Mark Fleming
100+ Deals In: Navigating Seller Fraud, Buried Cash, & Real Successes
Studied at Western Michigan University
Hiring Manager at Owner Actions
Questions? Start chatting with this coach before you get started.
Mark's Offerings
Custom hourly · $289/hr
Get help with Board & Investor Management, Deal Sourcing, and .
Mark’s Search Fund & ETA Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Experience level: Executive
100+ people coached for Search Fund & ETA
With over two decades of experience in finance and business acquisitions, I am passionate about helping aspiring entrepreneurs navigate the search fund process. As the CEO of Owner Actions and an owner in 20+ small businesses, I expertly guide clients through the complexities of acquiring businesses, from deal sourcing to post-acquisition operations. My background in managing high-value portfolios and advising on strategic objectives equips me with the insights needed to support your journey. Having coached well over 100 individuals on their business-buying journey, I am committed to providing personalized guidance to help you achieve your business acquisition goals.
Mark can help with:
Board & Investor Management
Deal Sourcing
Due Diligence
Funding Strategy
Industry & Company Targeting
Investment Analysis
Investor Selection
Operational Strategy & Support
Process Roadmap
Thesis Development
About Mark
Hi, I'm Mark. I'm a business owner, investor, and acquisition entrepreneur who has participated in more than 40 successful small business acquisitions across a wide range of industries. Since acquiring my first business a decade ago (a residential cleaning company, which I have since exited), I have co-acquired and evaluated thousands of opportunities, navigating everything from seller fraud and hidden liabilities to complex deal structures and successful post-acquisition growth. Drawing on more than 20 years of experience in finance and investing, I specialize in business valuation, deal structuring, SBA financing, due diligence, and acquisition strategy. My coaching combines the analytical rigor that comes with being a chartered financial analyst (CFA) and financial risk manager (FRM) with practical, real-world lessons from transactions that have ranged from exceptional to extremely challenging. Whether you're refining your buy box, evaluating your first acquisition, or working through a live deal, my goal is to help you think like an experienced buyer and make better decisions with greater confidence.
Why do I coach?
Buying a business is one of the largest financial decisions most people will ever make, yet many buyers have never seen a deal from start to finish. I've been fortunate to participate in dozens of acquisitions and evaluate hundreds of opportunities. Along the way, I've seen great businesses, disappointing businesses, seller fraud, hidden liabilities, and incredible success stories. I coach because I enjoy helping buyers benefit from those experiences instead of having to learn every lesson the hard way.
Work Experience
Chief Executive Officer
Summit Succession
2024 - Present
Hiring Manager
Summit Succession is a Central Ohio M&A advisory and business brokerage firm representing business owners through the full exit process. We work with companies generating $500K to $2M in EBITDA, guiding owners from pre-sale preparation through deal execution.
Chief Executive Officer
Owner Actions
July 2020 - Present
Hiring Manager
Owner Actions helps individuals acquire businesses with enterprise values from $2M to $10M. I founded and lead a team of eight, overseeing all aspects of the business from deal sourcing through post-close operations. Our proprietary software aggregates every business-for-sale listing daily. We guide clients through evaluation, financing, and legal coordination from first look through close, and continue as operating partners post-acquisition, providing advisory support, financial oversight, and cash flow modeling. Owner Actions has grown into one of the most
Senior Manager, Portfolio Management
Fifth Third Private Bank
December 2017 - February 2024
Managed $650M in assets for high net worth and ultra high net worth clients, including retired executives, multigenerational family wealth, and business owners. Served as the primary investment manager, providing portfolio construction, asset allocation, and investment strategy across equities, fixed income, and alternative asset classes.
