Carl Hammer

About Carl Hammer

Working in the business brokerage and M&A market, I’ve seen what separates successful exits from failed ones. It’s not luck. It’s not timing. It’s preparation, strategic positioning, and disciplined execution.Most business owners approach their exit too late—when they’re burned out, when health forces their hand, or when market conditions shift. By then, the issues that matter most to buyers are too entrenched to fix quickly. The result? Discounted valuations, exhausting diligence processes, and deals that never close.At Oxford Highland Advisors, we solve this problem by working exclusively with prepared sellers—business owners who have invested in making their companies genuinely exit-ready before going to market.I founded OHA alongside Matt Foley to create an integrated platform that addresses both sides of the exit equation: value creation (through our sister company Exit Ready Solutions) and transaction execution (through OHA). This means business owners get both operational improvements and M&A expertise from day one—without having to coordinate multiple disconnected advisors.What I Do: • Lead transaction advisory and sell-side representation for business owners ready to pursue an exit • Provide strategic guidance on exit planning, business positioning, and market readiness • Partner with Matt Foley and the ERS team to coordinate value creation work with transaction preparation • Represent owner interests through the entire buyer process—from initial outreach through final close • Leverage years of established buyer relationships and market knowledge across multiple industriesOur Focus: We work with privately held businesses in the $1M-$20M revenue range across Manufacturing, Healthcare Services, Logistics, Construction, Business Services, Food & Beverage, et al. We’re not a high-volume brokerage chasing listings. We’re a boutique advisory practice committed to quality exits for prepared business owners.The Difference: When you work with OHA, you’re not starting from scratch. If you’ve been working with Exit Ready Solutions, you’re graduating with clean financials, documented processes, reduced owner dependency, and realistic expectations—dramatically increasing close probability and valuation outcomes.

Experience

1. Chief Strategy Officer (CSO)

   The Oxford Highland Group

   Nov 2022 — Present · Atlanta, GA, US

   The Oxford Highland Group is a boutique business brokerage and M&A firm, based in Atlanta, GA. Across 25 years and hundreds of transactions, OHG has pioneered a innovative approach to buying and selling mid-sized companies, based on decades of experience and a proven track record of success.Unlike other M&A firms that rely solely on personal connections, we leverage exclusive channels to access the largest pool of qualified buyers.Our team of experts is committed to achieving the best possible outcome for our clients. By utilizing a highly competitive marketing strategy, offering expert advisory services, and guiding you through the entire M&A process, we generate multiple offers and ultimately secure the best sale price for your business.

Skills

• Sales
• Strategist
• Business Strategy
• Commercial Insurance
• B2b
• Workers Compensation
• Consultative Sales Professional
• Selling
• Negotiation
• Marketing
• Business Development
• Crm
• Professional Liability
• Public Speaking
• Leadership
• New Business Development
• Insurance
• Marketing Strategy
• Property & Casualty Insurance
• Business Planning
• Management