Taking the Chips Off the Table: Creating Growth Through Liquidity
Presented By: Footprint Capital / GBQ Partners LLC
There’s more than one way to build a burgeoning business—and sometimes, it seems counterintuitive. Join regional business leaders, industry experts, and experienced M&A advisors as they share how to create lever opportunities to propel your business forward. Through valuable insights and real-life case studies—including from the CEO of a closely held business who has successfully navigated a liquidity event—you’ll discover the key steps and considerations involved in unlocking the full potential of your company.
Moderator:
Partner, Director of Assurance Services
GBQ Partners LLC
Tom Powers brings over 25 years of accounting & business advisory experience to GBQ. Though times have changed since he graduated from Ohio Northern University in the 1980s, one thing has been a constant in his career: flexibility.
His skills with clients, his keen understanding of the business landscape, and his devotion to both work and family – he has a son and twin daughters – all stem from his nimble and strategic approach to life.
Like a tall tree, he can bend, but he doesn’t break. And in the next twenty years, we’re sure his flexibility will come in handy more often than not.
Panelists:
Managing Partner
Footprint Capital
Josh works with business leaders on ownership transactions and liquidity events, including sell-side and buy-side engagements and transactions, such as management buyouts, succession and exit planning, ESOP formations, capital sourcing and leveraged recaps. Prior to leading Footprint Capital, Josh was vice president at Insource Spend Management Group. He led Insource through two synergistic acquisitions and ultimately, its sale.
CEO
Westwater Supply Corp.
Kirk Hendricks is co-owner and CEO of Westwater Supply Corp., which is a wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating and water systems products and supplies operating 5 locations in Columbus, Marietta, Marion, Springfield and Zanesville, Ohio. Previously, he was the CFO and then President of Kinetics Noise Control for 7 years, and has over 20 years of commercial and investment banking experience.
Executive Chairman
Service Star Brands
Niklas James is the founder of Siddis Group, an independent sponsor. He serves as Executive Chairman at Service Star Brands, a Dallas-based HVAC and plumbing platform. Previously, Niklas has experience from SLB and Bain & Company, where he worked the private equity group. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Partner
Oxer Capital
Mike O'Brien is a Partner and Investment Committee Member of all three Oxer Capital Funds. His responsibilities include fundraising, marketing, originating, negotiating and executing debt and equity investments for the firm. He has over 20 years of experience in lower middle market investing and lending.