Buying a 45-Year-Old Industry Pioneer

After a successful military career, Don Gourley saw buying a business as the best means to "lead a unit" as a civilian.

Topics in Don’s interview:

• Having a “plan Z” as a searcher
• Importance of being crystal clear about what you want to buy
• His rigorous approach to a geographic search
• How to recruit & manage 10+ interns
• Cultivating brokers
• About Boston Tree Preservation
• Digital transformation — is it actually that valuable?
• How to take over from a founder-visionary
• Why buying a business is such a good fit for veterans
• Having the seller pay for the Q of E

References and how to contact Don:

• [email protected]
• LinkedIn
• Boston Tree Preservation
• Peter Wild, the seller of the business
• Carlos Laconi, the GM when the business sold

Learn more about Walker Deibel's done-with-you buy-side advisory:

• The Acquisition Lab

Get complimentary due diligence on your acquisition's insurance & benefits program:

• Oberle Risk Strategies - Search Fund Team

Connect with Acquiring Minds:

• See past + future interviews on the YouTube channel
• Connect with host Will Smith on LinkedIn
• Follow Will on Twitter