Jennifer deCamp, Director of Partner Development at sbLiftoff, has been a member of AM&AA since March of 2023. She has a client-centered approach to her work and hopes to leave a mark on all she encounters.
How long have you been a member of AM&AA and what leadership roles, if any, have you held throughout that time?
I officially became a member in early March of 2023 but was first introduced to our local AM&AA chapter prior to Covid in 2019. I was attending in-person meetings until the world shut down. I knew from the very first meeting that the AM&AA was an organization we needed to get involved in.
What drives your commitment to your craft and industry?
Following the adage of “if it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right”…I think I follow this approach in everything I do, both personally and professionally. Where I look to excel is trying to understand what is right for our clients and partners in the market. That requires me to understand an issue from everyone’s point of view.
What are some insights or at least one piece of advice you wish you would have known when you first started in the industry?
The growth of our business really comes down to trust. Business owners ready to sell their company have spent years building foundations with trusted advisors, perhaps just not an M&A advisor. The building of our business comes down to building relationships with those professionals. While that seems obvious, the real skill for our company is how to build a large network spanning the vast number of skilled advisors across the industry. There is a human propensity for trust, but trust must be earned, and I take that very seriously when building relationships in our industry.
What is top of mind for you in your business right now? Issues that impact our clients and colleagues in the market is always top of mind for me. Our clients should always feel we are putting their best interests first and we do that by working with partners in the industry that share our same value set.
How has being a member of a trade association resulted in business growth for you?
Being a member of a trade organization allow us to showcase our company values and meet other partners who share those same standards. For example, in a trade organization, you have opportunities to develop confidences and trust when you organize and serve on a panel together with other professionals. Expressing thought leadership on a panel allows individual speakers to gain better insight into each other’s areas of expertise. In the beginning of 2024, we invited members from the law firm, Fluet, to join us and participate in the monthly chapter panel. It was a successful event and our relationship with Fluet has continued to grow since. We have been fortunate to partner with them through webinars, networking events, and other industry related occasions.
What legacy industry impact would you most desire to be known for?
I’d like to be known for my professionalism and integrity, but most importantly, I want to positively impact everyone I work–partners, clients, and my colleagues at sbLiftOff. While raising my kids, I was involved in and ran many volunteer events. Motivating people to want to be part of something bigger was challenging but at the end of the day, people just want to feel like they matter. I want our partners and clients to know that they matter and I’m listening. They should walk out of the door feeling better than when they walked in.
