An Ownership Transition

Heritage Clay Partners was founded to provide a succession solution to one great business

How We’re Different

Heritage Clay Partners Private Equity Strategic Buyer
Commitment Running this business will be my singular, full-time focus
Your company will become one of many portfolio companies
Your company will become one of many business units
Legacy Protect and build upon the foundation you've created
Often reorganized for efficiency within the portfolio, not continuity
Often absorbed and rebranded within the larger company
Employee Future Your employees will remain a key part of the company’s future success
High risk of job cuts
High risk of job cuts
Deal Terms Flexible and relationship-driven to match your vision of a successful exit
Inflexible; structured to maximize investor returns
Inflexible; tailored to the needs of the acquiring company
Goal Sustain and honor your legacy for the long run, stewarding growth into the future
Drive short term financial returns
Scale within a broader corporate strategy

Who you sell to matters. This isn’t just a transaction, it’s a handoff to the next chapter.

What I Look For

  • People

    ·  Owner interested in exiting or reducing their day-to-day involvement

    ·  An existing team that manages daily operations

    ·  Key personnel will stay with the company after a transaction

    ·  Owner interested in preserving their team and legacy

  • Business

    ·  Business services and tech-enabled services (B2B or B2C)

    ·  Outstanding customer service and team

    ·  Differentiated product or service

    ·  Recurring revenue streams

  • Financial

    ·  $1M+ pretax annual profit

    ·  History of profitable growth and strong margins

    ·  Low customer concentration

    ·  15%+ net profit margin

Although this is my criteria, I understand that no business will check every box. No business is perfect. My goal is to find the right business where there’s a strong values fit, and where I can be a thoughtful and committed steward of future growth.

Our Process

Meet the Team

Deshawn Salter is the Founder and Managing Partner of Heritage Clay Partners, based in Chicago. Raised in a blue-collar family in Syracuse, NY, with a mother who worked in social services and a father in corrections, Deshawn grew up valuing hard work, personal accountability, and community. His first entrepreneurial experience came as a teenager when he organized a snow shoveling operation with his brothers and neighborhood friends, learning firsthand how to lead a team and deliver reliable service.

Deshawn went on to earn degrees in Economics and Political Science at Yale, where he also played football. After starting his career as a school teacher in an effort to give back to his community, he transitioned into business strategy roles at Frontier Communications, Deloitte, and Bain & Company. There, he advised executive teams across industries on operational improvement, growth strategy, and M&A. Most recently he has completed his MBA at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management.

A lifelong Buffalo Bills fan, Deshawn brings the same mix of grit, loyalty, and long-term belief to his professional journey. He has a deep appreciation for owner-led businesses and the decades of care it takes to build something lasting. That mindset also inspired the name Heritage Clay Partners - a tribute to his commitment to honoring a company’s heritage while thoughtfully molding its next chapter. 


Institution & Family Office Investors

Entrepreneur & CEO Partners

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Deshawn Salter

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