The Orange County Community Foundation (OCCF) convened entrepreneurs, investors and advisors for a candid conversation about business exits, moving from pre-planning to due diligence to the often-overlooked question of life after the sale. The program opened with remarks from John Williams, OCCF’s Board of Governors Chair, and was moderated by Margita Labhard, Senior Director of Philanthropic Strategy at OCCF. The discussion featured a powerhouse panel of operators and advisors who have lived the exit process from multiple angles, including Bill Koschak, Founder of Everest Advisors and veteran of more than $45 billion in M&A transactions; Linda Igarashi, corporate M&A partner at Sheppard Mullin; Shirin Behzadi, former CEO of Home Franchise Concepts and author of The Unexpected CEO; and Joe Fries, former President and CEO of Fontis Solutions. The program concluded with charitable tax insights from Matt Petroski, nonprofit tax partner at Armanino, who outlined strategies for integrating philanthropy into a business exit. For those in the room, the evening’s takeaway was unmistakable. A successful exit is not defined at signing, but shaped years in advance through disciplined operations, thoughtful planning and clear purpose. The founders who navigate it best are the ones who understand their value, prepare for scrutiny and give equal attention to what comes after the deal as they do to the deal itself. In the end, the true measure of an exit is not just the price achieved, but the readiness to step into what comes next with intention.
