Navigating the Family Business Maze

Kevin is managing director and CEO of Clayton Capital Partners, a St. Louis-based investment banking firm specializing in merger and acquisition advisement. He is author of "Sell Your Business For An Outrageous Price," which synthesizes his experiences selling mid-sized companies for twice the industry average EBITDA multiple. He has also orchestrated more than 150 purchase/sale transactions with an aggregate value of more than $1 billion. Years of experience enable him to aggressively pursue his clients’ objectives during the turbulence that characterizes every transaction.

Since joining Cequel III in 2011, Mr. Haug has worked on corporate development, M&A, strategy, and finance initiatives for Cequel III and its past and present portfolio companies, including Suddenlink, TierPoint, StayLock, and the Cequel Family Office. In his current role for TierPoint, he also leads the product pricing team. Gus Haug serves on the board of directors of ATIS and previously served on the board of directors of DxContinuum, before its successful sale to ServiceNow in January 2016. Before joining Cequel III, Mr. Haug worked at U.S. Bank in the Media and Telecom lending group, then moved to the leveraged finance group. Mr. Haug earned a BSBA in Finance and MBA from Washington University in St. Louis. He continues to be involved with the institution, serving on the executive committee of the W Club, which supports school athletic programs, and guest lecturing in finance classes offered through the University’s Olin Business School.

David Mason is the founder and CEO of David Mason + Associates (DMA), an infrastructure engineering design firm headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. As the President of the firm and a registered architect, David has provided the strategic vision and the entrepreneurial grit that has enabled DMA to become a nationally recognized professional service firm with regional offices in Chicago, Philadelphia, and Tampa.

Grew-up in family-owned retail oil business. Commercial and Corporate Banker for four decades both on the public and private sides through-out the USA. As Senior Vice President with First Bank, I continue to support private and family-owned business large or small in their banking and financing needs. Experience includes M&A, ESOP, Family Ownership Transitions, Leveraged Transactions and various other financial structures. Family businesses provide a unique opportunity for family owners to meet their personal and professional goals with the proper advance planning and work.