The Close M&A Podcast with Caber Hill Advisors
Exploring the art and science of deal-making with host Craig Castelli.
Episodes
29 episodes
Ericka L. Adler: Regulatory and Transactional Healthcare Law
Ericka Adler, healthcare attorney at Roetzel & Andress, joins Craig Castelli to break down how private equity has reshaped healthcare M&A. They discuss the rise of PE buyers, what physicians often underestimate in the diligence process,...
Brendan Anderson: PE Dedicated to Scaling Small Businesses
Brendan Anderson, founder of ScaleCo, joins Craig Castelli to break down what it really takes to turn small, founder-led businesses into scalable growth companies. They discuss why people, not strategy, drive success, how infrastructure and dat...
Scott Becker: From Deal Advisor to Principal
In this episode Craig is joined by Scott Becker, founder of Becker's Healthcare, host of Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast...
Craig Checks In: Annual Private Equity Survey Insights
In this solo episode, Craig Castelli breaks down Caber Hill’s latest survey of private equity partners, reflecting on the 2025 M&A market and the factors that slowed deal activity. He explores shifts in deal volume, quality, and structure, ...
Chris Winterhalter: Hotel Renovation and Real Estate Investing
In this episode, Craig sits down with Chris Winterhalter, founder of Hotel Rehabs, to unpack his journey from post-crash real estate hustling to building one of the most innovative turnkey hotel renovation companies in the industry. Chris share...
Anthony Saber: Steady Growth Over a Long Period in Building Services
This episode of The Close features Anthony Saber, President of Saber Building Services, a Detroit-based company built from humble beginnings into a 450-person team. Anthony shares how lessons from his upbringing, early family responsibilities, ...
Mathew Pettit: Healthcare Services Investing
Matt Pettit, founder of Seven Hills Capital, a healthcare-focused private equity firm based in Nashville, shares his journey from working in middle market PE to starting his own firm. He and Craig discuss why he chose the entrepreneurial path o...
Lee Edwards: Growing The Greenery, Inc.
Join host Craig Castelli as he sits down with Lee Edwards, President and CEO of The Greenery, a thriving commercial landscaping company with branches across the Southeast. Lee shares his journey from joining his parents' business in his twentie...
David Ogurek: M&A Due Diligence and Analysis
In this episode, Craig sits down with Dave Ogurek, Director at Caber Hill Advisors and the firm's first full-time hire. Dave shares his journey from corporate finance roles at manufacturing and PepsiCo to due diligence work in the audiology spa...
Dr. Pete Smidt: Driving Big Growth at Smalltown Dental
In this episode of The Close, Craig interviews Dr. Pete Smidt, founder of Smalltown Dental, about his rapid expansion during COVID-19 when he grew from two to eight practices in just one year. Pete shares the challenges of managing multiple off...
Josh Gammon: Litigation Funding & IP Advisory
In this episode of The Close, Craig and Josh Gammon discuss the growing litigation funding market and how Wealth Docket, a litigation funding company that Josh co-founded, focuses on complex commercial and patent litigation for individual claim...
Craig Checks In: Thoughts on FanMail Questions from Listeners
In this solo episode of The Close, Craig Castelli tackles listener questions covering timely M&A topics. He discusses how the government shutdown impacts SBA financing and government contractor deals, explains reverse due diligence strategi...
Ted Hsu: Personal & Professional Preparation
Business owner Ted Hsu shares his journey from selling his company to finding new purpose in life after exit. He discusses the critical aspects of the sale process, emphasizing the importance of paying attention to all that is said and left uns...
Jordan Gerber: Part CFO, Part Investment Banker, Part Psychologist
Caber Hill Advisors Managing Director Jordan Gerber explores his unique path to investment banking. From his early days as a CPA to owning and selling his own collection agency, Jordan shares hard-earned lessons about the M&A process, inclu...
Denielle Finkelstein & Thyme Sullivan: Advancing Women in the Workplace
Craig is joined by Denielle Finkelstein & Thyme Sullivan, the founders of Unicorn, who made a bold pivot from retail shelves to revolutionizing workplace bathrooms. After struggling in the competitive retail space selling premium period pro...
Maria Melone: Dental Advisory on the Buy & Sell Sides
In this episode of The Close, Maria Melone discusses the challenges facing healthcare M&A, particularly in dental and med spa sectors. She explains how many advisors focus solely on headline multiples while ignoring crucial deal structure e...
Nick Olsen: Growing a Network of M&A Advisory Firms
Nick Olsen, Managing Director of Cornerstone International Alliance, discusses what makes successful M&A advisors and how business owners should evaluate them. Nick shares insights from working with 165 M&A advisors who've closed $5.5 b...
Dr. Abhishek Nagaraj & Dr. Anushka Gaglani: Dentistry on Dentists' Terms
Dr. Abhishek Nagaraj and Dr. Anushka Gaglani, co-founders of Areo Dental Group, discuss their entrepreneurial journey from associates to successful multi-practice owners. Founded in 2016, Areo has grown through strategic acquisitions and de nov...
Brian Zielinski: Helping Business Owners Leverage AI
Brian Zielinski discusses how AI is transforming business operations and M&A processes. He explains how his company streamlines post-acquisition integration by connecting tools and improving data flow. In M&A, AI eliminates mundane work...
Peter J. Holton: A Life in the Trades at All Levels
In this episode, Caber Hill's Managing Director Peter Holton discusses his unique background in family-owned businesses and how it helps him connect with blue-collar business owners, particularly in the facility services sector. Peter shares in...
Bob Armbruster: The Business of Clean
In this episode, Craig Castelli interviews Bob Armbruster, founder of Clean Team, who shares his journey from humble beginnings to building a nationwide janitorial company. Starting with just $5,000 in 1996, Bob grew his business from personall...
Dr. Erica Person: Lessons from Two Decades in Hearing Healthcare
In this episode, Dr. Erica Person shares her journey from selling her first audiology practice to building a new one with a unique fee-for-service model. Dr. Person discusses how prioritizing service over devices has kept her business thriving ...
Tim Murch: From Inception to Growth to PE Partnership
Tim Murch shares his remarkable journey growing 4M Building Solutions from a small family business to a $125 million enterprise with 6,500 team members. He discusses his strategic approach to acquisitions (completing 40+ deals), the importance ...
Darrin Shillair: Inside a Self-Funded Acquisition
In this episode of The Close M&A Podcast, host Craig Castelli interviews Darrin Shillair, owner of Specialty Sales, an industrial distribution business in Chicago's western suburbs. Darrin shares his journey from leaving his position at Gug...
Brian Steffens: The Full M&A Experience
Craig's first episode with a member of the Caber Hill team features Managing Director Brian Steffens, as they discuss the common characteristics of successful clients, the importance of alignment and transparency, the competitive landscape in t...