Kevin M. Short

Managing Partner and CEO
Clayton Capital Partners

Location: St. Louis, MO
Founded: 2001
Industry: Investment Banking

Kevin M. Short lives by the motto that if you want to succeed, learn to tell a strong future story and then prove it. This has served him well in his 20+ years in investment banking and as the managing partner and CEO of Clayton Capital Partners. “I believe an important leadership quality is understanding the power of process,” he said. “I’m in the marketplace doing deals because I make a great living doing it and because I love the process.”

He also focuses heavily on staying power, especially as the firm celebrates 20 years in business. “To have that level of staying power, you’ve got to consistently understand and exceed client expectations,” said Short. “Our ability to sustain and grow Clayton Capital Partners during a global pandemic is a testament to our successful business model and our will-to-win attitude.”

Clayton Capital Partners is one of the nation’s top independent investment banking firms for the middle market focused on being specialists who close transactions and offer expertise as entrepreneurs. Founded in 2001 by Short and Paula Reeb, the firm grew to incorporate a national footprint less than a decade after its founding, including expansion to the Dallas and Denver markets. The firm has been recognized as the Best M&A Investment Banking Firm and has financially supported many nonprofit and educational organizations in each market it services to strengthen local communities.

Short has been at the helm during the firm’s growth and is recognized as an internationally renowned expert in merger and acquisition advisement. He is also an award-winning, Amazon best-selling author earning national and international recognition while making an impact as a philanthropist and leader.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to synthesize observations and details of hundreds of transactions in the middle market,” said Short. “The ability to test and refine a sale process over two decades to ensure it is rigorous, stands the test of time, weathers economic conditions and unique personalities and problems that arise, and has laid a foundation for us to create a culture of leadership.”

Building trust among his staff and his clients is a top priority as a leader, said Short. “Our attention to precision and process has built trust among our partners and clients,” he said. “A sale process, no matter how well planned, will always move at the speed of trust.”