We are Jacob Tomlinson and Wil Gradle, a team of hands-on entrepreneurs committed to acquiring and growing a business just like yours while preserving what makes it special. We know great businesses don’t just happen; they’re cultivated over years of hard work, relationships, and dedication. We’re here to continue that legacy.
We’re not some private equity chop shop or a large corporation with a big board of investors that will prioritize their returns over doing what’s right for the company you’ve built. We invest in businesses like yours with a simple goal: long-term growth, stability for employees, and customer consistency.
When we acquire a business, we do so with a deep respect for the people who built it. Our approach ensures:
✅ A Smooth Transition – No rushed takeovers or drastic changes. We work closely with owners to make the transition seamless.
✅ Employee and Customer Stability – Your team and customers are the backbone of the business. We prioritize keeping them engaged and secure.
✅ Sustainable Growth – We don’t strip businesses down for quick profits. We focus on smart, steady improvements to build long-term value.
Selling your business is a big decision. Whether you're considering selling now or years down the road, let’s talk. Our focus will be on offering:
🔹 A fair, straightforward deal that works for both sides
🔹 Flexible structures to meet your needs
🔹 A commitment to your business’s future success
If you’re open to discussing the future of your business, we’d love to connect.
No pressure, no fluff – just an honest conversation. If nothing else, we’re eager to hear your story.
I'm Jacob Tomlinson, husband and father of two amazing boys.
Born and raised in Rockford, IL, I grew up in a family that valued hard work and community. From a young age, I worked with my dad in his successful small autobody business, which taught me invaluable lessons about perseverance, treating others with respect, honoring your word, and taking care of your family. Those countless hours of sweat equity and seeing my dad positively impact the lives of his employees also created an entrepreneurial spirit inside me.
While attending Western Illinois University, I met Wil, who would become a great friend and a key influence on my leadership journey. Wil always pushed me to think more strategically, see the forest for the trees, and think win-win. I also met my wife at college, whose unwavering support has been instrumental in every step of my story. After graduating, my wife and I moved to Colorado, where I embarked on a tech career. Over the years, I've worked my way up the ladder as an individual contributor and people leader, building a reputation for innovation, going the extra mile, and upskilling those around me. Wil and I kept in touch during this time, sharing ideas and dreams of starting a business together.
As my wife and I started a family, we knew we wanted to raise our children close to extended family. That decision brought us back to the Quad Cities, where my wife grew up and where we desired to put down roots. Back home, Wil and I reconnected, and we realized we shared the same vision for the next chapter of our lives: to channel the entrepreneurial fire that has always driven us and continue the legacy of great small businesses in our community.
With a deep appreciation for the lessons learned along the way and a passion for building something meaningful, I'm excited to contribute to the growth and success of a business that stands as a cornerstone of our community.
I’m Wil Gradle – I’m a husband, data professional, and a friend to pitbulls everywhere.
I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, spent 5 years learning to love a smaller scale of life in west central Illinois, and then relocated with my girlfriend (now wife!) to North Carolina where we’ve spent the last 7 years building a life together.
Professionally, my career has been colored by answering the question, “how can we build a competitive advantage?” As an analyst, I worked to find areas of opportunity for a heavy equipment company to win market share. As a data scientist, I served banks, consumer products brands, furniture manufacturers, and telecom companies target the right customers and optimize their marketing efforts. Today, I work to define and execute the strategy to transform the global reporting and analytics strategy for a large manufacturer.
My admiration for small business started as a college intern at Ace Hardware. There’s something incredible in the idea that a store with the same brand and purpose as thousands of others across the globe could be so different just to meet the needs of the community. I was touched by the magic of speaking with owners about how they sponsor local soccer teams, how they carried local honeys from their neighbors, how they offer cooking classes in their stores. Success was rooted in their personal commitment to serve their community and employees. I dream of someday owning a store of my own.
In my professional career, I’ve been given the gift of working for leaders that challenged and empowered me to use my skills in relationship building, strategic thinking, and process improvement. In my personal life, I’ve surrounded myself with people like Jacob, a longtime friend with a heart to serve, a drive to execute, and an unwillingness to do anything short of his best.
With roots planted right here in the Triangle of North Carolina, my family is stepping into a new journey with a dear friend to take my skills and experience to serve my community.