Partners and platforms

Attorney

Eric Pacifici — SMB Law Group

Co-Founder and Managing Partner of SMB Law Group, a transactional firm serving the lower middle market M&A community, including ETA buyers, holding company operators, independent sponsors, and founders. The firm has closed more than 400 M&A transactions representing over $1.8 billion in deal value across 38 states. Previously at Kirkland & Ellis, Gibson Dunn, Morrison &

Attorney

Eric Hsu — Clear Focus Law

Founder of Clear Focus Law, a boutique buy-side M&A firm in Washington State working exclusively with entrepreneurs buying small and mid-sized businesses. Eric has closed more than 100 deals worth a combined $210 million and advised over 200 clients on M&A matters, following more than a decade as a small business lawyer. His practice covers pre-LOI consulting and LOI drafting, legal due diligence, entity and holdco structuring, and definitive agreements for stock and asset deals, with extensive experience meeting SBA lender requirements. We introduce first-time and self-funded buyers to Eric for LOIs, deal representation, and closing counsel.

Attorney

Brian Arnfelt — Greenberg Traurig

Shareholder in the Chicago office of Greenberg Traurig, where he advises private equity firms, private and public companies, management teams, investors, founders, and family offices on mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, leveraged buyouts, carve-outs, recapitalizations, joint ventures, strategic investments, governance, and incentive equity arrangements. Brian previously worked in technology M&A investment banking at William Blair, which gives him a practical view of deal dynamics and valuation alongside the legal work. He earned his J.D. cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School and is admitted in Illinois. We introduce clients to Brian for deal counsel and coordinate with him where tax and legal diligence run together.

Debt and lending

Matthias Smith — Pioneer Capital Advisory

Founder and President of Pioneer Capital Advisory, a commercial loan brokerage specializing in SBA 7(a) and non-SBA acquisition financing for business buyers. Founded in 2022 after more than seven years at four SBA lenders, including Live Oak Bank and Byline Bank, working in credit, underwriting, and closing. The firm is lender-agnostic and has advised well over 100 acquisition entrepreneurs, with more than $300 million in SBA financing closed, primarily for buyers seeking $500,000 to $5 million. We introduce buyers to Matthias when a deal needs acquisition financing and the right lender match.

Debt and lending

Ray Drew — Lendesca

Chief Revenue Officer at Lendesca, where he leads lender partnerships and helps banks and credit unions build and expand SBA lending programs. Ray has spent his career originating SBA 7(a) loans and building lending programs for national institutions, and was repeatedly a top-producing business development officer. He founded SBA Collective in 2025, which Lendesca acquired in 2026, and hosts The Art of SBA Lending. We introduce buyers and lenders to Ray for SBA structuring questions and lender access on acquisition financing.

Investment banking

Greg Tobben — Access Capital Partners

Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Access Capital Partners in St. Louis, which raises debt and equity capital for independent sponsors. Greg has more than fifteen years of experience across investment banking, capital markets advisory, turnaround advisory, and principal investing, and has led the firm's independent sponsor financing practice for nearly a decade. Sector experience includes manufacturing, transportation and logistics, food and beverage, consumer products, business services, technology, and distribution. University of Missouri graduate; FINRA Series 63 and 79. We introduce independent sponsors to Greg when a deal needs equity or debt capital raised.

Investment banking

Dan Edelman, CPA — Heritage Capital Group

Principal at Heritage Capital Group in Jacksonville, Florida, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions and strategic planning. Dan brings over 40 years of public accounting experience. He co-founded Presser, Lahnen & Edelman, served as its managing partner, and later served as Florida managing partner of Dixon Hughes Goodman, now Forvis Mazars, until retiring in 2020. In addition to his CPA license, he is certified in business valuation and financial forensics, and has worked on more than 100 M&A transactions and over 300 valuation and litigation matters. We introduce owners to Dan when a business is going to market and needs sell-side representation.

Wealth management

John Thompson, CIMA, CPWA — Congruent Wealth

Private Wealth Advisor and Owner at Congruent Wealth in Jacksonville, Florida. John has advised high-net-worth individuals and families for more than 20 years, working with business owners on estate and legacy planning, asset protection, selling a business, tax planning, and retirement cash flow. He holds the Certified Investment Management Analyst and Certified Private Wealth Advisor certifications and is a graduate of the University of Florida. We introduce owners to John when personal wealth planning needs to be coordinated with a business sale or ownership transition.

Executive recruiting

Christian Ruf — Uncommon Elite

Founder of Uncommon Elite, which brings the experience of former special operators to executive search and leadership coaching for business owners. Christian served as a 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment Night Stalker pilot, then went on to lead and scale privately held businesses using operating frameworks including EOS, Scaling Up, and Pinnacle. He has coached or advised more than 40 business leaders, and Uncommon Elite also runs offsites, retreats, and tailored workshops. We introduce clients to Christian for executive search and for leadership coaching during a growth phase or after a transaction. Mark has worked with Christian as a coaching client.