Equity Research Analyst
Fifth Third Private Bank
March 2016 - December 2017
Selected mid and large cap stocks for the firm’s buy list and relative value large cap portfolio across Information Technology, Financials, and Utilities. Wrote research reports and presented materials to 120+ Private Bank Portfolio Managers. ∙ Developed sub-industry-specific quantitative models used by the bank’s equity analysts to identify undervalued and overvalued securities ∙ Chaired the real assets sub-committee, covering REITs and Energy MLPs Investment Committee Member — one of twelve members alongside the bank’s CIO, Chief Strategist, and regional portfolio management heads. Responsible for asset allocation recommendations used by 120+ portfolio managers overseeing $26 billion in AUM.
VIce President
FSI Group
January 2013 - December 2015
Managed long/short equity exposure across Real Estate, Asset Management, Investment Brokerage, and Financial Technology industries across all market caps for a financial sector-focused long/short hedge fund. Responsible for valuation of private companies and complex derivatives. ∙ Developed long/short quantitative trading models that consistently generated alpha during volatile markets ∙ Built detailed financial models for undercovered companies ∙ Automated the morning trading process, cutting a 60+ minute daily workflow to under 30 seconds Private Equity Advised portfolio company management teams and boards of directors on long-term strategic objectives. Oversaw three companies through their IPO process and six through sale to larger institutions. Provided valuations for private companies and complex derivatives. Managed the audit process with a Big 4 accounting firm.
Equity Research Analyst
Fifth Third Private Bank
September 2009 - January 2013
Built and managed the Global Real Estate SMA strategy from inception, covering concept development, quantitative modeling, stock selection, global allocation, and marketing. ∙Raised $35M from strategy inception in September 2011 through December 2012 ∙Sharpe ratio ranked in the top 8% of the Global Real Estate peer group through December 2012 ∙82% upside capture, 64% downside capture since inception Equity Analyst — Telecommunications, Financials, and Energy Selected mid and large cap stocks for the firm’s buy list and relative value large cap portfolio. Wrote research reports and presented materials to 120+ Private Bank Portfolio Managers via weekly conference calls and in-person presentations across the bank’s footprint. ∙Average alpha 2009-2011: Energy +1,276 bps, Financials +354 bps, Telecom +83 bps ∙Developed sub-industry-specific quantitative models used by the bank’s equity analysts to identify undervalued and overvalued securities, resulting in nine of ten sectors outperforming their benchmarks in 2010 ∙Advised the Portfolio Management team on alternative strategy SMAs covering long/short, tail-risk, managed futures, and global macro Investment Committee Member One of twelve members alongside the bank’s CIO, Chief Strategist, and regional portfolio management heads. Contributed to asset allocation recommendations used by 120+ portfolio managers overseeing $26B in AUM. Developed quantitative models and field-facing materials supporting the allocation process.
Equity Trader
Fifth Third Private Bank
February 2008 - September 2009
Executed domestic and international equity trades across the bank’s $25 billion portfolio, focusing on international and less liquid securities. Recommended complex options strategies for enhancing returns and/or reducing risk. - Performed consistently in the top quartile against all Abel Noser users multi firm peer group - Identified opportunities and implemented processes to save the bank’s clients millions of dollars by successfully capitalizing on pricing inefficiencies across global exchanges and developed division-wide processes. - Successfully capitalized on pricing inefficiencies across global exchanges and developed division-wide processes - Reduced trading cost by utilizing Trade Cost Analysis software to identify weaknesses in trading patterns
Model
Fifth Third Private Bank
November 2007 - February 2008
Responsible for aligning client accounts with Portfolio Manager’s allocation across eight Separately Managed Account platforms, utilized seven portfolio management and trading systems. Executed client asset allocations changes across $1 billion in mutual funds and $120 million in common equity holdings. - Developed quarterly trading report used by executive management to analyze customer trends and identify risks previously not tracked by management - Led the process of automating the addition and removal of accounts to the bank’s model portfolio, saving hundreds of hours of manpower
Education
Western Michigan University
Bachelors, Finance
2001 - 2005
Western Michigan University
Bachelor's, Economics
2001 - 2005
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