Experienced Entrepreneur Seeks to Acquire and Grow a Legacy Business in Greater Chicago

Thinking about selling your business? Hear from a Chicago-based entrepreneur with deep roots in community, craftsmanship, and leadership.
After a career in investment banking advising on over $100 billion in transactions, he’s now focused on buying a business where he can apply his experience to strengthen teams, serve customers, and preserve a founder’s legacy.

In this video, he shares his journey from busing tables and fixing pumps in the oil fields to earning his MBA, starting a fitness company, and returning to his entrepreneurial roots. He discusses his philosophy of ownership as stewardship and how he plans to grow a company through trust, communication, and integrity. His approach blends strategic discipline with hands-on leadership—focused on people first, profits second.

Whether you're considering a sale or just exploring options, Calder Capital matches business owners with serious buyers who appreciate the legacy they've built.

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Timestamps:
00:03 – Early life: community, family, and hands-on projects
00:26 – Passion for fitness, strength training, and home improvement
00:41 – First jobs and lessons from small business and hard work
00:56 – Career in investment banking and earning an MBA
01:12 – Shift toward entrepreneurship and founding a fitness company
01:20 – Inspiration from his father’s trucking business and the value of ownership
01:34 – The relay race analogy: legacy, stewardship, and growth
01:53 – Core values: honesty, communication, trust, and integrity
02:13 – Building accountability and humility in company culture
02:26 – Practicing “productive paranoia” to anticipate and adapt
02:37 – Vision beyond profit: people, purpose, and long-term success
02:42 – Commitment to listening and learning from the seller and team
02:59 – Strengthening operations while honoring the company’s foundation
03:13 – Renovating a “well-built house”: respect the legacy, grow for the future

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About Calder Capital:
Founded in 2013, Calder Capital is a cross-industry mergers and acquisitions advisory firm with offices across the United States. Calder provides valuation, sell-side, and buy-side services. We are nationally recognized for excellence in advising $1-100M enterprise value transactions in manufacturing, construction, distribution, and business services. Calder serves business owners, entrepreneurs, family offices, financial buyers, and investors. Learn more at www.CalderGR.com.

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