company, its growth and the lessons he's learned about raising capital....
By Adam Burroughs
March 17, 2023
Sellers Sharpen Their Pencils Looking For The Right Transaction In 2023
Brightstar Capital Partners Principal Jacob Herschend, along with Wallis Companies CEO Anson Scoville and CIBC Cleary Gull Director Brian Howley, kicked off the 2023 St. Louis Smart Business Conference talking about the climate for sell-side M&A transactions in 2023 and how it might impact deals...
By Adam Burroughs
March 7, 2023
Safelite Group Acquires Mark’s Mobile Glass
Safelite® Group, a vehicle glass services and recalibration company and owner of Safelite AutoGlass®, has agreed to acquire the auto glass assets of Mark’s Mobile Glass operating throughout Central Missouri....
By Adam Burroughs
February 17, 2023
Digital Health Frenzy Propelled SteadyMD
Guy Friedman is a Co-Founder and serves as Chief Executive Officer and President at SteadyMD, a B2B telehealth infrastructure provider that enables telehealth patient experiences in all 50 states. He spoke on the Dealmakers Podcast about how he built SteadyMD as a direct-to-consumer offering, but quickly realized it’s value to other businesses. ...
By Dan Pender
January 27, 2023
Tough Decisions In Family-Led Businesses
Herschend Family Entertainment started in 1960 in Branson, Missouri by Jacob Herschend's grandparents. They leased a cave and made it available for tours. As it increased in popularity, they built...
By Adam Burroughs
December 16, 2022
What To Consider When Raising Debt
Cequel III Vice President Mike Pizzella, Jr., former CEO of StayLock Storage on current trends in financing business growth — including debt-based financing — and how to best leverage financial tools for different stages of your business lifecycle....
By Adam Burroughs
November 18, 2022
Understand Why Before You Buy
EPIC Systems CEO Michael Higgins on the elements of a deal to consider beyond price. ...
By Adam Burroughs
October 14, 2022
Immunophotonics Makes Strides in Cancer Research
Lu Alleruzzo, a bioengineer with a MBA, had an opportunity early in his career to understand innovation and immediately apply it to society for the benefit of all. That opportunity fueled him and his biotech company, Immunophotonics, to pioneer a field of cancer care called Interventional Immuno Oncology....
By Dan Pender
September 9, 2022
What to consider when considering minority investments
Broadview Group Holdings' Clay Hunter, LoanNEX's Eloise Schmitz, Lewis & Clark AgriFood's Tim Hassler, PNC's Tim Brady and BDO USA's Meg Kellogg on what minority control sales look like, and how planning in advance can lead to multiple bites at the apple....
By Adam Burroughs
August 11, 2022
When (and when not) to call an investment banker
Christopher Riley, CEO, United Cutwater, has more than 30 years’ experience owning and operating more than a dozen businesses in numerous industries. He discusses the current M&A landscape and what business owners should be doing if they’re considering selling....
By Dan Pender
July 6, 2022
Reasons to be excited, cautious, when launching a business with family
Geneoscopy's Andrew Barnell on launching Geneoscopy, structuring the business and working with family....
By Adam Burroughs
June 10, 2022
How labor challenges are affecting M&A
Calaway Habeck Talent Consulting's Jaynanne Calaway-Habeck, Denim Social's Douglas Wilber, CliftonLarsonAllen's Adrian Nohr, PFI Holding Co.'s John Dolan and BMO Harris' Robert Harrod on the factors impacting today's M&A transactions....
By Adam Burroughs
May 11, 2022
Compass Earns Multiple Returns in Less than a Year
Compass Group Equity Partners goes into every investment with a 100-day plan. They’re ready and prepared to move quickly, which they did when they purchased Sunpro Solar in 2020. Compass’ playbook includes augmenting the team and building a board deck with metrics and key performance indicators and having a written strategic plan. John Huhn, founder and managing partner of Compass Group Equity Partners, talks about how that plan enabled Compass Group sell Sunpro with multiple returns in less than a year. ...
