Interviews

An Interview with M&A Source Member, Jaclyn Ring

Tell us about your pre-M&A career and how it led you to doing this work?

Before my career in M&A, I worked in the sports industry, first with the Pittsburgh Steelers and then with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In both roles, I worked closely with business owners, understanding how they interact, build relationships, and develop trust. Sports is a business built on loyalty and emotional investment, and I saw firsthand how critical relationships are to success. That experience gave me a deep understanding of what drives business owners—not just financially, but personally. In M&A, those same principles apply. Selling a business isn’t just a financial decision; it’s often an emotional one. As I transitioned out of the sports world, I saw M&A as an opportunity to showcase my ability to build trust and understand the human side of business while continuously being challenged in other aspects.

What personal characteristics and strengths have supported your success in this industry?

Being a woman in M&A, I believe I bring a different viewpoint to my team. I have a strong ability to pick up on small details that others might overlook, which can be critical in negotiations and deal-making. One of my biggest strengths is creating an environment where people feel comfortable opening up. I’m able to get people talking, build trust, and pull out key information that might not otherwise surface. Additionally, my attention to detail plays a crucial role throughout the entire M&A process, helping to ensure that nothing gets missed and that each deal is structured for success.

What is your greatest M&A accomplishment?

While I’ve had many accomplishments in my M&A career, I am most proud of being an integral part of creating and implementing REAG’s proprietary buy-side process. This process has become a significant part of our business, allowing us to better serve our clients through proprietary deal sourcing and enhancing the way we identify and approach acquisition targets. Seeing something I helped develop become such a core component of our firm’s success has been incredibly rewarding.

With regard to the majority of your engagements, do you work as a team or do you handle things on your own?

We work as a team, allowing each of us to focus on our strengths and support the deal in the most effective way. M&A is a complex process that requires a range of expertise, and by leveraging the skills of each team member, we’re able to provide the best possible outcomes for our clients. We believe collaboration is key to ensuring a seamless and successful transaction.

Do you just do M&A or do you provide other services – valuations, consulting, etc.?

REAG only provides buy-side and sell-side advisory.

What is the biggest mistake you have made when working on a deal?

A hard lesson I learned early on is the importance of over-communicating, especially during due diligence. If you’re not consistently keeping all parties informed and aligned, emotions can quickly take over and jeopardize the deal. M&A is an inherently emotional process, and uncertainty or miscommunication can create unnecessary tension. I’ve learned that clear, proactive communication is essential to keeping deals on track and ensuring a smooth process for everyone involved.

What are the three most important qualities that you think a good M&A advisor needs to have?

I’d say the three key qualities an M&A advisor should have are integrity, trust-building skills, and problem-solving ability. First, integrity is crucial. You have to be honest and transparent with clients and always act in their best interest. Second, building and maintaining trust is essential both with the client and the folks on the other side of the table. Lastly, problem-solving is a must. No deal goes perfectly, and the ability to think on your feet and find solutions when things don’t go as planned is vital to success.

What is your most interesting deal that you are working on today?

All deals are interesting in their own way, and that’s one of the things I love most about the M&A profession. As advisors, we have the opportunity to dive into and learn about so many different industries. Each deal presents its own unique challenges, opportunities, and insights, which keeps things exciting and constantly evolving. There’s always something new to learn and explore, which makes every deal fascinating in its own right.

How long have you been an M&A Source member and what do you get out of your membership?

I’ve been a member for close to 10 years now. What I get out of the membership has definitely evolved as my M&A career has progressed. When I first joined, I was really focused on the educational resources that M&A Source offers. It was a great way to learn and build my foundational knowledge. Now, the value for me is much more about networking with other intermediaries and investors. The relationships I’ve built through those connections have become one of the most valuable aspects of my membership.

As a seasoned M&A advisor, what changes and trends do you see on the horizon that will impact on M&A?

One of the most imminent trends I see in M&A is an increase in international companies making acquisitions within the United States, especially in manufacturing. As the global market evolves, there’s a growing need for international companies to establish a presence in the United States.

What advice would you give to new people entering the profession?

I would offer two key pieces of advice. First, find a team that continuously supports you while pushing you to be your best. Having the right people around you can make all the difference, especially in a field as dynamic as M&A. Second, always stay curious. The drive to do research, ask questions, and really understand every detail of a deal will take you a long way. The more you learn and the deeper your understanding, the better equipped you’ll be to handle the complexities of the deals you work on.

Please tell us something about yourself that has nothing to do with your M&A career.

My husband and I have three kids, a boy and two twin girls. All of our kids are very active, and I genuinely enjoy cheering them on in everything they do. As a family, we enjoy “off the beaten path” travel. We love exploring unique places and stepping away from the usual tourist spots to find adventure.