ETA Utah Chapter Panel: When the Deal Gets Real
Acquiring a business isn’t all fun and games.
And it’s rarely as clean as the search decks make it look.
This panel is about the other side of ETA — the part that starts after the wire hits and the pressure turns on. Missed projections. Tight cash. Lender conversations you hoped you’d never have. Moments where bankruptcy, lender workouts, or walking away feel uncomfortably close.
Four CEOs who have lived through the ownership seat will share candid stories from the hardest chapters of their journeys. Not to scare you off, but to help you go in with your eyes wide open.
We’ll talk plainly about the J-curve, the emotional and financial strain of early ownership, and what it actually takes to survive the low points and come out the other side.
This is not a victory lap.
It’s a reality check for searchers, operators, and owners who want the full picture — before and after close.
You’ll hear about:
What the J-curve really feels like in practice
Missing debt payments and navigating lender workouts
When bankruptcy becomes a real consideration — and how to think clearly under pressure
The personal toll of ownership stress and isolation
What every searcher should understand before signing the LOI
Speakers
Blake Harber — CEO, Routine Holdings
Taylor Nielsen — CEO, Walton Trailers
Andrew Heer — CEO, Summit Mountain Cleaning
Caroline Chapelaine — CEO, Northstar Photonics
Moderator
Kyle Poll — CEO, GetOutPass