In this episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael welcomes Wilbur Ellis, a seasoned investment banker with deep roots in Huntsville. Wilbur shares his journey from speechwriting in Washington, D.C., to law and business school at the University of Virginia, and ultimately into decades of investment banking experience with firms like Morgan Keegan, Dane Rauscher Wessels, RBC Capital Markets, and Stephens.

Together, Michael and Wilbur explore the unique challenges and opportunities facing family-owned businesses as they prepare for succession or sale. They discuss the differences between working with large public companies versus founder-led businesses, the importance of early planning, and how strategies like succession planning, pre-sale preparation, and understanding the buyer universe can maximize value.

Wilbur also reflects on memorable deals, lessons learned, and why helping family businesses transition successfully has become his passion. The conversation highlights how their partnership is bringing expanded capabilities to Kill Point, offering family business owners not just transaction expertise but long-term advisory support designed to protect and grow value ahead of an exit.

If you’re a founder, family business owner, or simply interested in the nuances of middle-market M&A, this episode offers valuable insights into preparing for a successful transition.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-k-stanley-jr-mba-cexp™-30916131/

On this episode of Sell Side Shorts, we dive into one of the most important – and often overlooked – aspects of selling your business: choosing the right professional team. For many founder-owners, the sale of their company is a once-in-a-lifetime event. While it’s new territory for them, the professionals they bring to the table handle these complex transactions every day.

We break down the key players every owner should consider:

• M&A Attorney – to negotiate letters of intent, purchase agreements, and ensure deals get across the finish line.

• Tax Advisor/CPA – to keep a close eye on the numbers and structure the deal in the most tax-efficient way.

• Investment Banker – to craft the story, market the business, attract multiple buyers, and drive competitive pricing.

• Wealth Advisor – to plan for what comes after the sale, ensuring the proceeds are allocated wisely and aligned with the owner’s long-term financial goals.

Together, these professionals form more than just a checklist – they’re a team. When they know each other and work seamlessly, the process runs smoothly, negotiations are stronger, and the outcome is better for the seller. We also discuss why aligning incentives and fees is critical to making sure everyone is rowing in the same direction.

Whether you’re just beginning to think about an exit or are already deep into planning, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to start building your own winning team.

On this episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael Stanley sits down with Hayden Worsham, fourth-generation leader of Worsham Brothers, a Corinth, Mississippi–based general contractor celebrating 80 years in business. Hayden shares the company’s remarkable origin story—launched in 1945 with $1,500 by three Ole Miss–trained civil engineers fresh from World War II—and how Worsham evolved from highways and bridges to a boutique commercial contractor serving Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee (with work in Kentucky and Arkansas).

Hayden traces his own path—from civil engineering and national consulting work to high-growth GC experience in Atlanta—before returning home in 2022 to acquire the firm through a company-first, metrics-driven earn-out. He details the turnaround playbook: doubling down on people, restoring confidence with weekly wins, and modernizing operations with integrated project management and accounting systems so field teams can make real-time decisions on site.

The conversation tackles resilient culture (decades-long employee tenures), the value of a boutique GC experience, and a disciplined view of growth—prioritizing strategic partners, healthy pace, safety, communication, and doing what you say you’ll do. If you’re interested in succession, buying a family business, or how a mid-market contractor differentiates in the Mid-South, this one’s a masterclass in legacy, leadership, and operational excellence.

n this installment of Sell Side Shorts, we break down three essential pieces of the M&A process: teasers, SIMs (Confidential Information Memorandums), and the all-important financials.

We start with the teaser — a one-page, anonymized overview that highlights the key points of your business and sparks initial buyer interest. From there, we explain the SIM, the more detailed document provided after interest is shown and an NDA is signed, which tells the full story of your business with history, financials, and strategy.

Finally, we dive into why financials receive so much attention early in the preparation phase. Numbers ultimately tell the story to potential buyers, and presenting them clearly and effectively can make all the difference in showing the true value of your business.

If you’re preparing for a sale, this episode gives you a straightforward look at how these documents fit together and why they matter in setting the stage for a successful deal.

In this episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael Stanley sits down with Rob Murphy, co-founder of Vervic, to unpack his unconventional journey into the recruiting world.

Rob shares how he went from struggling to land a sales job in early 2020 to launching a recruiting firm in the middle of COVID — and growing it into a successful, people-first company. He discusses the steep learning curves of both recruiting and business ownership, the importance of building a team you truly enjoy working with, and how an unexpected merger with Passion HR transformed their slow-and-steady lifestyle business into a fast-growing, $10M vision.

From lessons on hiring only top performers to navigating culture merges, Rob offers candid insights for entrepreneurs considering inorganic growth, building strong company cultures, and finding the right people to go into business with.

If you’re interested in recruiting, HR, or the realities of scaling a service business, this episode delivers both the strategy and the human side of growth.

https://www.vervichr.com

In this special episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael Stanley breaks down the M&A process from start to finish, offering a 30,000-foot view of what it looks like to sell a business with the help of an investment bank or business broker. From setting financial goals and evaluating estate planning needs to navigating NDAs, IOIs, and LOIs, Michael shares the key milestones and decision points that shape a typical transaction. Whether you're a business owner thinking about selling or just curious about the inner workings of M&A, this episode offers a clear, concise look at what to expect—and where a trusted advisor fits into the picture.

In this episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael Stanley talks with Brent Thompson, President of NextGen Crane and Rigging. Brent shares how his family’s 45-year-old welding business evolved into a fast-growing crane and rigging company, the decision to launch a separate brand, and why expanding into Huntsville was a pivotal move.

He also discusses building a strong team culture, transitioning leadership with his father, and finding new growth opportunities in project management for mission-critical infrastructure.

If you’re interested in family business succession, company culture, or scaling a service business, don’t miss this conversation.

In this episode of The Sell Side Podcast, host Michael Stanley sits down with Josh Wolfe, founder of WolfeCo. Media, to unpack his unexpected journey from English major and banker to creative entrepreneur and agency owner. Josh shares how a love for storytelling shaped his career path—from editing national publications to launching a full-service marketing agency in the middle of a pandemic.

Josh opens up about the realities of building a business from the ground up, including the challenges of learning operations as a right-brained creative, navigating team growth, and staying grounded in company culture. He shares his approach to character-first hiring, why authenticity in storytelling builds stronger brands, and how WolfeCo. is evolving with big goals in mind.

Whether you're a creative professional, business owner, or just exploring what it means to grow something meaningful, this episode is packed with insight and heart from someone who’s lived the journey—mistakes, mindset shifts, and all.