GM/Chief of Staff for a Searcher/Micro-PE Owned Business

July 20, 2020

by a professional from Boston College in Oakland, CA, USA

Hi All, I have already connected with some of you through Searchfunder but my name is Joe Zajac and a mentor recently introduced me to the Search Fund concept. I am two years out of undergrad and have worked in a revenue driving operations role for a software company in Portland, ME. I recognize I am likely too young/green to buy my own company; however, everything I read about the Search Fund experience and subsequent work resonates with me (autonomy, mentorship, learning how to drive and create value, etc.). I am looking to find a Searcher who is close to or has recently acquired a company and work for her or him as a GM/Chief of Staff. I pride myself on my willingness to do any job within an organization and feel my attitude to do so positions me as an "athlete" eager to learn as much as I can. Although I currently live in the Northeast, I am geographically agnostic as to my next location and am ready to move when the opportunity presents itself. Please reach out to connect so I can learn about you and your experience, as well as tell you a bit more about myself. I appreciate how welcoming this community has already been and I look forward to speaking with more members of it. Thank you very much! Best, Joe

Reply by a searcher
from Southern Methodist University in Sarasota, FL, USA

I did this, just not with a search fund acquired business, and it has been the best path I think I could have chosen. I can chat with you directly if you would like, but I basically conducted a "mini search" in my local area for a small business that I felt would mimic a company I would be interested in buying (amount of employees, revenues, physical size of the office and/or warehouse space, industry I like), and then applied and convinced the owners to give me a management position. I am currently running the Operations for a $12M revenue home improvement focused small, family held business. They have given me the reigns on hiring, firing, managing our warehouse and delivery/inventory cycle, process improvements, vendor negotiations, running 13 crews in the field, looking for a larger warehouse to acquire, etc. etc. etc.

It may be a more realistic option than finding a search fund acquired business that either a.) does not have the cash to afford a manager, since they are running the company, or b.) is an acquisition so large they can afford a GM, in which case they probably want someone with a lot of industry experience, to make their life easier.

Reply by a searcher
from Samford University in Birmingham, AL, USA

This is smart, Joseph!

+1 more reply.

Join the discussion