XPX Triangle Lunch & Learn - The Buyers’ Panel: Perspective From 3 Buyer Segments in Today’s Market

As business owners look toward a business sale it’s critical for their advisors to understand the evolving landscape of potential acquirers. This panel brings together perspectives across 3 distinct buyer type: Private Equity, Individuals (AKA “Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition Searchers”), and Strategic Corporate Buyers. Panelists will share insights into how each segment evaluates opportunities, how market conditions are affecting current activity, and how sellers (and their advisors) can best position a business for these potential buyer types.

Our Speakers:

Kenneth Spence
Principal
Lamkin Road

Kenneth Spence leads day-to-day transaction execution at Lamkin Road, an M&A investment banking boutique based in Chapel Hill. Prior to Lamkin Road, Kenneth was with R. W. Baird & Co., where he was on one of the industry’s leading defense and government contracting M&A teams. Before Baird, he worked at Jacobs Capital, a boutique investment banking firm in Chapel Hill. Kenneth has a Master’s of Accounting from UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Dallas.

Marc Pons
President
Chapel Hill Tire

Marc Pons has been at the helm of Chapel Hill Tire since 1997, steering the family-owned business through transformative growth and innovation. Under his leadership, the company has grown from a single tire-focused shop into a network of twelve full-service auto care centers across the Triangle region of North Carolina, with locations in Chapel Hill, Durham, Raleigh, Cary, and Apex.

Now, with the 13th store set to open later this year in Raleigh, Chapel Hill Tire is preparing for its next chapter of growth and community impact. Through each expansion, Chapel Hill Tire carries forward the same values that have defined it since 1953: Work Happy. Drive Happy.

Helen Zhang, MBA, CMA, CEPA, CVB
Co-Founder & CEO
Futurise Growth Partners

Helen Zhang is Co-Founder and CEO of Futurise Growth Partners, where she helps small to mid-sized business owners maximize value, de-risk exits, and build legacies through services such as fractional CFO support, valuations, consulting, and exit planning. A self-funded searcher, Helen actively pursues acquisitions while expanding her advisory work. Helen also founded the Women Searchers Community, now nearly 500 members strong worldwide. She is a Duke MBA, CMA, CEPA, and CVB, and an alum of New Majority Capital’s bETA program. Her career spans restaurants, manufacturing finance, and financial services, giving her broad expertise in growth and value creation.

Registration Fees:

XPX Triangle Members  - $0.00
XPX Triangle Members Same Day/Walk-in Fee  - $20.00

XPX Chapter Network Members Regular Fee - $30.00
XPX Chapter Network Members Same Day/Walk-in Fee - $40.00

Non-Members Regular Fee  - $35.00
Non-Members Regular Fee Same Day/Walk-In Fee  - $45.00

Food and beverages are included.

Event Registration Cancellation Policy: You may request a full refund for your event registration up to 72 hours before the scheduled date and time. After that deadline, the sale is final and no refunds or credits will be issued. The registration fee is non-transferable, non-substitutable and no replacements are offered.