The people behind the work
Partners
Byron McFarland
Founding Principal
Byron works with business owners navigating ownership decisions that carry financial, emotional, and relational weight. His work focuses on helping owners think clearly about succession, exits, and incentives — and act with intention rather than pressure.
Byron brings decades of experience advising closely held businesses through ownership transitions, equity planning, and M&A decisions, with an emphasis on clarity, alignment, and long-term value creation.
Byron brings decades of experience advising closely held businesses through ownership transitions, equity planning, and M&A decisions, with an emphasis on clarity, alignment, and long-term value creation.
John S. Bruckner, J.D.
Partner
John leads The McFarland Group’s M&A advisory work. He helps owners prepare for and navigate external sales by focusing on readiness, positioning, and disciplined execution before a transaction begins.
John brings legal training and deep transactional experience to complex ownership decisions, helping owners structure outcomes that protect value and align with long-term goals.
John brings legal training and deep transactional experience to complex ownership decisions, helping owners structure outcomes that protect value and align with long-term goals.
Connor Lacy
Partner
Connor leads the firm’s equity compensation work. He oversees the design, financial modeling, and implementation of incentive and equity plans that retain key leaders and support transferable business value.
He brings a strong financial background and practical experience working directly with owners and leadership teams to align performance, accountability, and long-term outcomes.
He brings a strong financial background and practical experience working directly with owners and leadership teams to align performance, accountability, and long-term outcomes.
Senior Advisors
Rob Allmand
Senior Associate
Rob supports owners with financial analysis related to valuation, capital structure, and transaction readiness. His background spans business valuation, M&A, and commercial lending, helping clients navigate complex financial decisions with confidence.
Mike Gioseffi
Senior Advisor
Mike advises owners on ownership succession and leadership development. Having served as CEO across private, public, and international companies, he brings firsthand experience leading organizations through growth, transition, and operational complexity.
Client Advocacy & Support
Kayleigh Bain
Client Advocate
Kayleigh serves as Client Advocate, supporting owners throughout their engagement with clarity, care, and responsiveness. She brings deep customer-service experience and a commitment to helping clients feel heard, supported, and confident as they move through important decisions.
Jared Cunningham
Executive Assistant
Jared supports client relationships through thoughtful communication and coordination. He brings extensive experience in client service and a strong focus on trust, follow-through, and clear expectations during transitional moments.
Emeritus
Terri McFarland
Kolbe Consultant
Terri is co-founder of The McFarland Group and now serves in an emeritus role. She specializes in productivity and team effectiveness, drawing on years of experience using Kolbe assessments to help organizations understand how people turn ideas into action.
It is planning that allows entrepreneurs to leave their businesses when they want; sell to whom they want, for the money they need; and thus Realize the American Dream.
—Byron McFarland
