Laurie Barkman is a Certified M&A Advisor, Exit Planner, and former CEO who advises engineering, architecture, and design services firm owners on increasing enterprise value and executing successful transactions with clarity and confidence. She works with founders across the AEC industry to build scalable, self-sustaining firms that reduce owner dependency, strengthen leadership capacity, and improve long-term performance.

Laurie previously served as CEO of a $100M revenue firm acquired by a Fortune 50 buyer. She brings firsthand experience guiding organizations through complex growth and transition initiatives, aligning strategy with operational execution, and preparing owner-led firms for high-stakes decisions that shape long-term outcomes.

Today, Laurie supports owners through the full lifecycle of value creation and transaction readiness. She advises on sell-side planning and execution, including exit readiness, value enhancement, and positioning the business to maximize outcomes in a sale or ownership transition. She also guides firms pursuing buy-side growth through acquisitions, including acquisition strategy, target evaluation, deal preparation, and post-deal integration to ensure value realization and long-term success.

Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Laurie works with clients nationwide. She is the Amazon best-selling author of The Business Transition Handbook and host of the award-winning Succession Stories podcast, where she interviews business owners and industry leaders on growth, succession planning, and M&A.