MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: RYAN CORCORAN

1.How long have you been a member of AM&AA, and what leadership roles, if any, have you held during that time?

I have been a member of AM&AA for two years since attending the Winter Conference in 2023 in St. Pete’s, Florida. In 2024, I was appointed Chair Emeritus of the Philadelphia Chapter.

2. What drives your commitment to your craft and industry?

I am driven by the compounding value derived from the M&A ecosystem across a diverse group of professionals who all bring unique perspectives and skills to close a transaction successfully. The outcome is positive personally and financially for those involved. That wealth creation engine has fueled growth for businesses and families, and innovation in many industries that require capital to move things forward.

3. What is one insight or piece of advice you wish you had known when you first started in the industry?

Be patient. I am easily excited and optimistic about businesses and growth opportunities. Still, so many pieces of the puzzle need to align for a successful M&A transaction and to get companies to scale and sustain revenue. I know how to spot great companies that are solving a real pain point in industries large enough to support an upward trajectory of value and sustainable impact on business and society, but it’s important to be selective when taking on new engagements.

4. What is top of mind for you in your business right now? 

I see increasingly large funds and enterprises looking downstream to the lower middle-market for smaller and earlier-stage companies operating effectively. In contrast, large middle-market and enterprise-level businesses need help with valuation expectations and sustaining year-over-year organic growth. There is a massive opportunity to help smaller companies modernize operations, build processes that scale and automate old ways of doing things to improve value and become success stories of the lower middle-market, where transaction volume is outpacing public markets. This ties into some of the succession planning work we do for business owners and leaders reaching retirement age who want to transition out of their businesses and reap the rewards of years of hard work.

5. How has being a member of a trade association contributed to your business growth?

AM&AA has provided me with a comprehensive understanding of the various professional roles in a transaction, enabling me to focus on building relationships with people and organizations that compliment my own. A recent transaction involved an investment banker I met at an association event. Post-exit, we worked with the founder on strategic tax planning, mapping out several pathways to invest the gains from the asset sale. We also structured a new partnership to protect his real estate holdings and explored compliant options to minimize his tax exposure, ensuring a portion of the earnings were set aside for his children and family.

6. What legacy or impact do you most desire to be known for in the industry?

I want to be known for helping people realize the true value of their business and the impact their work has on the world. We all meet one another and ask, “What do you do?” Most people answer with something like “accounting,” “investment banking,” or “I’m a lawyer.” I want the people I work with to begin answering that question with their work’s impact on their clients and society. For Grassi, we are an accounting firm. Yes, we do QOEs, Valuation, Audit, Financial and Tax Due Diligence, but the real value is giving the people we work with the clarity they need to make better decisions to reach their goals. This moves the needle; it grows companies; it allows them to act and capitalize on the opportunities they come across. Ultimately, that builds communities and prosperity for the families who own and work for the businesses we support. It also makes work much more fun and meaningful when viewing it from that lens.