XPX Atlanta: Managing Egos and Expectations

The M&A world is challenging and to add to that, managing the personalities in the room, from founder to buyer or next-generation, can be a whole different ball game itself. Come to hear and find out how professionals working in the family business environment and when emotions are high, navigate these storms and guide their clients into the light!

Topics that will be touched on:

• Managing Unrealistic Expectations. Addressing the “Endowment Effect.”
• Managing Egos and Expectations. Balancing the legacy between past and future generations.
• Build Trust & Overcoming “In-Group / Out-Group” Dynamics. How to establish advisor credibility by understanding family and business history.

Our Speakers:

Sara E. Davis, Ph.D.
Director, Family Enterprise Center
Kennesaw State University

Sara E. Davis, Ph.D. is the Director of the Family Enterprise Center at Kennesaw State University, where she provides educational resources to help family business leaders grow their business, preserve their legacy, and navigate family dynamics.

Motivated by her successful entrepreneurial journey in the real estate industry, Davis is passionate about providing practical insights to business leadership. Her research focuses on family businesses—exploring their dynamics in decision-making processes and goal-setting strategies.

In the classroom, her teaching philosophy centers on prioritizing experiential learning activities that bridge the gap between theory and real-world application.

John W. Martin IV
Business Transition Planning and Transaction Execution
Treebank Legal

After eight years in “big law,” John founded Treebank Legal to deliver legal services more effectively. John grew up in South Carolina and enlisted in the Army after high school to join the Ranger Regiment.

After serving three years with the Rangers, John earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from Clemson University. He joined the family business, Mar-Mac Wire, and spent nearly ten years implementing process improvements and managing various aspects of the business.

John Phillips
President
Walden Mergers & Acquisitions

John Phillips is the President of Walden Mergers & Acquisitions, a decorated, retired US Army Reserve Colonel and accomplished business executive who has leveraged his depth and breadth of experience to build, turnaround, stabilize, and drive growth and value for mid-sized businesses and organizations.

Mr. Phillip’s career includes 15 years as the founder, owner, and President of Premier Transfer and Storage. John completed and integrated three acquisitions for his company. Mr. Phillips has been behind multiple innovative initiatives, including developing VT KnowledgeWorks, the first technology accelerator at Virginia Tech. More recently, as President of Roanoke Blacksburg Technology Council, he led a turnaround of the organization, re-established key partner relationships.

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