Business Owner Strategy Summit Recap

Last week, Atlanta-area business owners gathered to learn from a distinguished group of professionals spanning investment banking, financial planning, legal, valuation, and risk management.

The Business Owner Strategy Summit is an invite-only event designed for owners of privately held businesses to engage directly with experts on the realities of selling or transitioning a business. Attendees ranged from founders actively preparing for a near-term exit to growth-stage owners thinking years ahead, all with a shared interest in approaching that transition with intention and preparation.

Presenters and Topics

J. Tyler Thompson, CFP®, CEPA®, AAMS®, WMS® | Capitas Advisory Group of Raymond

James Tyler opened and closed the day, beginning with a framework for growth through acquisition and long-term value creation, and closing with strategies for legacy and tax planning ahead of an exit.

JT Schroeder, Managing Director | NorthView Advisors 

JT provided the investment banking perspective, walking attendees through what buyers evaluate during a transaction, how deals are structured, and what distinguishes a straightforward close from a complicated one. NorthView specializes in advising lower middle-market companies across industrials, manufacturing, business services, and consumer products.

Mitesh Patel, Esq. | Blue Sky Law 

Mitesh presented an 8-step exit planning framework from the legal perspective, covering the structures and protections most consequential in middle-market transactions, particularly those in the $10 million to $150 million range across industrial, technology, and business services sectors.

Jonathan Whitehead | HDH Advisors 

Jonathan addressed business valuation, including how fair market value is determined, what buyers and appraisers examine, and how owners can position their business to maximize value before going to market.

Michael Harbin | Harbin Insurance 

As a business owner himself, Michael addressed risk management as a component of business value, drawing on 18 years of experience advising middle-market and growth-oriented companies on proactive insurance strategies that support long-term goals and cleaner transactions.

Key Takeaways for Attendees

• A clearer understanding of exit readiness relative to the current business position

• Practical tax mitigation and estate planning strategies to protect proceeds

• A framework for evaluating growth-by-acquisition opportunities

• Insight into how risk management factors into overall business value

• Direct access to advisors who specialize in business transitions

For business owners, the most successful exits are planned well in advance. If these conversations feel relevant to where you are today, the right time to engage is now.

Interested in learning more? Reach out to schedule a consultation.