A family-owned investment bank in Chicago
For the owners
who built something
worth protecting.
Sell-side M&A advisory for owners of privately held companies with $2 million to $75 million in revenue. Two principals on every engagement, from the first conversation to closing.
Who we are
Salt Creek Advisory is a family-owned, Chicago-based investment bank founded by brothers Jack and Connor Pitts. We represent owners who are selling or planning a transition, and we run every engagement ourselves.
About the firm →What we do
All capabilities →Sell-side advisory
A structured, competitive process that brings the qualified buyers to the table at the same time, with the same information.
How a sale works →For buyers
We represent owners only and never take buy-side mandates. If you are a private equity firm, family office, or strategic buyer in our sectors, tell us what you buy so you see our clients’ businesses when they go to market.
Join the buyer list →Sector depth in five practice areas, with a growing focus on HVAC and accounting firms. All practice areas →
How we work
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Principals on every engagement.
Jack and Connor do the work personally. There is no hand-off to a junior team after the first meeting.
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We get paid when you get paid.
No retainer and no monthly fees. Some engagements start with a small deposit, credited against our success fee at closing.
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A competitive process.
Buyers sharpen their offers when they know they are not the only option. Putting the qualified buyers in the same process is where a better price and better terms come from.
The principals
Meet the principals →
Jack Pitts
Co-Founder & Principal
Private equity at Blue Wolf Capital and Kingfish Capital, and investment banking at ButcherJoseph & Co. before co-founding the firm.
Connor Pitts
Co-Founder & Principal
Investment banking at Brown Gibbons Lang & Company. More than 40 early childhood education transactions on the buyer’s side over three years at Cadence Education. Also worked in corporate development at EyeCare Partners.
The people you meet on the first call are the people who run your deal to close.
Senior advisors
Our senior advisors are experienced operators and bankers with more than 45 acquisitions between them. They work with us part time and get involved when a deal falls in their space.
- Gary Dennis Multi-Site Services & Roll-Ups Co-founder and former CEO of Mammoth Holdings, grown through more than 30 acquisitions into one of the largest express car wash platforms in the country.
- Steve Malley HR Tech-Enabled Services & Staffing Former Chief Global Partnerships Officer at Vensure Employer Solutions, with more than 15 acquisitions in HR tech-enabled services and staffing.
Where our experience comes from
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Private equity
Jack worked at Blue Wolf Capital and Kingfish Capital.
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Investment banking
Jack worked at ButcherJoseph & Co. Connor was an analyst at Brown Gibbons Lang & Company in Chicago.
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Corporate development
Connor worked in M&A at Cadence Education and EyeCare Partners. In three years at Cadence, he worked on more than 40 early childhood education transactions on the buyer’s side.
Former employers are named for background only. No affiliation is implied.
Insights
All insights →Sell-Side M&A Process: A Guide for Lower Middle Market Business Owners
Read the guide → Owner Guide · September 23, 2026What You Keep After Selling Your Business
Read the guide → Owner Guide · August 7, 2026M&A Advisor Fees: What a Sale Actually Costs
Read the guide →
The Making Of Hosted by Jack Pitts
Honest conversations with the founders, investors, and operators who build things. No fluff. No PR speak.
Featured Episodes →
The most important conversation
starts with a simple one.
Whether a sale is six months away or six years, the conversation is worth having early. Start with a confidential two-minute valuation, or send us a confidential note.