Two operators on a mission to preserve what matters.
Ridge and Valley Holdings exists to breathe new life into small service businesses, honoring the owners who built them, strengthening the communities that depend on them, and showing future entrepreneurs that building something meaningful is within reach.
Built on a simple belief: owners deserve better.
Ridge and Valley Holdings was founded because too many small business owners face a difficult choice when it comes time to step away. After decades of building something real, hiring neighbors, serving their community, putting their name on the line every day, the options on the table rarely reflect the value of what they have created. Private equity firms optimize for returns. Aggregators strip the identity. And listing on a marketplace can feel like shouting into a void.
We started this firm because we believe there should be another path. One where the buyer actually sits in the chair, answers the phones, and earns the trust of every employee and customer from day one. We are not a fund. We are not private equity. We are two operators who buy businesses and run them ourselves, with our own names on the door and our own reputations on the line.
"We buy to build. Not to flip."
The name Ridge and Valley comes from the landscape itself: the long, parallel folds of the Appalachian terrain where strength is shaped by persistence, where what endures was never built quickly. That is how we think about business ownership. We acquire companies we intend to hold for the long term, invest in steadily, and grow with the same patience and discipline that the original owner brought to building them in the first place.
Skills built across industries, applied to yours.
Sierra Fidler
Sierra brings over a decade of hands-on operational leadership to Ridge and Valley Holdings. Her career has been defined by building the systems that keep complex organizations running smoothly: from designing standard operating procedures and managing regulatory compliance to leading teams through periods of growth and transition. She has a deep understanding of what it takes to maintain quality at scale: workforce scheduling, performance management, documentation frameworks, and the day-to-day discipline required to deliver consistent results. These are the same skills that make the difference between a service business that merely survives and one that thrives under new ownership.
Zachary Wright
Zachary has spent his career at the intersection of technology and revenue growth. From implementing CRM platforms that bring order to chaotic sales pipelines to designing digital marketing strategies and loyalty programs that turn one-time customers into lifelong advocates, his work has always centered on building the systems that compound over time. He has founded and operated his own ventures, giving him firsthand understanding of what it means to carry the full weight of a business on your shoulders. At Ridge and Valley Holdings, he brings that builder's mindset to every acquisition, modernizing operations, unlocking new revenue channels, and creating the infrastructure for sustainable, long-term growth.
Why we do this.
Small businesses are the backbone of every community we have ever lived in. They are the HVAC company that answers the call on a freezing January night. The lawn care crew that keeps the neighborhood looking its best. The staffing firm that helps people find work and dignity. These businesses do not make headlines, but they hold communities together, quietly, reliably, every single day.
When the owners of those businesses are ready to move on, they deserve a buyer who understands what is really at stake. Not just the revenue and the margins, but the employees who depend on a paycheck, the customers who depend on the service, and the reputation that took a lifetime to build. Private equity firms optimize for returns on a three-to-five year horizon. We optimize for the next thirty years. That is the difference, and it matters.
We do this because we believe that acquiring a business is not a financial transaction; it is a promise. A promise to the owner that their work will be respected. A promise to the team that their jobs are safe. And a promise to the community that the business they rely on will not only continue but grow stronger. If that sounds like the kind of buyer you have been looking for, we would welcome the conversation.
Guided by those who have done it before.
Our advisory board brings decades of experience in law, negotiation, exit planning, and business operations. They challenge our thinking, sharpen our approach, and ensure that every acquisition we pursue is grounded in deep expertise.
Jon brings a rare combination of investment banking discipline and legal precision to the advisory board. A graduate of Harvard Law School, he transitioned from investment banking into private equity law, where he has spent years structuring and negotiating complex transactions. His experience as a complex contract negotiator at Adobe gives him an exceptional eye for deal structure, risk allocation, and the legal architecture that underpins successful acquisitions.
Amy is the founder of The Exit School and a Certified Exit Planning Advisor who has helped countless business owners navigate the most consequential transition of their professional lives. An international speaker and recognized authority on exit strategy, she brings deep empathy for the seller's perspective and a practical understanding of what makes a deal work for everyone involved.
Bob served as a Senior Fellow at Harvard Law School for over twenty years, where he became one of the foremost authorities on negotiation and conflict resolution. His client roster includes organizations like Coca-Cola and Microsoft, and his frameworks for principled negotiation inform how we approach every conversation, with sellers, brokers, and partners alike. His guidance ensures that our deals are structured fairly and that every party leaves the table with confidence.
Erin built her own business from the ground up and scaled it to a twenty-three person team before automating operations so thoroughly that the company ran on just two hours of her time per week. That level of operational excellence allowed her to execute a seamless exit on her own terms. She advises Ridge and Valley Holdings on the systems, processes, and automation strategies that transform owner-dependent businesses into self-sustaining operations.
Ready to learn more about working with us?
Whether you are a business owner exploring your options or a broker representing a client, we would welcome the chance to introduce ourselves.
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