Preparing for the Liquidity Event

Tim is the managing partner of the Baltimore office and provides outside general counsel for businesses in the Mid-Atlantic region and beyond—from the most promising newcomers arriving in the market today to serial entrepreneurs and established industry leaders. Mr. Hodge focuses much of his time on complex transactional matters that often prove crucial to a company's growth, evolution, or exit strategy. His legal experience includes handling general corporate matters, domestic and international M&A deals, intellectual property issues, and the full array of business disputes and challenges a corporate client might face. His past experience as a litigator also enables him to provide the advice clients require in a highly competitive and sometimes treacherous business world.

Sean Bilbrough has over a decade of direct investing and sell side M&A experience across the lower middle market. Specifically, within transportation, manufacturing & distribution, and business services. He is currently a Vice President at Patriot Capital, a Baltimore MD based SBIC platform that has invested over $1 billion across five funds.

Graham Boyce purchased Jobe and Company, a regional supplier of process control and instrumentation equipment, in 2012 with partner Paul Baker. In 2016, they expanded Jobe’s footprint into the HVAC market by acquiring Smith and Wilson. In 2021, they merged ownership of Paul’s company, Bay Associates, with Jobe & Company. In 2023, Paul and Graham sold both companies to Hobbs and Associates, a PE backed roll up of regional HVAC suppliers and representatives.

KENT V. PEARCE, a Managing Director - Senior Financial Advisor with Merrill Lynch Wealth Management along with his associates, form one of the firm's most distinguished Wealth Management Groups. Over the course of Kent's entire 29+ year career with Merrill, he has been recognized as one of America's leading financial advisors.

In 2022-2024, Kent was named among the Top 40 Wealth Advisors on the FORBES "America's Top Wealth Advisors" list and recently ranked #37 in America in 2024. In addition, he was ranked #1 in Maryland on the FORBES "Best-In-State Wealth Advisors" list for 2020-2023. (Both lists are published annually Jan - April. Rankings based on data as of June 30 of prior year).

Kent was also named to the BARRON’S “Top 100 Financial Advisors” List from 2020-2023 and holds the #1 ranking in Maryland on the BARRON’S “Top 1200 Financial Advisors” list for 2024. (Both Lists Published annually March-April. Rankings based on data as of September 30 and December 31 of the prior year, respectively).

Kent's 16-member team has approximately 250 years of combined experience and has consistently set a standard to offer stellar investment advice, and guidance as well as customized financial strategies to affluent individuals and families, corporate executives, business owners, foundations/endowments, private & public companies, and professional athletes/entertainers.

The Pearce Group was recently named to the FORBES "Top 100 Private Wealth Teams in America" list for 2023, as well as being the #1 Ranked Wealth Management Team in the State of Maryland on the FORBES "Best-In-State Wealth Management Teams" list for 2024. (Published on November 7, 2023 and January 9, 2024, respectively. Both rankings based on data as of March 31, 2023).

Lastly, Kent was the recipient of Merrill Lynch’s prestigious David Brady Award (2018) recognizing him for his devoted commitment to his clients, colleagues and community best represented through character and integrity.

Kent presently serves as a member of the CEO Club of Baltimore, the Living Classrooms Foundation Board of Directors and is also a founding member of Merrill's highly acclaimed National AGN (Advisor Growth Network) Board. Kent has also previous served as a member of the University of Maryland St. Joseph's Medical Center Foundation Board, as well as the President's Advisory Board at McDaniel College. Kent received a MBA degree from Mount Saint Mary's University in Financial Management, as well as a BA degree from McDaniel College with a dual concentration in Economics and Finance.