By Dan Pender
April 1, 2022
Perimeter Manages Merger in Virtual World
Edward Goldberg, CEO of Perimeter Solutions, talks about securing $1.15 billion of development capital and, concurrently, merging with EverArc Holdings. ...
By Dan Pender
March 4, 2022
For entrepreneurs, there's no place like St. Louis
Clayton Capital Partners' Kevin Short, along with Capital Innovators' Judy Sindecuse, Capacity's David Karandish and EmpowerMe Wellness' Josh Stevens, break down what's driving activity in region and why they believe St. Louis is a great place to do business....
By Adam Burroughs
February 25, 2022
Paul Larson highlights real estate trends investors should watch in 2022
Larson Financial Holdings CEO Paul Larson talks about his company's 2021 in real estate, the trends that affected the market then, and how he sees real estate investment playing out in 2022. ...
By Adam Burroughs
January 27, 2022
What To Do With The Family Business
HBM Holdings' Mike DeCola, along with Clayton Capital Partners' Kevin Short and First Bank Center for Family-Owned Businesses' Joe Ambrose discuss options for family businesses, look at the macroeconomic factors that are influencing owners' decisions to sell or stay put, and explore case studies from those who have developed successful solutions....
By Adam Burroughs
November 24, 2021
DYOPATH CEO Rob Koch Offers His Sell-Side M&A Perspective
DYOPATH CEO Rob Koch, along with WILsquare Capital's Drew Caylor, CIBC's Greg Gorlinski and Polsinelli's Paul Klug talk about what sellers should consider when dealmaking during the pandemic. ...
By Adam Burroughs
October 29, 2021
Creating liquidity events through IPOs and SPACs
Odeon Capital's Eric Gomberg, along with BDO USA’s Meg Kellogg and Scott Hendon, as well as Armstrong Teasdale LLP’s John Sten, talk about creating liquidity events through IPOs and SPACs....
By Adam Burroughs
September 24, 2021
Weighing organic vs inorganic growth
CK Power's Clayton Costello and PFI Holding Company's John Dolan, along with Commerce Bank's Tom Harmon, RSM US LLP's William Spizman and Capital For Business' Tim Buening on how acquisitions fit into a growth strategy....
By Adam Burroughs
August 27, 2021
How Jim Sramek came to sell Midwest Equipment Company to his employees
Midwest Equipment Company's Jim Sramek shares his story of transferring his company to and ESOP....
By Adam Burroughs
July 21, 2021
Quick prep and deal killers
Bethany Michel, managing director at the Harbour Group; Vic Richey, CEO of ESCO; Bo Butters, principal at CLA; and John Chalus, director – corporate advisory, at BMO Harris Bank; talk about deal preparedness....
By Adam Burroughs
June 18, 2021
Jonathan Herrick pursues growth at Benchmark
Jonathan Herrick, a St. Louis entrepreneur who’s now CEO of Benchmark, talks about its most recent acquisition of Contacts+, as well as what’s in store for 2021....
By Adam Burroughs
May 7, 2021
Thomas Hillman and Jim Eberlin share lessons learned
Thomas Hillman, managing partner at Lewis & Clark Capital, and Jim Eberlin, founder and CEO of TopOPPS offer their perspective and approach to dealmaking, as well as some of the lessons they’ve learned over their decades-long careers....
By Adam Burroughs
April 8, 2021
Matthew Porter’s post-transaction advice for entrepreneurs
Matthew Porter, Vice Chairman at Contegix and Senior Strategic Advisor at Invisibly, offers advice on post-transaction life, as well an overview of the transaction that led him to these realizations....
By Adam Burroughs
March 12, 2021
Paul Klug on smoothing out the bumps in M&A negotiations
Paul Klug covers a range of issues, including the view of 2020’s uneven M&A landscape from his seat, and how his clients mitigated deal risk....
By Adam Burroughs
February 12, 2021
Truck Centers’ John Hopkins on moving the family business forward
While he expects to participate as an acquirer, Truck Centers’ John Hopkins is structuring the family business so that selling remains the furthest thing from the family's mind....
By Adam Burroughs
