Behind the Sale: Hard Lessons from the Sell-Side of M&A
Presented By: BellMark Partners / Hightower Signature Wealth
Selling a company rarely follows a straight line. In this session, founders, investors, and advisors share candid stories from the sell-side—highlighting the challenges, surprises, and missteps that can arise during a transaction. With the advisor serving as a steady guide—part strategist, part sounding board—panelists reflect on how they navigated tough situations, what they learned along the way, and what they would do differently next time.
Moderator:
Managing Director & Chair Business Owners Practice Group
Hightower Signature Wealth
Andrew R. Connors is a Certified Financial Planner™ professional with 20 years of experience in the personal financial management arena. He has experience in advising family business owners how they can align their personal, family and business goals. His mission and purpose is to positively impact the long-term well-being of closely-held and family business owners by helping them create and maintain multi-generational wealth. He is known for his ability to translate complex financial strategies and concepts into understandable, actionable ideas.
Prior to receiving his MBA from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve University, Andrew attended John Carroll University where he earned a B.S.B.A. He earned his Certified Financial PlannerTM (CFP®) designation from the College of Financial Planning.
Managing Director and Co-CEO
BellMark Partners, LLC
Andy is Managing Director and Co-CEO of Bellmark Partners, LLC, and head of the firm’s Cleveland office. Andy has over 28 years of investment banking experience, having personally completed well over 100 M&A, special committee, and board advisory assignments. Previously, he was with KeyBanc Capital Markets, where he was head of the sponsor coverage, consumer & retail and M&A investment banking groups.
Panelists:
Partner
CW Industrial Partners
Ryan Richards is a Partner at CW Industrial Partners (CWI), an industrial focused, lower-middle market private equity firm based in Cleveland, OH. In this role, Ryan’s primary responsibilities include identifying and evaluating new investment opportunities and partnering with the senior leadership teams across CWI’s portfolio to drive strategic growth initiatives.
Chief Financial Officer
Foundation Wellness
RJ Valentine is an accomplished operator of private equity and publicly traded companies, and entrepreneur. He currently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Foundation Wellness, a global manufacturer of health and wellness products. In late 2024 Foundation Wellness was sold in a successful sponsor to sponsor transaction from Gridiron Capital to Bansk Capital.
RJ has led mid-market companies for over 25 years and has completed approximately 30 buy-side/sell-side transactions around the globe for a total deal value of $1.5B. Using his foundational background as a CPA he has prepared and executed multiple exits in private equity and publicly traded companies. He has also served as a board member of private equity and privately held companies.