We’re Celebrating 20 Years of Class VI!  

This year marks two decades guiding hundreds of entrepreneurs through a company sale and beyond. Time flies! 

When we first embarked on this journey, David and I couldn’t have imagined the number of business owners we’d have the privilege to work with, support, and embrace as friends. However, one thing was always clear: we wanted to build something different.  

To us, that meant being the antithesis of the “smartest guy in the room,” transaction-focused investment bank. We wanted to take the big picture view—always doing what is right by our clients, focusing on the long-term, and putting the health of our relationships ahead of any deal. 

I once asked Class VI client and former NaturVet Founder Scott Garmon about his secret to business success. His answer was simple and perfectly describes our philosophy: hire the best people, take great care of them, and empower them to create a culture around taking great care of clients. I could not be prouder of our team and the work they do for our incredible clients. 

Because the team has always asked what more we could do to serve entrepreneurs, we’ve steadily uncovered meaningful gaps in the market. In response, we expanded beyond M&A, developing our Family Office, Pathfinder, and Accelerator offerings. That vision has shaped Class VI into the firm it is today. 

Along the way, we’ve had some unforgettable moments and developed lifelong friendships. Here are some of the highlights: 

2004: The golf round that started it all  

David Tolson was introduced to me by his aunt, Mary Bradshaw, who was the executive director for an industry association I chaired. David was running a valuation firm and I had just finished leading a communications business we sold to Avaya. After a round of golf—where David famously missed an easy birdie putt on the first hole but still won (a story he loves to tell!)—the idea for an advisory firm began to take shape. 

2005: Class VI was born  

David and I became business partners and founded CapitalValue Advisors, which later evolved into Class VI. Our initial focus was to provide M&A advice to lower middle-market companies and only do a few deals a year. Fortunately, our strategy expanded a bit over time.  

2006: Our first deal 

We closed our first transaction with Sunnyside Staffing, one of David’s valuation clients led by wife and husband team Ann Padilla and Bob Grabowski. At the time, we weren’t quite sure why Ann and Bob entrusted us with their process (!), but we were grateful for the opportunity. The closing fee paid for our first set of office furniture. It was a few years before David and I actually took home any money, but we loved what we were doing. 

2008: Building the team 

Deals were sparse in the early days, but we made at least one exceptional decision—hiring Zack Gibson as our second employee. Today, Zack leads our Investment Bank and continues to shape our growth and strategy. I could not be prouder of him and I’m grateful he has stuck with us this long!  

2009: Becoming an Investment Bank & publishing Harvest 

We registered as a broker-dealer with FINRA and officially became a legitimate investment bank. That same year, we published Harvest: The Definitive Guide to Selling Your Company to help entrepreneurs navigate the M&A process (updated in 2024 for today’s market!). 

2010: Early Board Advisory  

After a holiday party discussion with Kyle Hansen where I definitely overcommitted (maybe too much eggnog?), he hired us to build value in and prepare his company for a transaction years ahead of time. Our work with Kyle led to a very rewarding deal, and we continued to get involved with clients early in the business lifecycle. Some of our very best and largest transactions emerged from such work: SiteWise, Outward Hound, The CE Shop, Birko, and NaturVet to name a few. The Board Advisory practice became the foundation for what’s now known as Pathfinder. 

2016: Launching our Family Office  

Following a conversation between David and Matt Blackburn, we partnered with him and Dalyce Tinoco to create our Family Office. This new venture offered personal financial advisory services to entrepreneurs both pre- and post-deal. The Family Office deepened our impact by supporting clients well beyond the transaction. And selfishly, it allowed us to continue our relationships and interactions with the clients we love so much. 

2021: The evolution of Pathfinder  

To enhance our Board Advisory work, we merged with Rob Scott’s Spark Growth Strategies, a consulting firm focused on helping companies grow and scale. I had worked with Rob several years prior, and integrating his expertise within Class VI has been instrumental in rapidly expanding Pathfinder and providing dedicated support to entrepreneurs before they go to market. 

2024: The beginning of Accelerator  

To meet demand from our Family Office members (who wanted to invest in private companies) and our Pathfinder and Investment Banking clients (who sometimes need capital), we launched Accelerator, our growth equity fund. Led by the exceptionally talented duo of Chris Henderson and Dietz Fry, both of whom I’ve known for over 15 years, the fund supports entrepreneurs with capital and guidance, offering our investors a way to help aspiring owners.  

2024: A brand new office 

With four business units and nearly 50 people on the team, it was time for a new home that could support our next chapter. So we designed a tailored workspace at 255 Fillmore Street in Cherry Creek with stunning mountain views, dedicated areas for internal collaboration and client meetings, and plenty of room for growth. Please stop by if you have not seen our new digs! 

2025: Where we are today 

With the investment bank, Pathfinder, Family Office, and Accelerator, we now support entrepreneurs through every chapter of their journey—from early planning to post-sale. It’s all part of our mission to empower the entrepreneurial spirit. To paraphrase a Warren Buffett quote, I tap dance to work every day. This is because I find so much pleasure and satisfaction in the work we get to do for the very best people on earth: entrepreneurs. They give back so much to our communities, which is why we aim to help them succeed so they can continue their good work.