Post by Hunter A. Daniels

I admired my clients. I respected them. I wanted to be them. At Northern Trust, I worked with business owners and their management teams as they prepared for succession. I learned that the hardest part of selling a business is not diligence or negotiation. The hardest part is often the emotional process of letting go. For many, a business represents family and legacy. It may carry the name of a grandfather who immigrated here and built it from the ground up. It might have been started by a mother who has since passed away, leaving the business as the closest connection to her. Letting go of something like that is deeply personal. What I admired most was how much these owners cared for what they built and for the people who relied on them. Their grit, creativity, and commitment to others showed me what real leadership looks like. It also made me realize that if I could do anything with my career, I wanted to follow in their footsteps. That is why I founded Lone Pine Succession. My goal is to acquire and operate one enduring business, carrying forward the work of an owner who cares deeply about their company and their people. My focus is on founder-led, B2B service companies, the mission-critical providers that keep schools, hospitals, and businesses running. If you or someone you know is someone I should speak to, please feel free to reach out or share my contact information! Email: [email protected] Thank you to my wonderful partners. Your support in this journey means a lot to me. I'm excited for what's to come! Mario Sicilia Santiago Perez Teuffer Hannah Barrett Chris Hendriksen Nicholas Qiu Shaun Rader Ian McMilan Sara Rosenthal Will Thorndike William Gallagher Rob Cherun Tushar S. Roberto Liaño Goes, CFA Henry Davis Scott Sleyster Brett Sleyster Nick Oberhouse Andrew Freiman Tom Jackson Alexander Schneider Matt Littell Robert Ashcroft