Meet the Team: Lane Ford

Lane Ford brings a wealth of experience to Oaklyn Consulting, having been both an investor and seller of companies, as well as a CFO and COO. He uses his M&A expertise to assist the owners of small to mid-sized businesses in making smart strategic decisions to help shape their organizations’ future and achieve sustainable growth.

What’s your favorite part of your job?
I enjoy guiding business owners through the emotionally weighty and unfamiliar process of selling their business. Our clients have poured their lives into building viable enterprises, and they want to see their business and employees continue to thrive post-closing. It can be a scary and unnerving process, and I enjoy using my expertise to reduce the uncertainty and advocate for the best possible outcome.

Why does Oaklyn Consulting’s work matter?
Oaklyn Consulting’s work matters because we help business owners continue a legacy of innovation and help them reap the reward of many years of hard work. Innovative business ideas that help humans flourish are exciting to me, and I love to help position companies for sustainable, long-term growth.

What are your favorite pastimes outside of work?
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and three daughters, hiking, water skiing, traveling, working in the yard, teaching for the Chattanooga Fellows Program, and serving at my church.

What’s your idea of a perfect meal?
A perfect meal can be almost any type of food. What makes it perfect is when it is unhurried, in a quiet, beautiful space (preferably outside,) and shared with close family or friends.

Why Nonprofits Should Consider The Benefits Of A Merger

Originally published by Forbes, featuring Frank Williamson. We’re grateful to Forbes for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation. Read the full below.Nonprofits are an essential thread in our social fabric, providing critical services that make...

Four Questions To Ask An Investment Banker When Selling Your Business

Originally published by Forbes, featuring Frank Williamson. We’re grateful to Forbes for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation. Read the full below.If you’re like most entrepreneurs, you rarely have reason to interact with an investment banker....

Managing The Transfer Of A Family Business

Originally published by Forbes, featuring Frank Williamson. We’re grateful to Forbes for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation. Read the full below.Earlier this year, Gallup shared some thought-provoking statistics about older business owners’...

Preparing For An Exit? 20 Common Mistakes Business Owners Should Avoid

Originally published by Forbes, featuring Frank Williamson, among other business experts. We’re grateful to Forbes for the opportunity to contribute to this important conversation. Read the full below.After investing an incredible amount of time, money and effort into...

Oaklyn Consulting Facilitates ShotFlow’s Sale to Creative Force with Strategic Sell-Side Services

Oaklyn Consulting guided ShotFlow through its sale to Creative Force, providing strategic sell-side advice that maximized value and ensured a successful outcome.

Oaklyn Consulting Provides Strategic Advisory Services for Heurisay’s Acquisition by 5by5 Agency

Oaklyn Consulting congratulates its client Heurisay on the company’s recent sale to 5by5 Agency.

Frank Williamson in Forbes: Four Essential Questions for Choosing Your Investment Banker

Discover the 4 key questions to ask before hiring an investment banker. Learn expert insights to guide your business sale.

What to Do When the Bank Says No: Alternative Capital Options for Your Business

Ask Us Anything Dear Oaklyn Consulting, My business has weathered a tough period and needs an infusion of cash to make it through the next few months. My local banks keep declining my applications. What nontraditional sources of capital do I have left? What are the...

Do I Need an Investment Banker to Sell My Business?

Ask Us Anything Dear Oaklyn Consulting, I’m thinking about selling my business, but I’m not sure where to start or who to talk to. I hear the term “investment banker” a lot, but I’m not sure what firms like Oaklyn Consulting actually do, or whether I even need an...

How to Make Smart Business Decisions in Uncertain Economic Times

Ask Us Anything Dear Oaklyn Consulting, It feels like every headline I read is about economic uncertainty, and for small businesses like mine, it’s tough to know which way things are going. I sometimes feel paralyzed trying to decide whether now’s the time to think...