Your guide FOR

Business & Acquisition COACHING

First consultation is free!

Whether you're a seasoned professional or new to the field, we invite you to reach out and start your journey. Jeff is ready to assist you every step of the way. Connect today to schedule your free consultation call and take the first step towards achieving your goals.

Executive Business Coach
Business Acquisition Advisor
Leadership Team Coaching

Over 25 Years of Business Operations and Leadership
Over 15 Years of Business Acquisition Experience

I help business leaders in three ways:
• As a business coach to executives through a regular cadence of meeting and accountability.
• Through workshops to build strategy, set goals and create effective teams.
• Through special projects as directed by the client.

I often do these things in combination.  I help you articulate vision and strategy while helping the team build alignment and commitment to goals that move the business forward. I understand the entrepreneur and business leader, and I help them cast vision, articulate strategy and develop goals that result in demonstrable progress for the business.

I have coached dozens of business leaders in a multitude of industries, including creative agencies, construction, engineering/architecture, professional services, distribution and more.  The diversity of my clients has given me a broad base of experience and wisdom from which I can offer effective and action-oriented insights. Additionally, my diverse professional background affords me connections with experts from a wide range of industries that can help my clients. I strongly believe that collisions are the catalyst for greatness!

More On Jeff’s Story

ABOUT JEFF—

Collisions are the catalyst for GREATNESS!

build With Confidence

BUSINESS Coaching

Gain insight and remove obstacles as Jeff walks with you, building both you and your company to its fullest potential.

Learn more

ACQUISITION COACHING

Helping you successfully navigate the complex and often risky process of financing, stabilizing, and scaling an acquired business.

Learn more

testimonial

Fortress, Joel Mathew

“I’ve had coaches in various capacities in the past decade of starting multiple companies but, when it was time for us to focus on growth, I felt that Jeff Evenson was the ideal fit. I liked how he took the time to get to know me and Fortress and understand what my vision was, and make recommendations to help me accomplish that. He offers a strong support system and knowledge share for me and my team without holding back on anything I need to succeed. Jeff Evenson has been integral to my big decision making this year across multiple companies and even offered wisdom in a new private equity firm launch. He tells it like it is, with the right amount of patience and the right amount of “look, bro” type of practical guidance. He has made the effort outside of the typical coaching scope of work and has made multiple trips up to Chicago (where real sports are played) to spend time not only with me but also with our key leaders. One of the biggest values Jeff brings is his outstanding network of high quality, like minded people. I’ve found that Jeff has introduced me to several extremely high value people that have helped me shorten my learning curve or have “a guy” that I need in a certain space. Bringing on Jeff and FA when we did ended up being the perfect time and what I had planned for a 90 day test has extended out much further than that.”

  • Chelsea Wood

    “Jeff Evenson has been extremely helpful in guiding our members through the acquisition process. His experience with off-market deals and alternative structures has provided innovative solutions and fresh perspective for our membership base. His operational insight is often spot on for the advice that I’ve given hundreds of leaders throughout my experience as an Executive Coach. I think he has a strong approach to leadership and anyone would benefit from his guidance.”

  • Jim Schulz

    “Working with Jeff Evenson as our Business Coach was an absolute game changer. His guidance, experience, and expertise helped us lay the foundation for a successful sale, something I had no experience with. His unwavering support throughout the journey made all the difference, and I can confidently say that Jeff's contributions were instrumental in shaping our business exit success story.”

  • Ed Fleming

    “Jeff’s work with us on our purpose, values and beliefs has changed the trajectory of our company. We didn’t have anything like that and in 2 days he helped us understand the process, appreciate the value, and develop these fundamental documents. Facilitating a group of know-it-alls can be very challenging but Jeff made it look effortless. His attitude and demeanor were key in getting us to agree on our goals for the next quarter and year. Every industry, and every firm in every industry, has their own jargon. Jeff worked to understand us and use our terms which showed credibility and a level of understanding I haven’t seen.”

  • Freddie Kim

    “I'd work with Jeff any day. He's tremendously thoughtful, knowledgeable, and well-versed in running and acquiring businesses. What I especially like about Jeff is that you can learn as much (or more) from the mistakes he's made in his past. He's incredibly open and vulnerable to the bad decisions he's previously endured and provides detailed "Lessons Learned" to help you avoid doing the same in your future. I highly recommend any acquisition entrepreneur to work with Jeff and soak up his valuable insights when buying or operating a small business.”

  • Bryan Dunn

    “Jeff Evenson has been a great mentor to me. Throughout the year + of my search he offered timely, accurate, and easy to understand advice. From the start to the eventual acquisition the process can be both technically and emotionally challenging. Jeff is equally competent as a therapist/counselor as he is an M&A professional. He was my sounding board, my confidant. sometimes the calm voice talking me off the ledge. I wholly endorse him and will continue to work with him in the future.”

