Lessons from the Sell-Side Trenches: Alignment and understanding different types of buyers

Matt serves as a national assurance services and transaction principal with CliftonLarsonAllen with over 14 years of experience. Matt is also a member of CliftonLarsonAllen's global services group serving as a national team leader. Matt was recognized as a 40 Under 40 Emerging Leader Award winner by The M&A Advisor in 2015. Matt's time is predominately devoted to leading engagements for a range of clients including private equity groups and privately held entities within the manufacturing and distribution, technology services, services, and commercial industries. Matt has supported global transactions, specifically those between the U.S. and various countries in Europe. Matt is actively involved with CLA's international affiliation, Nexia International, which has provided him opportunities to serve global clients, lead global engagement teams, and travel with U.S. delegations abroad.

Ben is the group head of CLA's investment banking practice and brings with him 20 years of M&A and other transaction execution experience. Ben joined CLA in 2014 to formally launch investment banking capabilities and has been providing strategic advice to clients, executing M&A transactions, and building CLA's investment banking practice.

Aaron has combined his passion for aerospace, motor sports and business during his career. As principal, he has led the turn around and growth for several aviation, defense and motor sports companies. Today Mr. Hollander is Chairman, President & CEO of First Aviation Services Inc. which he co-founded in 1995 as a leading provider of repair and overhaul services to the aviation industry worldwide.

Rich has been investing in and partnering with lower middle market companies for the last sixteen years. His prior experience includes advisory work with both a middle market investment bank and a global corporate finance and brand valuation consulting firm. Rich graduated from the University of Virginia with a Bachelor of Science in Commerce with concentrations in Finance and Management. As a result of growing up in five different states, Rich has an unfortunate accent and cheers for far too many sports teams. He gladly calls Charlotte his home with his wife, four kids, and a growing number of pets.

Chris is the chief financial officer of Ekos Software. Prior to joining Ekos in 2019, he helped scale two successful software businesses as an executive and advised on more than 50 capital raise and acquisition transactions as an investment banker.