Montana City, Montana Based Ascendant Advisory Group (AAG) Launches M&A Advisory and Business Consulting Services

Our mission is to ensure our clients maximize the value of their companies, their teams and their customers at every step of their journey, not just when it comes time to exit.

Ascendant Advisory Group (AAG) http://www.ascendantadvisory.com/ is excited to announce that we have officially commenced serving our clients, both long standing and new. As many of you already know, AAG is a newly formed M&A Advisory and Business Consulting firm. Our expert team of mergers & acquisitions specialists, executives, and consultants are committed to helping our clients take control of their destiny by defining and achieving their ultimate vision for their business and legacy.

We believe that by taking a longer-term approach to exit strategy and by putting together a team of world-class advisors along with strategic partners who are best of breed professionals, we can truly be a part of each business’ team and help each owner exit on their terms. Our success hinges on working solely with partners who put the client first, just as we do. We are proud that our clients do not just get an advisor, they get a team. By working with business owners years ahead of a sale, we can determine what their vision for the company is, what outcomes are most important to them, and help shape the company to ensure that their goals are achieved. Our approach focuses on the best possible outcomes for all stakeholders, every time.

By relying on referrals, AAG demonstrates our firm belief that if we are not performing for our clients, we won’t have business tomorrow. Business owners and their advisors are our principal source of new clients… so we know it is critical that every member of our team perform as if it were their own company.

Ascendant Team

Dev Warren: Dev is the CEO and Co-founder of Ascendant. Having spent the majority of his career as an entrepreneur and CFO in the venture capital industry, he has experienced the challenges and frustrations that come with trying to start a business, grow it and exit it. Dev had some great advisors and some less than stellar vendors along the way. He learned a lesson that he founded AAG on: "True partners are there at every step of the process, not just at the end." He promised his clients and his team that AAG would be there for clients not only in the best times, but in the most challenging times, when you need them the most. With his fresh approach, Dev has taken multiple companies from average to high performing. Developing and implementing strategic visions and plans, building strong cultures and focusing on decision making, have always been key elements in Dev’s success. He works closely with companies to help them identify and target high-value methods of gaining and serving customers, leading teams and engaging all generations. Having coached numerous C-suite leaders along with younger employees, Dev utilizes real-world experiences, uniquely tailored for each client, to excite and engage today’s business leaders. These same methods allow Dev to ensure that AAG is truly part of the client’s team, not just an advisor.

John Steinhoff: Prior to becoming Vice President of Consulting and Co-Founder of Ascendant, John spent 14 years as a CPA in public accounting serving clients in the construction, manufacturing, technology, professional services and hospitality industries. His approach to every client begins with understanding their business goals and providing sound advice to help them achieve those goals. In addition to working with clients on their goals and business execution, John helps navigate the complexities of the tax consequences of various business strategies. John is an advocate for our clients and passionately works with them to make their businesses successful through assistance with cash flow management, internal controls, process improvement, leadership development and better understanding their business model. John is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE), and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Montana Society of CPAs.

Andy Gordon: As the Executive Director of Corporate Relations and Co-Founder of Ascendant, Andy possesses the uncommon distinction of being dually gifted as both a dedicated technologist and relationship expert. He advises start-ups and small businesses on digital media tactics, branding, fundraising, and new technologies to streamline their operations while refining their growth strategies. Clients tell us over and over that no one listens and brings the right solutions to the table like Andy. His innovation finds solutions for partnerships, funding and exits where others have failed. While Andy is great at figuring out solutions to problems on his own, he is even better at bringing the right team members and partners to our clients to address issues from a variety of perspectives.

Scott Lester: As Vice President of Mergers and Acquisitions and Co-Founder of Ascendant, Scott is an innovative business advisor who breaks the mold in the M & A world by taking a holistic and long-term approach to representing his clients. Scott has distinguished himself with many high profile M&A successes in our region, resulting in superior client outcomes and satisfaction. He has spent his career marketing and managing people across multiple industries, from rising up the ranks in corporate America, to becoming partners in locally owned small businesses, to occupying high level positions at internet start-ups. All his experiences have combined to create in him a unique ability to strategize and find success with his clients’ businesses. Scott has a Master’s of Business Administration from the University of Montana and holds the credentials of Certified Business Intermediary (CBI) as well as a Certified Mergers & Acquisitions Advisor (CM&AA).

Loren Brown: As the Director of Banking Services, Loren works tirelessly to help our clients achieve their business goals. He helps client teams in a wide variety of industries to improve their business operations and define a roadmap for success. Loren has extensive experience in the financial institutions industry, having spent over ten years at Mountain West Bank helping reshape its culture and systems of the organization in preparation for its acquisition by First Interstate Bank in 2014. He also owned two successful businesses in IT and in construction prior to his banking career, giving him an understanding of the challenges and opportunities which all business owners face. Loren’s unique background allows him to help banking clients deliver better products and services to their clients and to help clients in all industries maximize their relationships with their financial institutions. Loren holds a Graduate Degree in Banking from ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking.

Chad Dailey: As Ascendant’s Senior Business Analyst, Chad works with our clients to help evaluate and value their businesses. Prior to working with Ascendant, Chad managed Sage Business Services, where he worked with numerous business owners, helping them make improvements to their businesses and developing exit strategies. A firm believer in setting goals and measuring results, Chad’s passion for business and his desire to help struggling business owners succeed make him eager to meet the challenges that face our clients.

PYA http://www.pyapc.com/ : PYA’s team of world-class experts across the country provide management-consulting, assurance and tax services to clients in a variety of industries including the nation’s largest healthcare organizations. For three decades, PYA has established a proven track record of unsurpassed performance with clients both large and small. With an unyielding commitment to integrity at all levels, objective research and reporting, creative problem solving and attention to each client’s entire organization, the PYA team is a perfect fit with the team at AAG when it comes to delivering the best outcomes to our clients.

We at AAG are excited to introduce you to our team and we look forward to working with you today and long into the future. We are currently representing several businesses which are for sale and will be actively marketing these businesses in the coming months. We would love to hear back from you if you would like to know more about what we are doing, how we can help you achieve your vision or if you are interested, or know someone who may be interested, in learning more about the businesses we represent and the AAG way of doing business.

Our mailing address is:

Ascendant Advisory Group, LLC

1 Valley View Drive

Suite 103

Montana City, MT 59634