  • Greg Pavich

    “If you are a Service Academy graduate looking to become an entrepreneur, you need to work with Jeff. He has a wealth of knowledge to give realistic insight to the opportunities and challenges ahead while providing a framework to drive toward the end state of acquiring a business. Most importantly for me, Jeff understands that success in this professional endeavor cannot be separated from your family/health/personal goals which is critical if you want to find long term success in life.”

  • ALBERT IRVIN

    “As someone who is looking to learn as much as possible about how to acquire companies as well as how to successfully manage them, I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to work with Jeff. He is a tremendous asset, and I would highly recommend anyone who is looking to acquire a business to jump on board and learn as much as you can from him as possible.”

  • BILL WATKINS

    “Jeff brings an experienced perspective to the complex business acquisition process. He offers expert guidance to his clients to unlock their dreams of owning a business and providing generational wealth to their families. From negotiating a smart transaction to developing and implementing a business plan, Jeff helps business owners build the companies and the lives they want without sacrificing the good stuff. I want Jeff in my corner. And, trust me, so do you.”

COMMON QUESTIONS—

What is your business coaching philosophy?

I strongly believe that your business needs an operating system. That operating system consists of three parts - 1) a plan (I don't care if it is a V/TO, Verne Harnish's OPSP, or my version of the one-page plan), 2) a daily, weekly and monthly meeting cadence, and scoreboards to track the health of the company and 3) progress towards your goals. If you don't have an operating system or your operating system is not serving your needs, I can help you design and implement that system.  By the way, I also believe that if you are winning at business but destroying your home/family life, you aren't winning. Personal/Family goals are just as important (or moreso) than business goals, and the four pillars of Warrior Health (Movement, Sleep, Nutrition and Mindfulness) are key to showing up as the best version of yourself.

What is your business acquisition philosophy?

First, I am certain that we are living through one of the biggest wealth transfers in modern history as Baby Boomers are hitting retirement age at a breathtaking rate. Many of those Baby Boomers are business owners without a succession plan. I want to help them exit their businesses by doing two things - giving them tools and insights to maximize the value of their exit, and connecting them with buyers that can carry on that legacy. As a business owner, a large amount of your wealth is locked up in the business.  I want to help owners unlock that value in an orderly way before you are forced to exit due to matters beyond your control. For buyers, I want to help you understand the business acquisition process and share the wisdom that comes with several acquisitions of my own and assisting other acquisition entrepreneurs.  I also think that it is important to understand the psychology of the deal - for the buyer and the seller - so you can be more successful in getting the deal to closing. I believe that business acquisition is the quickest and safest way to build generational wealth, but it is also a lonely process.  The likelihood of a successful acquisition is increased by surrounding yourself with people who have done it before!

What's it like to work with you?

I have a wide variety of engagements.  If you prefer a one-on-one engagement, we can meet on a regular (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) cadence designed to help you achieve your most important business and personal goals.  I like to couple a one-on-one engagement with an in-person visit to conduct quarterly or annual planning with you and/or your leadership team.  I believe that spending time with a business owner/leader in person and in their business allows me to have much better insight into team dynamics, working conditions, family life, etc.  This experience takes a coaching relationship to the next level.  In addition to one-on-one coaching, I'm really energized to spend time with management/leadership teams in a workshop format.  My workshops can range from building a business plan to updating an annual plan to helping build an effective leadership team.  I spend time with the business owner/leader to tailor the workshop to the leader's needs, connect with all of the workshop attendees before the event, and deliver a world-class workshop that accomplishes your mission and delivers actionable next steps.  I follow up those workshops with one-on-one or team-level calls to ensure that the energy from our workshop flows through to the workplace.  Workshops are my jam!

Why is it called the Thayer Gate Project?

Thayer Gate is the main entrance to the US Military Academy at West Point.  A long time ago, I entered Thayer Gate for the first time - alone and (sort of) afraid!  Looking back, I really wish that I had a guide that could have met me at Thayer Gate and guided me through those years at West Point.  I was successful there, but I imagine that a guide could have helped me avoid some of the potholes that I hit during that time.  Yes, those potholes are part of the fabric that makes me who I am.  Yes, failure is one of the best ways to learn.  However, a nudge here and there might have made those four years a bit less stressful.  That said, I want to be your guide!  I've been a small business owner/operator.  I've acquired small businesses in the past.  I've exited those same businesses.  I've been in partnerships.  I'll meet you at the Gate and nudge you when you need nudging!  Let's go!

Stop Taking Orders.

Start Taking Ownership.