The Succession Equation: Balancing Legacy, Transition, and Liquidity
Presented By: Gridiron Capital / Quest
For founder-led and family-owned businesses, succession is more than a handoff—it’s a strategic inflection point. This session brings together business owners, serial entrepreneurs, investors, and advisors to discuss how to prepare for what comes next after an exit or transition, how to align family and management interests when a family or founder retains minority ownership stake, and how to help position the company for sustained growth under new ownership or the next-generation.
Moderator:
Operating Partner
Gridiron Capital
At Gridiron Capital, Sean promotes leadership development internally and across our portfolio partnerships and their boards. Sean leads Gridiron’s High-Performance Teams and Boards Centers of Excellence.
Sean brings nearly 30 years of experience in strategy, M&A, operations, finance, human resources, merchandising, marketing, real estate, store development, and accounting functions. Prior to joining Gridiron Capital, Sean served as CEO of The Lattice Companies, a Gridiron portfolio company. In his role, Sean was responsible for leading strategic day-to-day operations. Previously, Sean worked at The Fresh Market where he held various senior roles, including Interim President and CEO, EVP and COO, and Interim CFO. Sean currently serves on the board of The Lattice Companies.
Founder/CEO
Quest
Dale Gillmore is the Founder & CEO of Quest. He brings over 25 years of M&A and family office experience, working closely with privately held business owners. He is a licensed CPA in NC and Michigan, passed the Series SIE, Series 3, 63, 79 & 82 exams and is a FINRA member. Dale has a passion for helping children and in 2010 he founded the Make an Impact Foundation.
Panelists:
Founder
StealthCRX
John Dillard is a two-time founder and executive with a background in technology-driven operations improvement. He founded ThreatSwitch, a security SaaS company acquired by Sign In Solutions (a PSG Equity platform) in 2022, where he joined the executive team to lead the enterprise business post-acquisition. John began his career at the CIA and later served as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve. An active coach and investor in the founder community through Techstars, VentureSouth, and Entrepreneurs’ Organization, John is the cofounder of a new robotics venture bringing automation to one of the economy’s most outdated and labor-bound sectors.
Owner
Keffer Automotive Group
As a strategic automotive dealer, investor, and owner, I have dedicated my career to helping individuals build substantial net worth and fostering a strong organizational culture where employees reach their full potential through hard work and commitment.
I possess a unique ability to identify and unlock potential in individuals and businesses, having completed numerous investments within and outside the automotive industry. I am passionate about supporting top performers, nurturing their development, and positioning them for financial independence through business ownership.
Throughout my career, I’ve leveraged my education and expertise in the automotive industry to double sales, manage vehicle inventory, and create impactful marketing campaigns that maximize business outcomes. Embracing the “pay it forward” philosophy instilled in me by my father, I serve as a consultant, helping motivated professionals position themselves for exponential growth and success.