You’ve poured years of sweat, capital, and operational discipline into building your manufacturing business. When the time comes to scale operations, secure expansion capital, or prepare for an exit, you shouldn’t have to navigate a complex financial landscape alone against institutional buyers who play this game every day. You deserve to capture every ounce of the value you’ve created, and transition your legacy on your own terms.
Unfortunately, many business owners get trapped in the day-to-day operations and miss the hidden profitability leaks and other issues that professional buyers will use against them later.
This is why the 2026 Georgia Manufacturing Summit —taking place on September 15, 2026, at the Cobb Galleria—is a must-attend event for leaders who build, power, and advance the state’s industrial economy. Bringing together more than 500 manufacturing professionals, 250 suppliers, and 40 exhibitors, the summit focuses on the core drivers of regional strength: People, Plants, and Products.
Walden M&A is proud to serve as a presenting sponsor because we believe hard-working founders need a dedicated advocate in their corner.
Manufacturing a Better Bottom Line: The Expert Panel
A central highlight of the summit is the educational track titled “Manufacturing a Better Bottom Line,” taking place from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.
Facilitated by Walden President and CEO, John Phillips, this interactive fireside panel convenes leading financial, legal, and banking advisors to help you level the playing field. Instead of guessing what the market wants, this panel pulls back the curtain on how to guide your business through complex growth and transaction decisions.
We will break down actionable strategies across four critical areas:
- Plugging Profit Leaks: Uncovering and stopping the hidden margin erosion that quietly drains your valuation.
- Funding Smart Expansion: Securing the capital you need to grow without taking on toxic, dilutive debt.
- Maximizing Net Proceeds: Structuring future deals so that the money stays in your pocket, not the buyer’s.
- Thinking Like a Buyer: Aligning your daily operations with exact institutional underwriting criteria to command higher multiples.
Panelists include Laura Madajewski, Chapter Director of GMA and Partner at HLB Gross Collins, Daniel Dinur, an attorney with Dinur & DeLuca, Shawn McBride from First Horizon Bank, and Bill McDermott, founder of The Profitability Coach. Together, they bring decades of battle-tested deal experience across hundreds of middle-market industrial transactions directly to you.
Build Undeniable Strength Long Before an Exit
The collaborative environment of the summit offers you an ideal opportunity to step back from the daily grind and focus on long-term value creation. Building a high-value manufacturing operation requires looking beyond simple annual cash flow; it requires looking at your asset through a buyer’s lens.
By aligning your internal financial reporting with professional underwriting standards today, you can eliminate structural weaknesses long before you ever enter a formal transaction process.
“M&A is heavily focused on manufacturing at the moment. Value creation comes not only through annual cash flow and growing the size of the company, but growing the overall value of the business. You don’t need to be nearing retirement to join this discussion, because we are addressing strategies that apply to every business at every point in its lifecycle.” — John Phillips, President and CEO, Walden M&A
Buyers are scrutinizing the fundamentals right now. High-quality, well-prepared companies continue to command incredibly strong interest from both strategic consolidators and private equity buyers. Preparing your operational and financial systems years in advance ensures that when you are ready to evaluate strategic options, you do so from a position of undeniable financial strength and maximum leverage.
Connect with Your Guides at Booth 25
Maximizing the value of your business requires disciplined execution and experienced advisory support. Throughout the 2026 Georgia Manufacturing Summit, our team will be hosting attendees at Booth 25 in the central exhibition hall.
We invite you to step away from the noise, stop by, and discuss your specific operational challenges and current industrial market trends with our principals. Whether you are exploring growth capital, seeking a trusted M&A partner, or mapping out a multi-year transition strategy, we are here to help you build a clear, actionable plan.
Visit us at Booth 25 on September 15th, or reach out through our contact form to schedule a private, confidential conversation today.
