Alisha M. Pennington

About Alisha M. Pennington

I’m an exited founder and CEO who has spent the last decade scaling, optimizing, and ultimately selling a multi-million-dollar staffing company recognized 3x on the Inc. list. That experience gave me a front-row seat to the realities of building value, preparing for acquisition, and navigating the complexities of an exit.Today, I partner with founders, investors, and private equity firms as a Recruitment & Growth Strategist and Exit Advisor. My work centers on the levers that actually drive enterprise value: • Recruitment & Team Infrastructure – building high-performing, efficient teams that scale. • Operational Efficiency – designing systems that unlock growth without burnout. • Exit Strategy – aligning action with vision to maximize valuation and outcomes.Because I’ve been on both sides of the table — scaling as a founder and preparing for acquisition — I bring a unique perspective that bridges what sellers need and what buyers expect.I’m also the author of Power of the Pivot, a Forbes Business Council member, and a speaker on entrepreneurship, leadership, and ambition without overexertion. At the same time, I’m a mom of two, living proof that high achievement and ease can co-exist.

Experience

1. CEO Growth, Integration & Value Creation

   Atvantage Athletic Training

   Mar 2025 — Present

   Vertical Integration Acquisition: Continue to lead ATvantage as CEO under a portfolio company structure, aligning with parent-company growth strategy.Operational Integration: Streamline systems across business units to drive efficiency, scalability, and value creation.Recruitment & Retention: Optimize staffing models, strengthen leadership pipelines, and improve employee retention.Innovation: Leverage technology and new service models to position athletic trainers as frontline public health professionals.

Education

• Florida State University

  Bachelor of Science Degree, Athletic Training

  2005 — 2009

• California State University, Fullerton

  Masters of Science Degree, Kinesiology

  2009 — 2011